If there's one thing people should know by now? Nobody tells Gandalf what to do!
E! News has obtained an exclusive behind-the-scenes clip The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Extended Edition, which was released on Blu-ray Nov. 5, and in it, sir Ian McKellen is taking his cues from fellow cast member Andy Serkis, who plays Gollum and also doubles as a second unit director on the production.
And if you ask Serkis, the legendary British actor was none too thrilled to be receiving direction while acting in front of a green screen.
"He has to know exactly what he's thinking and feeling or else it could feel very fake to him," Andy says in the clip as McKellen, as Gandalf the Wizard, shakes his head, clearly annoyed by the voice off-camera.
During a break in filming, McKellen complains that if Serkis is calling out the directions, then he can't react truthfully.
"Just tell me what happens and I'll try and do it without you telling me," McKellen tells him.
But as Serkis goes on to explain, this kind of movie acting in scenes, which are mainly finished in post with the addition of computer-generated effects, requires some necessary distractions as a matter of timing.
"But I was going but Ian you need to be cued for that or you'll never know when it's gonna happen," notes his younger protégé.
"Well yes of course if it's a matter of cuing!" says McKellen.
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, the second installment in director Peter Jackson's Hobbit trilogy, hits theaters on Dec. 13.