Ebenezer’s Ian McKellen laughs over Irish weather mishap filming first movie in Galway

JOE spoke to the Oscar-winning actor about his latest movie, Andrew Scott playing one of his friends in an Oscar-tipped biopic, and about his experience filming his first film in Ireland.

In the latest adaptation, Johnny Depp plays the miserly, cruel, Christmas-hating Ebenezer Scrooge. On Christmas Eve, the rich man is visited by his long-dead former business partner, Jacob Marley (McKellen).

Now a chain-dragging ghost, as a form of punishment for the greedy, mean way he lived, Marley encourages Scrooge to change his ways, or else suffer the same fate.

Ebenezer is helmed by horror maestro Ti West (the X/Pearl/MaXXXine trilogy of slashers). Thanks to his mastery of mood, screenwriter Nathaniel Halpern's sparkling dialogue, and several spirited performances, the new Christmas film infuses new life into a classic tale.

Ahead of its release, JOE had the pleasure of speaking to acting legend Ian McKellen about Ebenezer, Andrew Scott playing one of his friends in an Oscar-tipped biopic, and about his experience filming his first film in Ireland.

You can watch or read JOE's interview with Ian McKellen in full below:

JOE: You've obviously had such an amazing, wide-ranging career. I did notice, though, that I think this is your first proper Christmas film. I was curious if that was a reason why you wanted to do Ebenezer. What were your reasons for joining the project?

Ian McKellen: That's interesting. I think Lord of the Rings always came out at Christmas and people I know watch them at Christmas time, watch them again and again and again.

But, of course, I read A Christmas Carol, I think when I was a kid and I've seen it in various manifestations. The Alistair Sim film, which, of course, Sir Johnny Depp is, I don't know if you know, is a huge fan of Alistair Sim. Do you know who Alistair Simm was?

JOE: I actually don't, I'm afraid.

Ian McKellen: He was a wonderful Scottish comic actor, who I directed on stage. But he played Scrooge, and I think this film is dedicated to Alistair; I'm not sure. 

But anyway, I wanted to make it to work with Johnny Depp, full stop.

JOE: Your director, Ti West, comes from a horror background, which I think really adds to the depiction of Jacob Marley's ghost. How much of making Jacob look so scary and so spectral was practical, and how much of it was special effects?

Ian McKellen: Well, of course, when you're doing that, it's all fun. It's like getting dressed up for Halloween. It doesn't feel as if you're very ghostlike, and of course they've done stuff with the camera and the technology.

But it was fun putting on all the chains and working out how to walk with them and so on, and the set was very believable.

Sometimes when you're making a film, it doesn't quite look as good as it does in the finished product. But in this case, even when you looked out of the window of Scrooge's office, and you were looking out into the street, you could see a horse go by. It was wonderful. So, yes, it was fun.

JOE: And I know that Ebenezer shot a little bit in Dublin. I'm not sure if you came over to Ireland for that part of the production...

Ian McKellen: No, alas, it was all done in Reading.

Ian McKellen: Yes, I thought Andrew was very credible as Ian. He even managed to look a little bit like him.

Andrew is, despite his name, a credit to Ireland.

I should just say, I made one of my very first movies in Ireland on location in Galway.

JOE: Is this Alfred the Great?

Ian McKellen: They'd gone over to film there because they wanted the wonderful Irish mist... It was the best summer they'd ever had in Ireland and [laughing] every morning we woke up, looked through the curtains: 'Oh no, not another beautiful day.' [chuckles heartily]

JOE: Always the way... That's my time, but thank you so much for speaking to me.

Ian McKellen: OK, well, very nice to have a chat.

JOE: Lovely to talk to you. A pleasure.

Ebenezer is in cinemas on Friday, 13 November.