British acting icon Ian McKellen has withdrawn from the national tour of a Shakespearean production 'Player Kings' after a stage fall during a performance.
The stage actor was portraying Sir John Falstaff in 'Player Kings' at London's Noel Coward Theater with a performance that combined parts one and two of Shakespeare's 'Henry IV,' adapted and directed by Robert Icke.
On Monday, July 1, the official X, formerly Twitter, account of 'Player Kings' posted that McKellen will need additional time to heal. David Semark will replace McKellen's role of Falstaff.
In a statement, McKellen said, "Two weeks after my accident onstage, my injuries improve day by day. It's with the greatest reluctance that I have accepted the medical advice to protect my full recovery by not working in the meantime."
He claimed he had been looking forward to bringing 'Player Kings' to theater-goers in Bristol, Norwich, and Newcastle. However, he reassured the viewers that with Semark now playing Falstaff, Robert Icke's production and his acting company remain as dazzling as ever.
On Monday, June 17, McKellen suffered a fall off the stage and was hospitalized. According to reports, the 85-year-old reportedly performed a battle scene when he fell, the audience was evacuated, and the rest of the performance was canceled.
In a statement the following day, he promised a "complete and speedy" recovery.
McKellen expressed his gratitude for people's kind messages and support. He shared that since the accident during a performance of 'Player Kings,' his injuries have been diagnosed and treated by a series of experts, specialists, and nurses working for the National Health Service.
Furthermore, he said that he was looking forward to returning to work.
