Sir Ian McKellen, the iconic actor behind Gandalf in the Lord of the Rings franchise, has expressed his openness to reprising the role in future films—but with a note of urgency. At 85, McKellen recently told Big Issue magazine that he has been informed about new Lord of the Rings films, and that Gandalf will be part of them. However, the actor stressed, “They better be quick,” as the script is not yet written, and time may be a factor in his ability to return to the character.
McKellen’s statement follows a fall he experienced in June 2024 during a performance of Player Kings, a production of Shakespeare’s Henry IV in London. The actor reflected on the incident, admitting that while it was likely just an accident, his age had him questioning his physical resilience. “I’m left feeling weak physically,” he shared, though he is working on exercises to regain his strength. Emotionally, the fall has impacted him, with the realization that “when you get to my age, you can’t always get up again.”
Despite this, McKellen remains an active figure in the entertainment industry. While he plans to take the rest of 2024 off for personal reasons rather than necessity, he is still considering potential projects. Known for his energetic involvement in acting even in his later years, McKellen’s portrayal of Gandalf in Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies has earned him lasting global recognition.
The possibility of McKellen returning as Gandalf aligns with Warner Bros.’ announcement of new projects in the Lord of the Rings universe, including The Hunt for Gollum, set for a 2026 release, which will focus on Gollum’s backstory. While there is no confirmation of Gandalf’s role in this particular film, McKellen remains hopeful.
In the meantime, McKellen continues to recover from his fall and acknowledges the mental toll aging can take, but he insists that he’s not ready to step down from the acting stage just yet. For millions of Lord of the Rings fans, the hope of seeing him wield Gandalf’s staff once more is a prospect eagerly awaited—if filmmakers can act quickly enough.
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