New Film Set to Revive Iconic Character from the Original Lord of the Rings Trilogy

The upcoming film, Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, will bring viewers back to the world of Middle-earth on the big screen. At least one actor from the original trilogy has been invited to reprise their role.

In 2003, Peter Jackson concluded his LOTR trilogy with Return of the King. Over the course of 21 years, the franchise has grown to include The Hobbit films in the 2010s (which received mixed reviews), Amazon’s controversial Rings of Power TV show, and the upcoming release of the War of the Rohirrim anime movie this Christmas.

Despite not directing it, Jackson is involved as a producer for The Hunt for Gollum, a live-action film being led by Andy Serkis. Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens, who co-wrote the original trilogy, have also returned for this project.

According to the title, the movie is likely to focus on Gollum’s time in Mordor with Sauron and his eventual journey to the Shire. In line with Tolkien’s appendices, Gandalf assigns Aragorn the task of finding Gollum. This story could be considered a prequel, as it takes place before Gandalf gives Frodo the One Ring and returns to the Shire.

Ian McKellen as Gandalf — New Line Cinema

Despite not having a definitive answer, there has been speculation about whether Ian McKellen will reprise his role as Gandalf. He has been asked about it and appears to be enthusiastic about returning to the beloved character.

According to an interview with The Big Issue, he revealed that the popularity of Lord of the Rings continues to grow and that there are plans for more films. He was informed that Gandalf will be a part of these films and they are hoping he will reprise his role.

“When will it be ready? I’m not sure. Is the script finalized? It hasn’t been written yet, so they should hurry up.”

If McKellen decides to reprise his role as Gandalf, it could potentially raise concerns about Viggo Mortensen’s portrayal of Aragorn. The filmmakers could either use de-aging techniques on the actor or choose to recast the character for the film.

In an interview with GQ, Mortensen discussed the possibility of reprising his role as the king of Gondor and Arnor. He expressed his fondness for playing the character and how it had been a valuable learning experience for him. He also mentioned how much he had enjoyed portraying the character.

Despite initial speculation, it seems that he has already dismissed the possibility of playing a younger version of the character. He stated, “I would only consider it if I felt it was a good fit for my current age and if it made sense for the character. Otherwise, it wouldn’t make sense to do it.”