A major reunion in Middle-earth is set to take place in the upcoming The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum after Ian McKellen confirmed the appearance of Gandalf and Frodo in the film.
McKellen is now officially confirmed to join the cast of The Hunt for Gollum, with Andy Serkis starring in the lead role and serving as director.
With these major stars and iconic characters returning, the big question now is: who else will appear in the new Lord of the Rings movie?
What Did Ian McKellen Say About the New Lord of the Rings Movie?
During a recent fan event, captured by X user @Gollumgram, Ian McKellen was seen onstage alongside Elijah Wood (Frodo) and Sean Astin (Sam).
It was there that the legendary actor dropped a major casting update about the highly anticipated new The Lord of the Rings movie.
“But I’ll tell you two secrets about the casting,” McKellen teased. “There’s a character in the movie called Frodo and another character called Gandalf—and apart from that, my lips are sealed.”
McKellen didn’t stop there, however, as he also revealed additional production details, confirming that filming is set to begin in May.
“It’s going to start filming in May,” he continued. “It’s going to be directed by Gollum, and it’s all about Gollum.”
While McKellen did not explicitly confirm whether Wood will reprise his role as Frodo, his return appears highly likely – especially with McKellen set to appear once again as Gandalf and Andy Serkis returning as Gollum, 23 years after The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.
Wood himself has previously expressed openness to returning to the franchise. Speaking to JoBlo in July 2024, he said, “It would be pretty incredible.”
“I have to say, any return to New Zealand to work with those individuals within the context of that world would be… jumping back into a world that’s so beloved and means so much to me,” he added. “So yeah, it would be awesome.”
And from the looks of it, more familiar faces are expected to join them in the movie.
Which Lord of the Rings Characters May Appear in The Hunt for Gollum?
Considering the timeline of The Hunt for Gollum, a reunion between Gandalf and Frodo isn’t far off.
The film takes place after Bilbo Baggins’ (Ian Holm) 111th birthday, as seen in The Fellowship of the Ring, but before Frodo leaves the Shire to begin his journey to Mordor. By this point, Gandalf and Frodo are already close friends.
Since the plot centers on Gandalf and Aragorn’s search for Gollum, the beloved Ranger of the North and ancient King of Arnor and Gondor is expected to return – though it remains to be seen whether Viggo Mortensen will reprise the role. Even so, his return isn’t far-fetched.
With Frodo confirmed to appear, it’s also possible that the fan-favorite hobbits, Sam, Pippin Took (Billy Boyd), and Merry Brandybuck (Dominic Monaghan), could make an appearance.
Given that Wood, Astin, Boyd, and Monaghan often reunite, a major hobbit reunion could be one of the highlights of the new film.
Other characters who might appear include Legolas (Orlando Bloom), Sauron (Sala Baker / Alan Howard), Saruman (Christopher Lee), the Witch-King (Lawrence Makoare), Galadriel (Cate Blanchett), Elrond (Huge Weaving), and Thranduil (Lee Pace).
The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum is set to release on December 17, 2027.
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