Ian McKellen Says He’s Been Asked to Return as Gandalf for Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum

Ian McKellen Says He's Been Asked to Return as Gandalf for Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum

As a lifelong fan of Middle Earth and its enchanting tales, I can hardly contain my excitement at the prospect of Ian McKellen reprising his iconic role as Gandalf in the upcoming prequel series, Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum. Having grown up with the original trilogy and being captivated by McKellen’s magical portrayal of the wise and courageous wizard, it feels like a dream come true to witness this new chapter unfold.


In a recent interview, actor Ian McKellen, known for his role as Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings, has hinted at his potential return to the character in the upcoming prequel series titled The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum. During the conversation, he expressed his appreciation for the enduring passion fans have for the Lord of the Rings franchise while subtly mentioning that producers are hoping he’ll reprise his role as Gandalf.

In a statement given to The Big Issue, McKellen expressed that his enthusiasm for “The Lord of the Rings” remains undiminished. He further mentioned that he’s been informed there will be additional movies, and Gandalf is expected to feature in them, with hopes that he might reprise his role in the series.

As a devoted fan, I must admit that at the ripe age of 85, Sir Ian McKellen might not be readily available for any upcoming film projects. The Hunt for Gollum, helmed by its original actor Andy Serkis (also starring), is already gearing up with its creative team, though the exact production timeline remains unspecified. With a 2026 release date for the first installment, things seem to be moving at a swift pace.

Ian McKellen hinted that The Hunt for Gollum is still in its initial phases, implying a swift pace from the production team: “As for when it will happen, I’m unsure. The script isn’t even penned down yet, so they need to act fast.”

Ian McKellen Says He's Been Asked to Return as Gandalf for Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum

This aligns with Sir Ian McKellen’s previous stance on the topic. He told The Times that he will reprise his role as Gandalf if he is still alive.

Andy Serkis previously suggested at a convention that Ian McKellen’s Gandalf might not be the only Lord of the Rings character portrayed by original actors who could reappear.

The working title for the project is currently “The Hunt for Gollum, but this could change. Regardless, it will offer a unique perspective of Middle Earth as seen through Gollum’s eyes, according to Andy Serkis. “At this stage, it’s still very early… However, I can tell you that we’ll delve deeply into Gollum’s character,” he said. “There may be familiar characters reappearing, but I won’t reveal who they are yet.”

Peter Jackson, director of “The Lord of the Rings” and “The Hobbit” movie trilogies, is working on a new project titled “The Hunt for Gollum”. The original trilogy’s co-writers, Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens, will return to pen the prequel’s screenplay. They will be joined by Phoebe Gittins and Arty Papageorgiou, who have worked on “Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim” anime.

The film “Lord of the Rings: The Search for Gollum” is overseen by Executive Producer Ken Kamins, along with Serkis and Jonathan Cavendish from The Imaginarium. Peter Jackson, along with Walsh and Boyens, are also producing this project.

2026 is the anticipated release period for “The Lord of the Rings: The Search for Gollum,” yet specifics regarding the movie’s plot are still under wraps.

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2024-09-02 19:10