Ian McKellen: ‘X-Men mutants are like gays’

Ian McKellen has revealed that he agreed to star in the X-Men films after director Bryan Singer suggested he view the film’s “mutants” as a metaphor for the LGBT community.

The legendary actor – who has been openly gay since 1988 – said that the story of X-Men is a civil rights movement.

He told BuzzFeed: “I was sold it by Bryan who said, ‘Mutants are like gays. They’re cast out by society for no good reason…

“And, as in all civil rights movements, they have to decide: Are they going to take the Xavier [Stewart’s character] line — which is to somehow assimilate and stand up for yourself and be proud of what you are, but get on with everybody — or are you going to take the alternative view — which is, if necessary, use violence to stand up for your own rights.

“And that’s true. I’ve come across that division within the gay rights movement,” he added.

McKellen also shared his views on coming out, saying he has “never met a gay person who came out and regretted it”.

> McKellen: ‘My advice to anyone in the closet is: come out’
> Weinstein praises Cumberbatch as Alan Turing