Ian McKellen Open to Returning as Gandalf in NewLord of the RingsMovies but Says 'They Better Be Quick!'

Mar. 15, 2025

Ian McKellenis ready to return to Middle-earth — but hopes it’s sooner rather than later.

In a new interview withBig Issue, the 85-year-old actor appeared to be hinting that he wouldn’t be still acting for an open-ended amount of time, which could affect whether he is able to reprise his role as the wizard Gandalf in the upcomingnewLord of the Ringsmovies.

“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,” McKellen said in the interview, published Monday, Sept. 2. “When? I don’t know. What the script is? It’s not written yet. So they better be quick!”

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories.

Ian McKellen as Gandalf inThe Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers(2002).Pierre Vinet/New Line/Saul Zaentz/Wing Nut/Kobal/Shutterstock

Warner Bros. announced on May 9 that Serkis, 60, will direct as well as reprise his role as Ring of Power-obsessed Gollum, a.k.a. Sméagol, in the upcoming installment, with Jackson, 62, signing on as producer. Joining them on the producing team are filmmakers from theOscar-winning original trilogy including screenwriters Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens.

Meanwhile, McKellen broke out as Gandalf in 2001’sThe Fellowship of the Ring, earning an Academy Award nomination. After appearing inThe Two Towers(2002) andThe Return of the King(2003), he reprised the role in Jackson’s follow-up trilogy adapting Tolkien’sThe Hobbit.

In a May interview withDeadline, Jackson teased that “it’s too soon to know who will cross his path,” in reference to the plot and characters in Gollum’s upcoming movie.

“We really want to explore his backstory and delve into those parts of his journey we didn’t have time to cover in the earlier films," he said. “Suffice to say we will take our lead from Professor Tolkien.”

The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!

Ian McKellen in London on Sept. 2, 2024.Alan Chapman/Dave Benett/WireImage

Alan Chapman/Dave Benett/WireImage

McKellen was hospitalized for three days earlier this summer after he took a tumble during a performance at London’s Noël Coward theater. He was in a fight scene during a production ofPlayer Kings,a production ofHenry IV,when he lost his footing and reportedlyfell off the front of the stage.

Last month, the X-Manstar toldSaga Magazinethat he was afraid to leave the house after his June 17 accident, but admitted his injuries could’ve been a lot worse, as“the fat suit I wore[for his character Sir John Falstaff] saved my ribs and other joints, so I consider myself lucky.”

“I’ve relived that fall countless times. It was horrible,” he said. “I thought it was the end of something. It was very upsetting. The end didn’t mean my death, but it felt likethe end of my participation in the play.”

Despite calling it a “lucky escape,” McKellen told the outlet that he has to keep telling himself that he’s not too old to act.

“It was just a bloody accident,” he said. “I didn’t lose consciousness, I hadn’t been dizzy, but I’ve not been able to return to the stage, and they’ve continued without me.”

source: people.com