Summary
Ian McKellen addresses whether he will reprise the role of Gandalf inThe Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum. The recently announced film, which is slated to release in 2026, will be directed by original trilogy actor Andy Serkis and produced by Peter Jackson. The story is expected to see Gollum being hunted prior to the events ofThe Fellowship of the Ring, although no story details have been confirmed as the script is still in the early stages of development.
When asked byThe Timeswhether he could appear as Gandalf inThe Hunt for Gollum, McKellen admits that he currently looks the part due to the long white hair he has as Falstaff in the stage production ofPlayer Kingsand because “I haven’t shaved in months.“However, withThe Hunt for Gollumstill early in its development,“there is no script, there is no offer, there is no plan.“As for whether he would be interested in returning to the role,McKellen cheekily said,“If I’m alive.”
What Role Could Gandalf Play In The Hunt For Gollum?
WhileThe Hunt for Gollumwill likely take place prior to the events inThe Fellowship of the Ring, the nature of Gandalf’s role will depend on when exactly the story takes place inThe Lord of the Ringstimeline. It may have a similar plot to the 2009Hunt for Gollumfan film that hasGandalf enlisting Aragon to track Gollumto learn more about the magic ring Bilbo acquired from him, which, of course, is the One Ring. The bulk of the story is Aragorn’s hunt for the titular creature, but when Gollum is recaptured by the Elves of Mirkwood, Gandalf returns to interrogate him.
10 Lord Of The Rings Characters Who Can Return In The Hunt For Gollum
Major characters including Aragorn, Gandalf, Galadriel, and more could return for The Hunt for Gollum, depicting another quest to find the One Ring.
Gandalf could have a similar role in this iteration of the story, or perhaps could be more of a consistent presence throughout the film and track Gollum side-by-side with Aragorn from start to finish. There’s also the possibility of the filmfollowing Gandalf’s adventures even when he seemingly disappears from the main plot.The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaugdid this when Gandalf left the company of Bilbo Baggins, Thorin, and the dwarves to investigate Dol Guldur, with the film showing what transpires during his journey there.
There is also the potential forThe Hunt for Gollumto take place earlier in the eponymous figure’s life, going back as far as to when he was only Sméagol and acquired the One Ring for the first time. As anIstari, or wizard, Gandalfhas existed for thousands of years and is very much alive during these various points in the timeline. Even thoughGollum and Gandalf are both alive earlier in the timeline, the latter first learned about the former from Bilbo’s stories, which could prevent him from being included in a story earlier in the life of Gollum and Sméagol.
Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings & Hobbit trilogies are available to stream on Max.
The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum
Cast
The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum is an upcoming fantasy adventure film that delves into the story of Gollum’s obsession with the One Ring.
