Sir Ian McKellen revealed that Gandalf and Frodo Baggins will be part of the upcoming film The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum. The actor shared that production is scheduled to begin in May 2026 for a planned December 17, 2027 theatrical release.
Speaking at a recent fan event in London, McKellen provided a playful but direct confirmation about the film’s casting.
“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. There’s a character in the movie called Frodo and another character called Gandalf, and apart from that my lips are sealed”.
This marks the first official word that these two beloved characters from the original trilogy will appear in the new story. While McKellen did not explicitly state he and Elijah Wood would play the roles, their participation is widely expected. Wood has previously expressed strong interest in returning to Middle-earth, calling the idea “pretty incredible” and “awesome”.
Gandalf (Sir Ian Mckellen) with a great announcement for the new Lord of the Rings movie😍❤️ pic.twitter.com/pXh7P8QuTb
— Gollumgram (@Gollumgram) January 5, 2026
Andy Serkis Directs and Returns as Gollum
Andy Serkis, the actor who brought Gollum to life through performance capture in Peter Jackson’s original films, will both direct The Hunt for Gollum and reprise his iconic role. The film is described as being told from Gollum’s perspective.
Serkis has called the project “surprising, and yet very much part of the lore and the feel of the trilogy”. He noted the team is in the early stages of development, with pre-production set to begin soon and a goal to start filming in early to mid-2026.
The creative team behind the original films is heavily involved. Director Peter Jackson and his long-time collaborators Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens are producing the new movie and will be “involved every step of the way”. Walsh and Boyens are also co-writing the script with Phoebe Gittins and Arty Papageorgiou.
Story Set Before The Fellowship of the Ring
The Hunt for Gollum is a prequel set in the time period between The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. The story takes place shortly before Frodo Baggins leaves the Shire.
The plot will focus on a quest initiated by Gandalf, who tasks the ranger Aragorn with finding Gollum before the creature can be captured by Sauron’s forces and reveal the location of the One Ring. This mission is a part of Tolkien’s lore referenced in the original books and films.
One major casting change involves Aragorn. Actor Viggo Mortensen is not expected to return to the role. Reports indicate the part will be recast with a younger actor, as the story explores Aragorn’s earlier adventures as a ranger.
Other Original Cast Members May Not Return
While Gandalf and Frodo are confirmed to appear, the status of other familiar faces from the original trilogy is less clear. Actor Hugo Weaving, who played the elf lord Elrond, has stated he will not return.
Weaving explained that he feels he has “had enough of Middle-earth” and expressed that playing an immortal elf character while aging as an actor was becoming “slightly silly”.
The involvement of other original cast members like Orlando Bloom (Legolas) or Sean Bean (Boromir) has not been confirmed. Bloom has shown interest but joked about the potential use of AI technology, a topic also mentioned by writer Philippa Boyens in relation to digitally de-aging returning actors.
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Film Part of New Warner Bros. Middle-earth Strategy
The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum is the first of what Warner Bros. plans as multiple new live-action films based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s works. Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav has listed the Gollum film among the studio’s top priorities alongside new projects for Batman, Superman, and Harry Potter.
The film will be developed and released through Warner Bros.’ New Line Cinema division, which produced the original Peter Jackson trilogies. The studio executives have emphasized their commitment to honoring Tolkien’s literary vision.
A separate, animated Middle-earth film titled The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim is scheduled for release on December 13, 2026. Peter Jackson is also a producer on that project, which is set 200 years before the events of The Hobbit.
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