McKellen Confirms Gandalf, Frodo Return in Hunt for Gollum

The Lord of the Rings prequel film The Hunt for Gollum will feature iconic characters Gandalf and Frodo, as confirmed by veteran actor Ian McKellen.

McKellen revealed these unexpected casting details during a Lord of the Rings panel at London's For the Love of Fantasy convention this weekend, where he appeared alongside Elijah Wood, who famously portrayed Frodo.

Addressing thrilled fans, McKellen shared new production updates—including a May filming commencement in New Zealand—and confirmed two Fellowship members' involvement, sparking enthusiastic cheers.

"I understand another Middle-earth film is in development," McKellen remarked. "Shooting begins this May under Andy Serkis' direction, focusing entirely on Gollum's story."

Serkis, reprising his groundbreaking motion-capture role as Gollum, will also helm the project after serving as second unit director on Peter Jackson's Hobbit trilogy.

"Let me share two casting revelations," McKellen teased. "Frodo appears in this film. So does Gandalf. Beyond that, I'm sworn to secrecy."

Frodo's inclusion proves particularly surprising given the story's presumed timeline between The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. While his narrative integration remains uncertain, fan theories already speculate on possible explanations.

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The film promises to explore Gollum's untold journey after losing the Ring to Bilbo in The Hobbit, culminating in his fateful encounter with Frodo decades later.

During this interim period, multiple characters—including Gandalf (making his presence unsurprising), Aragorn, and Sauron's forces—pursue Gollum for information about the Ring's location, briefly depicted in The Fellowship of the Ring through Gollum's coerced revelation of "Baggins" and "Shire."

Some fans theorize the film might employ The Hobbit's narrative framework, with Frodo documenting Gollum's tragic history in Bilbo's book. Others suggest it could directly bridge to Gollum's meeting with Frodo—though Wood's current age presents an intriguing production challenge regarding timeline continuity.

In related news, Orlando Bloom expressed potential interest in returning as Legolas, though he humorously noted it would "require some AI assistance."

The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum premieres December 27, 2027.