Ian McKellen teases Gandalf and Frodo return in ‘The Hunt for Gollum’

Ian McKellen has left Lord of the Rings fans reeling after dropping a surprise hint about his return as Gandalf in the upcoming film The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum. Speaking at the For the Love of Fantasy fan event in London, the 86-year-old actor revealed that both Gandalf and Frodo will appear in the new instalment, due to begin production in May.

The film, directed by Andy Serkis who reprises his iconic role as Gollum, marks the latest addition to the Middle-earth saga. Originally slated for 2026, the release has now been pushed to December 2027. McKellen’s announcement came with playful secrecy as he told fans, “I’ll tell you two secrets about the casting: 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.” Elijah Wood, who portrayed Frodo in the original trilogy, was present at the event and exchanged knowing smiles with McKellen, fuelling speculation of his involvement.

The audience reaction was immediate, with cheers and gasps filling the hall as McKellen teased the return of the beloved characters. Fans quickly took to social media to celebrate the possibility of witnessing Middle-earth legends on screen once more, sparking a wave of nostalgic excitement.

Peter Jackson, who directed the Oscar-winning trilogy, is attached as producer alongside Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens. Warner Bros. Discovery has placed The Hunt for Gollum among its top priorities, with CEO David Zaslav calling it one of the studio’s most important upcoming projects alongside new Batman, Superman films and Harry Potter series.

For McKellen and Wood, the return would mark yet another reunion with the franchise that defined a generation of fantasy cinema. While details remain tightly guarded, the suggestion that both Gandalf and Frodo will stand once again in Middle-earth has already made The Hunt for Gollum one of the most anticipated films of the decade.