Ian McKellen to Return as Gandalf if Writers Act Quickly

Sir Ian McKellen has expressed his interest in returning to the Lord of the Rings franchise, provided his health allows it.

The veteran actor, who famously portrayed Gandalf in Peter Jackson’s adaptations of J.R.R. Tolkien’s epic tales, recently spoke about the possibility of reprising his role in an upcoming film focused on Andy Serkis’s character, Gollum. The rumors gained traction after Warner Bros announced The Hunt for Gollum earlier this year.

McKellen confirmed he has heard there are plans for more films in the Tolkien universe and that Gandalf will be involved. He hopes to be the one to portray the beloved character once again. “I’m not letting anyone else put on the pointy hat and beard if I can help it,” he told BBC Radio 4.

This optimism comes despite McKellen sustaining wrist and neck injuries from a fall during a performance onstage in June. The actor, who is 85, tripped while playing John Falstaff in ‘Player Kings’ at the Noel Coward Theatre. As a result, he has been coping with a chipped vertebrae and a fractured wrist.

McKellen mentioned he plans to take the rest of the year off to fully recover but expressed a strong desire to return as Gandalf once he is healed. However, he hopes the film’s writers will hasten the process. “Be quick,” he urged.

Viggo Mortensen, McKellen’s co-star from the original Lord of the Rings trilogy, also voiced his willingness to return. Mortensen, who played Aragorn, said he would reprise his role if it was true to Tolkien’s writings.

The Hunt for Gollum is the first of several new Lord of the Rings films planned by Warner Bros over the next decade. These projects follow the release of Prime Video’s Rings of Power, which is now back for a second season.

Andy Serkis, who will not only direct the upcoming film but also reprise his role as Gollum, excitedly commented on the development: “Yesssss, Precious. The time has come once more to venture into the unknown with my dear friends, the extraordinary and incomparable guardians of Middle Earth Peter, Fran and Philippa. With Mike and Pam, and the Warner Bros team on the quest as well, alongside WETA and our filmmaking family in New Zealand. It’s just all too delicious.”

Peter Jackson and his long-time collaborators, Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens, also shared their excitement. “It is an honour and a privilege to travel back to Middle-earth with our good friend and collaborator, Andy Serkis, who has unfinished business with that Stinker – Gollum! As life-long fans of Professor Tolkien’s vast mythology, we are proud to be working with Mike De Luca, Pam Abdy and the entire team at Warner Bros on another epic adventure!” they said in a joint statement.

Fans of McKellen can next see him in The Critic, which will be released in cinemas on 13 September.

Source: The Independent, BBC Radio 4