Ian McKellen is eager to return as Gandalf in the new Lord of the Rings movies, but he warns that time is of the essence.
The 85-year-old actor recently shared his enthusiasm for returning to the role, though he pointed out that the screenplay isn’t finished yet. “I’ve heard they plan to make more films with Gandalf, and they hope I’ll be back,” McKellen said in a September 2 interview with Big Issue. “When will this happen? The script isn’t written yet, so they’d better act quickly!”
Following his memorable performances in Peter Jackson’s original Lord of the Rings trilogy, McKellen is poised to revisit Middle-earth.
Jackson and Andy Serkis will produce The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, scheduled for release in 2026. Warner Bros. announced on May 9 that Serkis will direct and reprise his role as Gollum, while Jackson will serve as producer. Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens, who worked on the Oscar-winning original trilogy, will also join the team.
McKellen first earned acclaim for his role as Gandalf in 2001’s The Fellowship of the Ring. He continued portraying the wise wizard in The Two Towers (2002) and The Return of the King (2003), and later reprised the role in Jackson’s adaptation of The Hobbit.
Jackson hinted in a May interview with Deadline that the upcoming film will explore Gollum’s backstory in greater depth. “We want to delve into parts of his journey we didn’t cover before,” he said. “We’ll be guided by Professor Tolkien’s work.”
Earlier this summer, McKellen experienced a setback when he was hospitalized for three days after an accident on stage.
While performing in Henry IV at London’s Noël Coward Theatre, McKellen fell during a fight scene. He worried that his injuries could have been more severe, but a fat suit helped protect him. “I’ve replayed that fall in my mind countless times. It was frightening,” he shared. “It felt like the end of my involvement in the play.”
Despite calling it a “lucky escape,” McKellen admitted he struggles with feelings of aging and his ability to act. “It was just a bloody accident,” he said. “I didn’t lose consciousness or feel dizzy, but I haven’t been able to return to the stage yet.”