Ian McKellen confirms two iconic characters' return in the upcoming The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum film

Ian McKellen, who portrayed Gandalf the Grey in The Lord of the Rings trilogy, will return to the franchise in the upcoming film The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum. Warner Bros. has announced that the movie, directed by Andy Serkis, is scheduled for theatrical release on December 17, 2027.

In addition to Gandalf the Grey, Frodo Baggins' character is confirmed to reprise in The Hunt for Gollum. While speaking at the 'For the Love of Fantasy' event in London, McKellen confirmed the return of two characters, saying:

"There's a character in the movie called Frodo, and there's a character in the movie called Gandalf. Apart from that, my lips are sealed!"

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Ian McKellen confirms Gandalf and Frodo’s return in The Hunt for Gollum

At the For the Love of Fantasy event, Ian McKellen officially confirmed that Gandalf the Grey and Frodo Baggins will appear in Andy Serkis’ upcoming Gollum-centered film, The Hunt for Gollum. Other original cast members, including Sean Astin, Dominic Monaghan, Billy Boyd, and John Rhys-Davies, were also present at the panel, as reported by Collider.

Ian McKellen also offered a glimpse into the broader project, mentioning that shooting would start in May under the direction of Serkis and that Gollum would be at the center of the story. During the event, Ian McKellen stated:

''I hear there's going to be another movie based in Middle-earth, and it's going to start filming in May. It's going to be directed by Gollum, and it's all about Gollum. But I'll tell you two secrets about the casting.''

Although Ian McKellen did not reveal details about the other cast members, he confirmed that Gandalf and Frodo would appear in the upcoming film.

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About The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum

A still from the movie The Lord of the Rings (Image via YouTube/Warner Bros. Entertainment)

The Hunt for Gollum is expected to explore Gollum’s journey during the years between The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. Andy Serkis is set to direct and portray Gollum via motion capture, with Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, and Philippa Boyens overseeing the script. Warner Bros. has indicated that this is likely the first of two new Middle-earth films in development.

As reported by Collider, Serkis provided details about the production schedule:

“We’ve been talking about the film over the course of the last year. We’re about to start a period of prep in the next few months or so. We will be shooting in the early to mid-part of next year, I guess, and then it'll be as long as it takes to shoot… all ready for a December 2027 release.”

He also discussed the focus on Gollum’s character:

“I’m incredibly excited to… do something which is, I think, going to be surprising, and yet very much part of the lore and the feel of the trilogy… we’re investigating in greater depth the character formerly known as Smeagol, but mostly known as Gollum.”

The December 2027 release continues the franchise’s tradition of holiday openings, as all six films in Peter Jackson’s original Lord of the Rings and Hobbit trilogies premiered in December and collectively earned $2.9 billion worldwide. The Hunt for Gollum will mark the first live-action Lord of the Rings film since 2014’s The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies and follows the 2024 anime release The War of the Rohirrim.

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