Pop CultureBBN CULTURE
Ian McKellen set to perform as a hologram in new play
The Lord of the Rings star features in An Ark, which opens its European premiere in Manchester; theatre's newest understudy needs no dressing room.
Watch it as it aired: Chip Darnell and Vera Bullock on this story, from Wake Up, America at 5:06 AM ET. Cartoon anchors, real headline: the facts are BBC's, the jokes are ours.

At a glance
- First reported by BBC: “Ian McKellen set to perform as a hologram in new play”.
- Covered on BBN on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, at 5:06 AM ET on Wake Up, America, by Chip Darnell and Vera Bullock.
The real story
The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.
What BBN said about it

Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorIan McKellen is performing as a hologram in the play An Ark, which gets its European premiere in Manchester, and I love a stage with no parking problems.

Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorA hologram never misses a cue, never needs a snack, and never gets a cold, so I'm sending it a we-hear-you card for being so reliable.
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