Ian McKellen Is Open to Returning as Gandalf in New ‘Lord of the Rings’ Movies, but Warns Filmmakers: ‘They Better Be Quick!’
variety.comK.J. Yossman Will the next cinematic installment of Tolkien’s fantasy series be titled “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the Wizard”?
It may well be if the filmmakers succeed in conjuring up Ian McKellen as Gandalf again. McKellen, who played the beloved grey pilgrim in the first three films as well as the subsequent “Hobbit” movies, has revealed there is already magic at work behind the scenes to bring him back. “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 told British magazine the Big Issue. “When?
I don’t know. What the script is? It’s not written yet. So they better be quick!” Earlier this year Warner Bros. confirmed the first new film in the series was set to be released in 2026 and that it would focus on Gollum, played by Andy Serkis in the original films.
The working title is currently “The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum.” The films’ original director, Peter Jackson, will produce the movie alongside his longtime producing partners Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens.
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