Sir Ian McKellen looks like he shall not pass… up an opportunity to reprise his role as Gandalf in the upcoming film, Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum.
McKellen has become synonymous with the character since the original Lord of the Rings trilogy. The actor confirmed that he was approached to return as the iconic wizard in an interview with Big Issue, revealing that while details such as the script are still pending, the studio has high hopes for his return.
“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,” the 85-year-old actor told Big Issue. “When? I don’t know. What the script is? It’s not written yet. So they better be quick.”
The new film is set to explore more untold stories from Middle-earth, with a focus on the character Gollum. Andy Serkis, who famously portrayed Gollum in previous films, expressed his enthusiasm for the project, stating in June that he will star and direct. Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, and Philippa Boyens will produce.
While Ian McKellen is confirmed for his role, Viggo Mortensen, known for his portrayal of Aragorn, has expressed openness to return, though his involvement has not yet been confirmed. Mortensen noted that any participation would depend on the relevance to his character’s storyline.
The Lord of the Rings universe continues to grow, not only through new films but also via television adaptations. Amazon’s The Rings of Power, which debuted its first season in 2022, has been a continuation of the expansion, with its second season currently streaming on Prime Video. The showrunners, Patrick McKay and JD Payne, recently extended their contract with Amazon for three more years, beginning early work on a third season.
Additionally, the Tolkien legacy will further be explored in Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim. This animated film is set to premiere on 13 December, and will delve into the history of Helm’s Deep and the life of the legendary King of Rohan, Helm Hammerhand.
Natalie is a big fan of anything related to movies, TV shows, games, and comics — you name it. When she’s not reading or geeking out about the latest shows on Netflix, she’s probably playing gacha and tabletop games, or daydreaming of meeting her idols.
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