Sir Ian McKellen Drops Major Bombshell About Plans For THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE HUNT FOR GOLLUM

Sir Ian McKellen Drops Major Bombshell About Plans For THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE HUNT FOR GOLLUM

There's a great deal of intrigue surrounding Andy Serkis' plans for The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, but in a new interview, Ian McKellen appears to confirm that the movie will be a two-parter!

By JoshWilding - Sep 10, 2024 07:09 PM EST
Filed Under: Lord of the Rings
Source: SFFGazette.com

It was earlier this year that we first learned of Warner Bros.' plans for The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, a new movie set before the events of The Fellowship of the Ring starring and directed by Andy Serkis.

Philippa Boyens and Fran Walsh, who wrote The Lord of the Rings trilogy, are penning the screenplay, along with Phoebe Gittins and Arty Papageorgiou (The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim). Filmmaker Peter Jackson, meanwhile, is producing the project, with the idea being for this to usher in a new wave of big screen tales set in Middle-earth.

Sir Ian McKellen has already confirmed that he's been approached about playing Gandalf again but just dropped a major revelation about Serkis' plans for The Hunt for Gollum during an appearance on This Morning in the UK.

"Well, all I know is that they called me up and said these films were going to happen, that [they're] mainly going to be about Gollum," he says in the video below (via SFFGazette.com). "Andy Serkis who played Gollum is going to direct, and there will be a script arriving sometime in the new year...and then I'll judge whether I want to go back [Laughs]."

The legendary actor then revealed, "I'm told it's two films. I probably shouldn't be saying this [Laughs]. But I haven't read the script, and I don't know when it is, and I don't even know where it will be filmed."

That's quite the bombshell, though we perhaps shouldn't be too surprised. You'll recall that The Hobbit was meant to be a two-parter before becoming a trilogy. Warner Bros. knows it can make money with this franchise so The Hunt For Gollum playing out over two movies rather than just one has likely been the plan from the start.

Is there enough story to really justify that? We'll have to wait and see. 

As for whether he'd be willing to pass the Gandalf reins to another actor, the X-Men star added, "I would love to go back to New Zealand, number one. I also don't like the idea of anybody else playing Gandalf [but] don't forget there were two Dumbledores."

In another recent interview, McKellen was quoted as saying, "Enthusiasm for The Lord of the Rings shows no sign of abating. I can’t tell you any more than that. 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."

This is quite a contrast to what McKellen said in July when he said he'd heard "stirrings in Tolkien land," adding, "I haven't shaved in months...But there is no script, there is no offer, there is no plan." As for whether he'd be up for returning, he said with a laugh, "If I'm alive."

The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum will be released in theaters in 2026.

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harryba11zack
harryba11zack - 9/10/2024, 7:11 PM
go for 3
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HashTagSwagg
HashTagSwagg - 9/10/2024, 7:16 PM
@harryba11zack - and then do 3 Extended cuts
DrDReturns
DrDReturns - 9/10/2024, 11:54 PM
@harryba11zack - At least we will always have the Extended Trilogy. Those are filmmaking magic.
Shivermetimbers
Shivermetimbers - 9/11/2024, 10:40 AM
@DrDReturns - Since I watched The Rings of Power, I got motivated to rewatch the original LOTR trilogy again and chose the extended cut versions. I just realized that I don't think I ever watched those versions before. I am excited to see them all over again. It's going to take a while though, they are so long!
DrDReturns
DrDReturns - 9/11/2024, 10:31 PM
@Shivermetimbers - Yes, Sir. They are, but so worth it.

I confess I never read the novels, but I love film and have a huge appreciation for the achievement Jackson and crew accomplished.
Lisa89
Lisa89 - 9/10/2024, 7:16 PM
I can't wait to see the 2 hour long fan-edit of both movies into one. It'll be much better.
The1st
The1st - 9/11/2024, 6:28 AM
@Lisa89 - Nothing like a good vergence.
ModHaterSLADE
ModHaterSLADE - 9/10/2024, 7:19 PM
Gollum isn't interesting enough to be the focus of a film IMO, but if it brings back Gandalf or any other members of the Fellowship I'm all for it.
DrReedRichards
DrReedRichards - 9/10/2024, 7:19 PM
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"I'm told it's two films.

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I probably shouldn't be saying this. [Laughs]."

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Shivermetimbers
Shivermetimbers - 9/10/2024, 7:24 PM
Love middle earth tales, but two movies about some hunt for Gollum doesn't really do it for me. I think I would only be somewhat interested in another attempt at adapting the Hobbit down the road. But a true and accurate adaptation in a single film (two at the absolute most). I liked the hobbit movies ok, but they were so bloated. The original LOTR trilogy is goated and should never be remade. Side note, I finally caught up on the Rings of Power and have been enjoying it mostly. It is better than I originally expected based on some reaction I have seen. I am not a super stickler for the source material though, despite my comments about the Hobbit earlier, haha.
Nolanite
Nolanite - 9/10/2024, 7:53 PM
@Shivermetimbers - you must enjoy talking to yourself.
Scum.
Shivermetimbers
Shivermetimbers - 9/11/2024, 10:37 AM
@Nolanite - Well, it would clearly be a lot better than talking to you.
Nolanite
Nolanite - 9/11/2024, 11:52 AM
@Shivermetimbers - nothing is better than talking to me.
Well actually hookers and cocaine is much better but you get the picture.
Nolanite out
Cass
Cass - 9/11/2024, 2:22 PM
@Shivermetimbers - Hobbit suffered from more than just being inaccurate though. Those films were a CGI-enhanced mess. As some other people have said, fan edits are the way to go there.
CoHost
CoHost - 9/10/2024, 7:24 PM
Jude Law or Ewan McGregor would be perfect for a younger Gandalf.
MrDandy
MrDandy - 9/10/2024, 7:57 PM
@CoHost - Michael Fassbender! It worked last time. Do it again!
McMurdo
McMurdo - 9/10/2024, 7:25 PM
Shoulda been an Angmar film
Urubrodi
Urubrodi - 9/10/2024, 7:36 PM
Why not do a movie about the wars in the North during LOTR?
MrDandy
MrDandy - 9/10/2024, 7:55 PM
@Urubrodi - there was leaked concept art from Peter Jackson, that may be the second of this anthology series. My bet will be Hunt for Gollum, War in the North, ending with Witch King of Agmar.
Urubrodi
Urubrodi - 9/11/2024, 6:04 AM
@MrDandy - I really hope you're right, we don't know 2 films on Gollum.
Gambito
Gambito - 9/10/2024, 7:41 PM
Go for it one more time LOVE his Gandalf so this would be a real treat my only worry would be that they overdo the ai and he is performace gets smeared ;(
SheepishOne
SheepishOne - 9/10/2024, 7:43 PM
I’d be more interested in a Peter Jackson directed film about the fall of Numenor.
Gambito
Gambito - 9/10/2024, 7:50 PM
@SheepishOne - I’d be more interested in this movie if Peter was directing again
MrDandy
MrDandy - 9/10/2024, 7:54 PM
I think he’s confused. New Line is looking to do 3 movies set at various historical times within middle-earth. It’s likely they want him on a two film contract with one of them being Hunt for Gollum.
Ghoul
Ghoul - 9/10/2024, 8:01 PM
Very cautiously skeptical. If they make it with the love they made lotr with, yes I’m all in it will be a fantastic trip back with them! But if they make it the way they made the Hobbit, hard pass. I think Andy Serkis is capable at least. Just be careful with the cgi though.
Izaizaiza
Izaizaiza - 9/10/2024, 8:05 PM
@Ghoul - Agreed. Even in the first trilogy, as CGI got better, the effects got worse.
Matchesz
Matchesz - 9/10/2024, 8:23 PM
Wish they put more love into the Hobbit films..
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 9/10/2024, 8:55 PM
Off topic:

@JoshWilding

HBO’s Harry Potter TV series opens casting call.

https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/harry-potter-show-hbo-casting-harry-ron-hermione-1236138486/
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 9/10/2024, 9:41 PM
Tbh , maybe it’s just me but there’s some vagueness and ambiguity there i feel…

He doesn’t necessarily say that Hunt for Gollum would be 2 films but that there will be 2 films with one being that possibly in which he might appear in response to the interviewer’s question.

Anyway even though I’m not particularly excited for the film , I hope he does come back since he’s Jackson’s version of Gandalf and it’s gonna be hard to see anyone else in that role!!.

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LSHF
LSHF - 9/10/2024, 9:51 PM
I hope they aren't forced to make this another padded-out trilogy.
MG0019
MG0019 - 9/10/2024, 11:58 PM
Was this ever in question? Of course they’re stretching a few paragraphs into a 9hr trilogy.

Iluvatar forbid you dig into the VOLUMES of lore and stories written by on the world’s best authors. Nah, just milk a story that was told efficiently with a few lines. That worked out so well for your last trilogy, WB.
S8R8M
S8R8M - 9/11/2024, 1:47 AM
So this will turn into another unnecessary trilogy
JustAWaffle
JustAWaffle - 9/11/2024, 9:21 AM
2 movies?

Someone bring in 2001 Peter Jackson, get the rights to Beren and Luthien, and get to work.
philinterrupted
philinterrupted - 9/11/2024, 9:21 AM
I wonder if they’ll find him….

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