Ian McKellen, the iconic actor who brought Gandalf to life in both The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies, has recently addressed the possibility of reprising his role in the upcoming film, The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum. Directed by Andy Serkis and set to premiere in 2026, this new venture into Middle-earth has fans eagerly speculating about the return of beloved characters.
In a candid interview with The Times of London, McKellen shared his thoughts on returning as the wise wizard created by J.R.R. Tolkien. He mentioned hearing “stirrings in Tolkien land” and humorously noted that he hasn’t “shaved in months” due to his role in Player Kings. However, he was quick to clarify that there is currently “no script, no offer, no plan” for his return. When asked if he would be interested in playing Gandalf again, McKellen responded with a touch of humor, “If I’m alive.”
Peter Jackson, the mastermind behind the original trilogies, has expressed his fascination with the character of Gollum. In an interview with Deadline earlier this year, Jackson explained why focusing on Gollum is intriguing. “The Gollum/Sméagol character has always fascinated me because Gollum reflects the worst of human nature, whilst his Sméagol side is, arguably, quite sympathetic,” Jackson said. He believes that Gollum’s duality resonates with audiences because it mirrors aspects of human nature. Jackson aims to explore Gollum’s backstory and delve into parts of his journey that were not covered in the earlier films.
McKellen’s potential return as Gandalf is not the only topic of interest. Viggo Mortensen, who portrayed Aragorn in The Lord of the Rings trilogy, has also expressed a willingness to reprise his role for The Hunt for Gollum. However, Mortensen acknowledged that the story would need to account for the two decades that have passed since the original films.
Details about The Hunt for Gollum remain scarce, but Jackson has hinted at the film’s direction. He mentioned that the movie would include content that was not covered in the original trilogy. “We really want to explore his backstory and delve into those parts of his journey we didn’t have time to cover in the earlier films,” Jackson said. He emphasized that the film would stay true to Tolkien’s vision.
It’s important to note that The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum should not be confused with the fan-film of the same name. Warner Bros. recently took down the 15-year-old project upon announcing its continuation of the Lord of the Rings theatrical universe, only to reinstate it less than 24 hours later.
As fans eagerly await more news about The Hunt for Gollum, the possibility of seeing Ian McKellen don Gandalf’s hat and robe once more remains a tantalizing prospect. For now, the actor’s return hinges on one simple condition: “If I’m alive.”
