McKellen hopes for 'Magneto' role

Sir Ian McKellen has revealed that he wants to star in a film about his X-Men character Magneto.

Speaking to the BBC, the actor claimed that he would only appear in the planned spinoff to bookend the movie.

"There is a script knocking around for a spinoff but it will be a younger Magneto, so if I were involved it would just be topping and tailing the story," he explained.

McKellen, who will introduce an all-night screening of the X-Men trilogy at the BFI Imax this weekend, said the films appeal to him because they have a "serious intent".

He commented: "Marvel told me that this is their favourite because it has a social purpose and the strongest demographic are young blacks, Jews and gays who respond to the idea that society does treat some adults as mutants."