Ian McKellen discusses reprising Gandalf from ‘Lord Of The Rings’
Legendary actor and national treasure Ian McKellen has discussed the possibility of returning to the role of Gandalf in a new Lord of the Rings film, which will focus on the character of Gollum.
McKellen portrayed the bearded wizard in Peter Jackson’s adaptation of the fantasy series in the early 2000s in what has become one of his most beloved performances. The trilogy concluded with The Return of the King in 2003, but McKellen would reprise the role a decade later for the Hobbit trilogy. His last outing as Gandalf came in 2014 with The Battle of the Five Armies.
Warner Bros has now announced a new instalment into the Lord of the Rings franchise, titled The Hunt for Gollum. Jackson is set to take on a producer role in the project, giving up the director’s seat to Gollum himself, Andy Serkis. The actor-turned-director voiced Sméagol throughout the Lord of the Rings trilogy.
With Serkis returning to set, albeit in a new role, fans are wondering whether McKellen might reprise his role as Gandalf. During a conversation with The Sunday Times, the 85-year-old actor spoke about the possibility of returning to the fantasy series.
While McKellen has heard that the bearded wizard will make an appearance in the new film, he is yet to be recruited for the project. “But there is no script, there is no offer, there is no plan,” he stated. When asked if he would be interested in reprising the role if the opportunity did arise, McKellen simply responded, “If I’m alive”.
McKellen is already set to reprise his role in another huge franchise this year. After starring as Magneto, also known as Erik Lehnsherr, in a series of X-Men films in the 2000s and 2010s, he will return to the character in Deadpool & Wolverine this summer.
The movie marks the third entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe for Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool, while Hugh Jackman returns to the role of Wolverine for the first time since 2017’s Logan. Emma Corrin, Rob Delaney and Matthew Macfadyen also star. The film is set for release on July 26th.
Lord of the Rings fans can only hope that McKellen will be just as willing to return to his other blockbusting franchise to reprise the role of Gandalf if the opportunity arises. The Hunt for Gollum is yet to receive an official release date, but is set to arrive in 2026.
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