Although they portray one of the most complex relationships in comic book history on the big screen, it's widely known that Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen are the best of friends in real life, and they have no problem sharing how close they are to each other, even on the red carpet.
In a recent premiere for McKellen's "Mr. Holmes," good friends Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen locked lips on the red carpet, making all kinds of headlines all over the world as they were applauded for sharing their close friendship in such a public matter.
According to Time Magazine, Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen were both present for the London premiere of the new film, which stars McKellen as iconic fictional private detective Sherlock Holmes in his older years, as the "Star Trek: Next Contact" star and his wife accompanied their friend to the premiere.
Entertainment Tonight Online reports that Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen's kiss occurred at London's ODEON Kensington cinema, where the big premiere featured a set looking like the famous 221B Baker Street quarters of the 19th century character written by sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
According to Advocate, due to the fact that McKellen is openly gay, the nature of his friendship with heterosexual actor Stewart has been repeatedly questioned as being a romantic one, but it's clear that the two actors don't mind sharing their famous bromance in spite of this.
After having developed a strong bond shooting the "X-Men" movies, Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen have become so close that the "Gods and Monsters" actor even officiated Stewart's 2013 wedding to Sunny Ozell.
Both Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen have turned into pop culture icons in the past twenty years, being a part of some of the world's most important fandoms - besides both of them playing best friends turned arch-enemies Professor Xavier and Magnet in the "X-Men" films, Stewart is Captain Picard in the "Star Trek" universe, while McKellen played Gandalf in both "The Lord of the Rings" and "The Hobbit" trilogies.