A Friendship Destroyed?

Ian McKellen Chooses Christopher Lee as Roller Coaster Buddy Over Long-Term Friend Patrick Stewart

A Friendship Destroyed? Ian McKellen Chooses Christopher Lee as Roller Coaster Buddy Over Long-Term Friend Patrick Stewart

Valencia, CA- In a sad turn of events, the long-standing friendship between fellow English actors Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart was challenged last Saturday during their annual trip to Six Flags Magic Mountain in Southern California. This year the pair was accompanied by a third friend: fellow English actor Christopher Lee.

"It was odd seeing him (Lee) with them." Six Flags employee Jason Driggs commented. "Ian and Patrick never bring outsiders with them. Something just didn't seem right about it."

The day started off fine, with the three actors enjoying such classic rides as Buccaneer and the Grand Carousel, followed by an overpriced lunch of soft pretzels and Dippin Dots. The trouble didn't begin until they reached the queue for the first roller coaster of the day, and McKellen was faced with a difficult decision.

While there are many roller coasters at Six Flags that allow for parties greater than two to sit in the same row, there are several that do not.

"Ian chose Apocalypse as the first coaster of the day," Stewart stated in an exclusive interview with The Today Show's Matt Lauer. He went on to comment, "I don't know why it never occurred to him to start with Goliath. Everyone knows Goliath is better."

Apparently the trouble began two hours later when it came time for McKellen, Stewart, and Lee to board the ride. That's when they realized that only two people can fit in one row, so one of them would have to be left out. Stewart and Lee waited very patiently for McKellen to choose whom he would rather ride with. He considered for several minutes before finally picking Christopher Lee as his roller-coaster buddy. During the next three minutes a crestfallen Stewart was forced to sit on a nearby bench holding his companions' items that were advised be left off the attraction: McKellen's fedora and Lee's palantir*.

"I have never been so hurt in all my life," Stewart remarked, wiping away a lone tear. "We've been friends for over three decades! It never for one moment occurred to me that maybe Ian has been wanting a different friend in his life."

But McKellen has been quick to defend himself since Stewart went public with the news: "The whole thing is ridiculous. Pat doesn't even like roller coasters. He used to get sick on the set of Next Generation from just acting like there was turbulence."

But Stewart insists that whether or not he likes coasters is beside the point. "Ian betrayed me, and he betrayed our friendship. But what hurts most is that he abandoned me for Chris. Chris! While Ian was in New Zealand filming Fellowship he used to Skype me every day and tell me how mean Christopher Lee was being to him. You remember the scene where Gandalf and Saruman fight one another in Isengard? Completely unscripted! But five Tolkien movies later and they're suddenly best buddies? It's bollocks."

Lee was unavailable for comment.

So what now for the famous friends? Stewart seems to have little hope.

"Only time will be able to mend this deep wound that Ian has left in my heart. But should he apologize, honestly and with great regret, I will welcome him back with open arms."

Said McKellen to this statement: "Patrick's just being a little prat. If he thinks for one minute I'm still going to dress up with him as Picard and Worf for Comic Con, he's out of his bloody mind."

*Palantir- "Also known as a 'seeing-stone', a spherical stone object used for the purpose of communication in Middle Earth and beyond." (Lord of the Rings wiki) Now we know why "they are not all accounted for."