Ian McKellen Imagined Destroying Mar-a-Lago for Avengers

Actor Ian McKellen revealed that he channeled his personal feelings toward former President Donald Trump while filming a scene for the upcoming Marvel movie "Avengers: Doomsday." Speaking at the Cinema in Piazza festival in Rome on Sunday, June 14, 2026, the 87-year-old actor said he imagined destroying Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort to summon the required anger for his role as the villain Magneto.

McKellen was recounting a scene in which his character unleashes large-scale destruction. He explained that directors Anthony and Joe Russo instructed him to "look more furious" and to "make it look as if you hate what you're destroying." In response, McKellen said he stood on set and shouted "Mar-a-Lago!" The anecdote drew laughter from the audience at the festival, where McKellen presented advance footage to approximately 2,000 people.

Mar-a-Lago is a private resort in Palm Beach, Florida, owned by Trump since 1985 and frequently used by him as a residence and meeting venue. McKellen has been openly critical of Trump for years, particularly regarding the former president's stance on LGBTQ rights. In a 2017 interview, McKellen criticized the Trump administration's rollback of certain...