Sir Ian McKellen Might Return as Gandalf in Andy Serkis’ Lord of the Rings Spin-Off as Acting Legend Finally Breaks Silence

In his career spanning six decades, Sir Ian McKellen has starred in some of the best sci-fi and fantasy movies in addition to numerous stage plays. However, there is one role that he will always remain synonymous with and it is none other than the beloved leader of the Fellowship of the Ring, Gandalf.

McKellen has played the character for over a decade and it has been another decade since he last graced the screens as the wise old wizard. There are certain franchises that fans just cannot get enough of and The Lord of the Rings is one such franchise.

Similarly, Gandalf is a character whose return is always a reason to celebrate. McKellen’s recent revelation regarding his return to the franchise in an upcoming movie warrants no less than a celebration, especially considering the actor is still recovering from a fall off the stage during a fight scene in a play he was starring in London’s West End.

Sir Ian McKellen Revealed He Has Been Tapped to Return as Gandalf in the New The Lord of the Rings Film

For his phenomenal acting skills, Sir Ian McKellen has won numerous awards including five Olivier Awards and one Tony Award. However, the thing that he has won in millions is the hearts of fans worldwide with his iconic roles as the X-Man Magneto and of course, Gandalf.

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The character of Gandalf first came to life on the screens in 2001 with the release of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. The critical and commercial success of this movie not only earned McKellen international stardom but also spawned two sequels. This trilogy of movies was directed by Peter Jackson and based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s eponymous novels.

In a recent interview with The Big Issue (via Deadline), The Good Liar actor divulged that he was approached to play the character in Andy Serkis’ Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum.

Enthusiasm for The Lord of the Rings shows no sign of abating … I can’t tell you any more than that. 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.

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After the first trilogy concluded in 2003, Richard III star reprised the role once again for Jackson’s three-part film adaptation of Tolkien’s The Hobbit film series. The last of these movies was released in 2014. It has been almost a decade since then, but McKellen is as ready as ever to don the hat again.

Sir Ian McKellen Is Not Planning to Retire Anytime Soon

The fact that someone as old as Sir Ian McKellen is not only actively working in the industry but also wishes to continue working as long as he can is truly commendable. While promoting his movie The Critic in an interview on BBC Breakfast, he confirmed as much, saying:

I shall just keep at it as long as the legs and the lungs and the mind keep working.

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Fans can stay assured that the actor will return as Gandalf if his body allows him. It has to be noted that he has announced that he will be taking the rest of this year off. So, he will be back in time for when the movie goes into production next year since it has a 2026 release date scheduled as of now.