Ian McKellen Withdraws From 'Henry IV' Play After Falling on Stage During Fight Scene

Ian McKellen is no longer appearing in the U.K. tour of his Shakespearean theater production after an accident.

The 85-year-old Lord of the Rings actor was starring as John Falstaff in a production of Henry IV, Parts One and Two, which began a 12-week run as part of a show called Player Kings on the West End at the Noël Coward theater in April.

However, on June 17, he lost his footing and fell during a fight scene.

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Audience members reported hearing the star cry out and the show was canceled, as the crowd was evacuated from the theater.

In a statement on Monday (July 1), via THR, he said it is “with the greatest reluctance” that while he is expected to make a full recovery, and he has accepted medical advice by not working in the meantime.

“I had been so looking forward to bringing Player Kings to theater-goers in Bristol, Birmingham, Norwich and Newcastle. But I can assure them that, with David Semark now playing Falstaff, Robert Icke’s production and his acting company remain as dazzling as ever. Go see for yourself!”

The team behind Player Kings added that he “continues to recuperate very well, but he needs the time to rest and ensure a complete recovery.”

Find out what else he said after the incident.