Ian McKellen reveals a macabre condition for his return in the new LOTR Gollum movie

Sir Ian McKellen in a still from "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring" (Image via X)

Ian McKellen considered as one of the greatest actor who has graced a movie screen, revealed a rather grim stipulation on his return as Gandalf, the Middle-Earth’s white haired wizard.

In an interview with the United Kingdom’s Times, McKellen addressed his concerns about returning in the Tolkien land with the Peter Jackson produced and Andy Serkis directed, “The Lord of the Rings The Hunt for Gollum” set to premiere in 2026.

The 85-year-old admitted that he treats each new acting role as if it could be his final performance. The allure of fresh projects in the Tolkien universe, particularly the Gollum film, produced by Peter Jackson and directed by Andy Serkis, has caught his attention.

When questioned about the possibility of reprising his role as Gandalf, he candidly responded, "If I’m alive.”

Sir Ian McKellen, last portrayed the iconic wizard in 2014’s The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, marking nearly ten years since he has donned the hat and robe. The anticipated film “The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for
Gollum” is not expected to debut until 2026 at the earliest, with the script currently in its early stages.

Apart from McKellen, Viggo Mortenson who played Aragorn in the LOTR trilogy also showed an interest on returning to the blockbuster fantasy franchise. Mortenson stated that he would be open to the possibility if it aligns with his current stage in life. “I would only do it if I was right for it in terms of, you know, the age I am now and so forth. I would only do it if I was right for the character. It would be silly to do it otherwise,” said the 65-year-old.

While details about "The Hunt for Gollum" are scarce, some insights have emerged regarding the film's exploration of Andy Serkis' iconic character. Peter Jackson has revealed that this new movie will delve into aspects he "didn’t have time to cover" in his original "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy.

Jackson's highly celebrated "The Lord of the Rings" series kicked off in 2001 with "The Fellowship of the Ring." This inaugural film grossed over $800 million globally and garnered 13 Academy Award nominations. The trilogy continued with "The Two Towers" and "The Return of the King," and eventually led to the creation of the "The Hobbit" prequel trilogy.