Ian McKellen’s Gandalf Return in Andy Serkis ‘The Lord of The Rings Films’: Is It Possible?

Ian McKellen, a celebrated actor known for his iconic roles, remains a vibrant force in the film industry, even at 85. Recently, McKellen hinted at the possibility of reprising his legendary role as Gandalf in the upcoming Lord of the Rings films directed by Andy Serkis.

McKellen first brought Gandalf to life in the original ‘Lord of the Rings’ trilogy and later returned to the role for The Hobbit prequels. In a recent interview with Big Issue magazine, McKellen opened up about his recent health scare. After an incident on stage during a performance, he felt physically weak but has been focusing on recovery through exercises.

Image Courtesy: MSN

During the interview, McKellen was asked about the prospect of returning as Gandalf for the new films in the franchise. He expressed his enthusiasm, noting that interest in ‘The Lord of the Rings’ shows no signs of fading. 

McKellen revealed that he had been informed of plans for more films involving Gandalf and that there were hopes he would reprise the role. “They hope that I’ll be playing him,” McKellen shared, though he admitted he had no details about the script or timeline, quipping that the script “is not written yet, so they better be quick!”

McKellen also made it clear that he has no intention of allowing anyone else to take on the role of Gandalf if he can avoid it. “I’m not letting anyone else put on the pointy hat and beard if I can help it,” he declared.

Warner Bros. Discovery recently announced that Andy Serkis will direct and star in two new ‘Lord of the Rings’ films, with the first, titled The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, slated for release in 2026.

-Sushmita Sarkar