Andy Serkis’ upcoming Lord of the Rings movie, The Hunt for Gollum, has been shrouded in mystery, with countless rumors circulating that various characters from Peter Jackson’s trilogy will return. While many actors have denied these rumors, and some playfully avoided the question, Ian McKellen has been incredibly forthcoming. The legendary actor has played the iconic wizard Gandalf the Grey (later Gandalf the White) in all six of the live-action movies based on J.R.R Tolkien’s fantasy world. McKellen first played Gandalf in The Fellowship of the Ring in 2001, and made his last appearance in The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies in 2014.
Speaking to The Big Issue, Ian McKellen was asked about his involvement in Serkis’ upcoming The Hunt for Gollum, the first live-action LOTR movie in over a decade. The actor confirmed that Gandalf would appear in the movie. McKellen also revealed that Warner Bros. wants him to reprise the role, although he didn’t confirm if he had accepted the part. He revealed:
“Enthusiasm for The Lord of the Rings shows no sign of abating … I can’t tell you any more than that. 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. When? I don’t know. What the script is? It’s not written yet. So, they better be quick.”
Ian McKellen Thought He Was Going to Die During a Recent Performance
McKellen, who is now 85, has been an ever present star of stage and screen for decades. But the actor isn’t letting his age get the better of him. Part of what makes McKellen such a captivating performer is that his love for the arts is present in every single one of his roles. Not content with retiring anytime soon, McKellen told BBC Breakfast:
“I shall just keep at it as long as the legs and the lungs and the mind keep working.”
While his outlook and dedication may be admirable, McKellen almost suffered greatly when,during a recent performance of Player Kings in London’s West End, the actor fell off the stage. While the actor was lucky not to have permanently injured himself, he has since revealed that he thought Player Kings might have been his last ever performance. McKellen revealed that the scarring from the incident is more emotional than it is physical, as the actor had to come to terms with his own mortality. Ian McKellen revealed:
“It’s emotionally that I’ve got some residue that I’ve got to deal with. I said to myself as I tripped and slid off the stage, ‘This is the end’. These were the words in my mind, ‘This is the end.’ And apparently I shouted out, ‘My neck is broken, I’m dying.’ I don’t remember saying that, so there was a lot going on in my head as the body responded to the fall.”
Ian McKellen is the first actor from The Lord of the Rings to publicly announce that he has been approached for The Hunt for Gollum. In the past, Elijah Wood (Frodo) and Viggo Mortensen (Aragorn) have said that they would love to return in the new movie. Their casting in The Hunt for Gollum hasn’t yet been confirmed.
The Hunt for Gollum
is scheduled to begin production in early 2025, ahead of a 2026 release date.