Well the new king of the BO is nearing. Two guaranteed hits one week after the other, coiencidence? I think not. Ian McKellen has arrived as the BO draw of summer 06' you can argue all you want, you'll just embarrass yourself.

He's the Hugo Weaving of 2006.

Orlando Bloom sadly will end up beating them all.

Uhhh I think we all know who sells that movie........... Bill Nighy as Davy Jones, no question.

2006 Neverwas Gabriel Finch Announced
11/3/2006 Flushed Away Confirmed
5/26/2006 X-Men 3: The Last Stand Erik Lensherr, AKA Magneto Confirmed
5/19/2006 The Da Vinci Code Sir Leigh Teabing Confirmed
2/24/2006 Doogal Zebedee (US release) $3,605,899 $7,575,628 $26,259,658
8/12/2005 Asylum Peter Cleave $36,272 $374,903 $547,307
2/4/2005 Emile Emile $1,529 $4,626 $4,626
12/17/2003 The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Gandalf $72,629,713 $377,027,325 $1,129,027,325
5/2/2003 X2 Magneto $85,558,731 $214,948,780 $406,399,599
12/18/2002 The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers Gandalf the White $62,007,528 $341,784,377 $924,291,552
12/19/2001 The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Gandalf the Grey $47,211,490 $313,837,577 $867,683,093
7/14/2000 X-Men Erik Magnus Lehnsherr/Magneto $54,471,475 $157,299,717 $295,999,717
5/5/2000 Cirque du Soleil - Journey of Man Narrator $49,837 $15,626,076 $27,751,781
11/6/1998 Gods and Monsters James Whale $75,508 $6,451,628 $6,451,628
10/23/1998 Apt Pupil Kurt Dussander $3,583,151 $8,863,193 $8,863,193
1/23/1998 Swept From The Sea Dr. James Kennedy $163,289 $283,081 $283,081
11/26/1997 Bent Uncle Freddie $109,243 $372,341 $372,341
5/10/1996 Cold Comfort Farm Amos Starkadder $66,427 $5,682,429 $5,682,429
3/22/1996 Jack and Sarah William $218,626 $218,626
12/29/1995 Restoration Will Gates $75,514 $4,100,000 $4,100,000
12/29/1995 Richard III Richard III $91,915 $2,600,000 $2,600,000
7/1/1994 The Shadow Dr. Reinhardt Lane $11,713,845 $31,835,600 $31,835,600
2/4/1994 I'll Do Anything John Earl McAlpine $4,702,625 $10,209,111 $10,209,111
12/8/1993 Six Degrees of Separation Geoffrey $53,058 $6,284,090 $6,284,090
8/20/1993 The Ballad of Little Jo Percy Corcoran $514,451 $514,451
6/18/1993 Last Action Hero Death $15,338,241 $50,016,394 $137,298,489
4/28/1989 Scandal John Profumo $8,800,000 $8,800,000
9/19/1985 Plenty Sir Andrew Charleson $436,266 $6,104,212 $6,104,212
12/16/1983 The Keep Dr. Theodore Cuza $1,032,295 $3,661,757 $3,661,757
Total Grosses $1,574,475,922 $3,911,243,666
Average Gross $62,979,037
Average Opening Weekend $16,500,630

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You have to figure that X3 will get at the least, 75mil open, 200mil final. DVC is a shoe in for minumum 60mil opening and 200mil final...... He's a good luck charm on a big budget film.

He actually seems to be getting Paul Giamatti-in-Cinderella Man buzz for Da Vinci Code. Hello, Oscar?

Not a chance in hell.

Ian McKellen is huge! He's the next Samuel L. Jackson by appearing in so many big films.

Sorry, the film will take him down with it. Another Gong Li (and sorry to repeat this in different threads).

I hate to bring up The Firm again, but...

Holly Hunter...for The Firm?

I'd argue its a different era and situation. With the award season structured as it is now, an actor/actress will be hard pressed to survive when the film doesn't meet its expectation on the review front, especially when it's released early in the year. We could see another Diane Lane, but the film isn't supposed to knock one's socks off to begin with, so the buzz could gather around Lane and be maintained. And I'd say lead role is a little easier to survive than supporting.

I think the source material cancels out the oscars flat out.

Guys I think that we are all a bit too worried about the reviews here. You know what ? Most of the public = not aware of reviews, good or bad for this movie.

The main reported news its its CANNES REACTION from CRITICS. I think people are smart enough to make a distinction there and it sure as hell isn't slowing presales.

Does anyone know if McKellen's character's last name in The Da Vinci Code -- Sir Leigh Teabing, is really short for "teabagging"?

Thanx in advance...

Ian is magnificent actor, but he is not a draw on his own. However, I would argue that in audience's minds he always adds pedigree to films, and in that sense he increases film's drawing power. Everyone I know loves Ian, and thinks he is a brilliant actor. Every film he is in, he gives it a rush in the arm everytime he is on the screen.

Great actor, but I didn't know until maybe two weeks ago that he was gay. Surprise!?

Actually it's sort of a mix of the names of the two guys who wrote Holy Blood Holy Grail or whatever that book was called, the ones that ended up taking Dan Brown to court.

Really? Its been a well known fact since he first entered screen acting about two decades ago. I found out shortly after FOTR was released.

And how many actors have had 6 movies pass $200M?

He's like Brain Cox in that i seem to see him in everything of late.

haha true Brian Cox is in everything these days.

Mckellan has had an incredible late career surge - just like fellow LOTR wizard Christopher Lee.

Shortly after Richard Harris died, McKellen was briefly attached to the Harry Potter franchise as the person to inherit Harris' role. If he had stayed on, he would presently have HP3 and HP4 under his belt as well.

Kind of wrong, Tom cruise was the reason his movies we're blockbusters

Xmen/LOTR would have been blockbusters without Ian Mckellan

you are right about Ian McKellan being the BO king of 06, but i thought Tom Hanks was bigger than Tom Cruise. afterall, his movies have made more money than Tom's.