Lord of the Rings Gollum Movie Gets Gandalf Update with a Catch

The upcoming Andy Serkis-directed Lord of the Rings movie, The Hunt for Gollum, may feature the renowned character Gandalf, played by Sir Ian McKellen. However, there is a condition for this return to take place.

According to The Big Issue (via Deadline), McKellen has been approached to reprise his iconic role as Gandalf in the new Lord of the Rings movies. The 85-year-old actor expressed his enthusiasm, saying he “hopes” to be the one playing the role again.

“Enthusiasm for The Lord of the Rings shows no sign of abating. I can’t tell you any more than that,” McKellen stated. “I’ve just been told there are going to be more films, and Gandalf will be involved, and they hope that I’ll be playing him.”

If McKellen is to return as Gandalf, he emphasizes the need for it to happen soon. “When? I don’t know. What the script is? It’s not written yet. So, they better be quick,” he added.

Despite the uncertainty, McKellen assured fans that he does not plan on retiring from acting. He recently told BBC Breakfast, “I shall just keep at it as long as the legs and the lungs and the mind keep working.”

Peter Jackson’s three-part adaptation of the Lord of the Rings books in the early 2000s was a blockbuster phenomenon. The trilogy was a colossal success, with Return of the King grossing over $1.1 billion and winning all its Oscar nominations.

Nearly a decade later, the franchise made a comeback with Jackson’s adaptation of The Hobbit, starring Martin Freeman as a young Bilbo Baggins. McKellen and Serkis both returned to their memorable roles. The Hobbit trilogy, released between 2012 and 2014, also achieved significant box office success, with The Desolation of Smaug surpassing $1 billion in earnings.

Now, Andy Serkis, known for his portrayal and motion capture of Gollum, is set to direct and star in two new Lord of the Rings movies. If McKellen’s statements are any indication, fans might have to wait a while before The Hunt for Gollum hits theaters. Nonetheless, the return of Gollum and Gandalf remains a highly anticipated event in the world of cinema.

Sir Ian McKellen, an Oscar-nominated actor for his roles in Gods and Monsters and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, first gained prominence through his theater work. In the 1960s, he starred in various West End plays, including The Alchemist, Wild Honey, Hamlet, Macbeth, and Richard III. McKellen also played a prominent role in the film adaptation of Richard III in 1995.

While Gandalf from the Lord of the Rings movies has become his signature role, McKellen also made a mark in the Marvel universe. He portrayed Magneto in the Fox X-Men movies from 2000 to 2014.

McKellen’s other notable movie roles include voice work in Flushed Away, as well as appearances in The Da Vinci Code, Beauty and the Beast, and Cats. Currently, he is promoting his new movie, The Critic, based on Anthony Quinn’s 2015 novel, Curtain Call. The Critic premiered at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in 2023 and is set to be released on September 13, 2024, by Lionsgate in the United States.