Summary:
- Sir Ian McKellen has been approached to reprise his role as Gandalf in a new Lord of the Rings film directed by Andy Serkis, though no script has been written yet.
- McKellen expressed interest but emphasized the importance of getting the script done quickly due to his age.
Lord of the Rings fans have a lot to look forward to these days. With Season 2 of The Rings of Power now streaming and The Lord of the Rings: The War of Rohirrim animated film coming out later this year, the world of Middle-Earth is thriving.
In addition, two new live-action films by Peter Jackson are being developed. We know Andy Serkis is confirmed to direct the first of these films and reprise his iconic role as Gollum. But what about other familiar faces?
Sir Ian McKellen, the legendary actor behind Gandalf, has revealed that he’s been asked to return.
In an interview with Big Issue, while recovering from a fall sustained during a Shakespeare performance, McKellen shared that he has been approached about playing Gandalf again in the tentatively titled The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt For Gollum.
While there’s no firm confirmation yet, McKellen hinted that if Gandalf is part of the film, Peter Jackson and his team hope he’ll step back into the role. McKellen said:
“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.”
McKellen’s response, though hopeful, touches on a sense of urgency due to his age. At 85, the actor has often joked that he’s interested in reprising the role, as long as he’s still around when the time comes. He made this clear again with a humorous yet realistic take on his situation:
“When? I don’t know. What the script is? It’s not written yet. So, they better be quick.”
McKellen isn’t the only one pondering a return to Middle-Earth. Viggo Mortensen, who played Aragorn, previously said that whether he’d reprise his role would depend on the quality of the script — unless, as he quipped, he really needed the money.
As for Andy Serkis, he has kept quiet on which characters might return, and since the script is still unwritten, it’s unclear which original cast members may appear.
However, it seems likely that if characters from the original Lord of the Rings or Hobbit trilogies do return, the filmmakers will want the original actors to reprise their roles.
While fans are eager to see McKellen return as Gandalf, it’s important that the new films aren’t rushed, as was the case with The Hobbit trilogy. Time may be of the essence, but quality matters most in Middle-Earth.
