After Gandalf actor Ian McKellen revealed last week that the new Lord of the Rings film was interested in his return, the star now caused another surprise when he commented on the scope of the new Middle Earth movie The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum chatted.
Ian McKellen reveals: Instead of just one, there will be 2 new Lord of the Rings films about Gollum
Information about the new Lord of the Rings film about Gollum, in which Peter Jackson is again involved, is thin on the ground. All we already know is that the former ring bearer Gollum is at the center and that characters like Legolas could return. This made the revelation made by six-time Gandalf actor Ian McKellen as a guest on the morning show This Morning all the more surprising:
All I know is that they called me and explained that these films are about Gollum. Andy Serkis, who played Gollum, is going to direct. And The script should reach me at the beginning of next year. And then I’ll decide if I want to come back. But I probably would. First of all, I’d love to go back to New Zealand. And secondly, I don’t like the idea of someone else playing Gandalf.
When asked if there would be more than one Gollum film, Lord of the Rings star Ian McKellen revealed:
I was told There are two films. I probably shouldn’t even say that. I haven’t read a script yet and I don’t know when it’s set or where it’s filmed. These days they could probably film it from home in London. But I’d rather go back to New Zealand.
Bilbo’s Hobbit journey was originally only planned with two films and was then expanded to three parts. Is Andy Serkis also planning a new trilogy? With the knowledge of (at least) two Gollum films, Ian McKellen’s previous statements that the new Lord of the Rings production should “keep up” and it could be “last job” suddenly makes even more sense. Because the next Middle Earth cinema trip has just become much more extensive and even though McKellen comments on his age with a wink, the 85-year-old is not getting any younger.
When will the new Lord of the Rings Gollum movies be released?
It has been known for some time that Warner is planning several new Lord of the Rings live-action films. But not that Gollum will have several adventures at once. Sméagol’s first film is set to be Cinema release for 2026 announced. If the new series sticks to the previous trilogy releases (and maybe even shoots its double together), the Gollum sequel should be available a year later, in 2027.
This Christmas, the first Lord of the Rings anime, The Battle of the Rohirrim, will also be released in cinemas on December 12, 2024.
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After the revelation of the villain Sauron, the cards in Middle Earth are reshuffled. Esther and Mario view the result of the second season with very different perspectives. A spoiler-free first podcast part is followed by a series review with a more in-depth Lord of the Rings analysis.