{"id":427945,"date":"2026-02-16T01:53:07","date_gmt":"2026-02-16T01:53:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/427945\/"},"modified":"2026-02-16T01:53:07","modified_gmt":"2026-02-16T01:53:07","slug":"gandalfs-exact-role-in-new-lord-of-the-rings-gollum-spinoff-revealed-by-sir-ian-mckellen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/427945\/","title":{"rendered":"Gandalf\u2019s Exact Role in New Lord of The Rings\u2019 Gollum Spinoff Revealed By Sir Ian McKellen"},"content":{"rendered":"

We\u2019re heading back to Middle Earth, Lord of the Rings<\/a> fans! Back in 2024, it came out that Warner Bros. was moving forward with The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum<\/a>. This will be the first live-action movie that\u2019s been set in Middle Earth since The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies came out in 2014, and is set to take place before the events of The Fellowship of the Ring.\u00a0<\/p>\n

We also know that Andy Serkis will be directing The Hunt for Gollum, as well as reprising his role as the titular Gollum. Peter Jackson is also returning as a producer<\/a>, with Philippa Boyens and Fran Walsh, who penned The Lord of the Rings trilogy, writing the screenplay. But what about Gandalf\u2019s fate? According to Sir Ian McKellan<\/a>, who plays the wizard, he\u2019s \u201cnot in the position to say\u2014but the script is designed to appeal to people who like Lord of the Rings. It\u2019s an adventure story, Aragorn trying to find Gollum with Gandalf directing operations from the sidelines.\u201d<\/p>\n

What We Know About The Hunt for Gollum<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udea8 BREAKING \ud83d\udea8 <\/p>\n

Ian McKellen hints at Hunt For Gollum Plot:<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not in the position to say \u2014 but the script is designed to appeal to people who like\u00a0Lord of the Rings. It\u2019s an adventure story, Aragorn trying to find Gollum with Gandalf directing operations from the sidelines.\u201d\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/KInIs5kTbH<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 The Mellon Heads \u2013 LOTR Podcast (@mellon_heads) February 15, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

TheOneRing.net<\/a> previously revealed a leaked synopsis for the upcoming film: \u201cBefore the Fellowship, one creature\u2019s obsession holds the key to Middle-earth\u2019s survival \u2014 or its demise. In The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, we meet young Smeagol \u2014 an outsider drawn to trinkets and mischief\u2014long before The One Ring consumed him and began his tragic descent into the tortured, deceitful creature Gollum. With the ring lost and carried away by Bilbo Baggins, Gollum finds himself compelled to leave his cave in search of it.<\/p>\n

Gandalf the Grey calls upon Aragorn, still known as the ranger Strider, to track the elusive creature whose knowledge of the whereabouts of the ring could tip the balance toward the Dark Lord Sauron. Set in the shadowed time between Bilbo\u2019s birthday disappearance and the Fellowship\u2019s formation, this perilous journey through Middle-earth\u2019s darkest corners reveals untold truths, tests the resolve of its future king, and explores the fractured soul and backstory of Gollum, one of Tolkien\u2019s most enigmatic characters.<\/p>\n

Directed by original cast member Andy Serkis, produced by Peter Jackson, and written & produced by Fran Walsh and Phillipa Boyens \u2014 the creative team behind the Oscar-winning trilogy \u2014 this live-action movie bridges the beloved films with new characters, returning heroes, and a deeply engaging origin story that resets the stage for, and changes everything you know about the legendary Lord of the Rings trilogy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Who Is Returning?<\/p>\n

Serkis and McKellen are the only ones currently officially confirmed to return, though Elijah Wood has strongly hinted at a potential return as Frodo. And we do know that the casting of a younger Aragorn, who was formerly played by Viggo Mortensen, is underway. We\u2019re likely going to have to wait a decent amount of time for any news on that particular casting (and we certainly won\u2019t be seeing Sebastian Stan or Ben Barnes as Strider), but hopefully we\u2019ll hear something soon-ish, especially since the movie is scheduled for a December 2027 release.<\/p>\n

McKellen also had another update to share about the film<\/a>, saying, \u201cIt\u2019s going to start filming in May. It\u2019s going to be directed by Gollum, and it\u2019s all about Gollum. But I\u2019ll tell you two secrets about the casting. There\u2019s a character in the movie called Frodo and another character called Gandalf, and apart from that, my lips are sealed.\u201d<\/p>\n

Are you looking forward to The Hunt for Gollum? Let us know your thoughts in the comments. And don\u2019t forget to check out the ComicBook forum<\/a> to keep the conversation going with other Lord of the Rings fans.\u00a0<\/p>\n