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I want to watch King Lear for the first time and Ian Mckellen is my favourite actor of all time but I'm unsure which of his two versions of the play to watch. I have access to both so it's more a question which one is the better adaptation.
Which version would you recommend and why?
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![r/Cinemagraphs - "I knew it was a crime, but I did it anyway..." [Fear and loathing in las vegas, 1998]](https://b.thumbs.redditmedia.com/GwdlcdInAWplcZy57QxjPywQgmGsbqGcUO1h0wPMeAo.jpg)
Well it would be interesting to watch the 2009 first and then the 2018 to see if he has changed his version of the role a decade later, as he aged… I do know he emphasised his view of Lear’s dementia in the 2018 version (it’s a tour de force) but I haven’t seen the 2009 film. Hmmm now I may have to watch it!
Great idea. We so often compare and contrast different actors' takes on the great roles, but it's rare that you get to watch one of the greats do it with a reasonable amount of time between them.
I love both, but the NT Live had a wonderful Edgar, Luke Thompson. He stuck with me the most.
For your first King Lear, I'd actually recommend the Stratford Festival production with Colm Feore. It has a solid cast all the way around.