Sir Ian McKellen, 86, insists he WILL reprise Gandalf role in new Lord Of The Rings film despite horror stage fall – as he vows not to slow down

by

Despite recently being injured, Sir Ian McKellen has confirmed he will return as the beloved Gandalf in the next Lord of the Rings movie.

The 86-year-old actor has announced he wants to reprise his role from Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings film trilogy – The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King – which was originally released between 2001 and 2003.

A new Lord of the Rings movie, currently called ‘The Hunt for Gollum,’ is planned to come out on December 17, 2027. Filming is expected to begin in New Zealand in May 2026.

Many people might be surprised by his perseverance, considering Sir Ian suffered a chipped vertebra and a broken wrist after falling off stage at the Noel Coward Theatre in June. This happened while he was performing as Sir John Falstaff in Shakespeare’s Henry IV.

Even as he neared his nineties and faced health challenges, Sir Ian McKellen declared he had no plans to retire. He enthusiastically mentioned hoping to revisit his role as Gandalf in ‘The Lord of the Rings’ next year, stating, ‘I am not slowing down!’

After a fall, Sir Ian had to stop performing as Sir John Falstaff for the remainder of the show’s run, similar to last year when unexpected injuries caused concern among audiences.

He later admitted he felt deeply ashamed and upset about disappointing those who came to see his show, and the experience made him realize he doesn’t have much time remaining.

In an interview with The Mirror, Sir Ian reflected on a recent fall, noting that even demanding film work isn’t as physically challenging or risky as performing in the theatre – or, as he’s now learned, any live performance.

Looking back, if I’d been younger, I probably would have reacted – maybe stood up or moved to try and prevent it. I felt a sense of finality, like it was all over.

That performance marked the end of my time with the show. I fell forward into the audience, landing on someone in the front row. Luckily, they and the padding I was wearing cushioned the fall, so I wasn’t seriously hurt, though I initially thought I was in serious trouble.

As a lot of you know, Sir Ian had to unexpectedly cancel his appearance at the international premiere of his new film, The Christophers, back in September. It was a bit of a shock, but it turned out his doctors advised him to prioritize his health, so he made the responsible decision to step back. We’re all hoping he’s doing well and focusing on recovery!

I was so thrilled to hear from him at the Toronto Film Festival, even if it was a pre-recorded message! His new dark comedy was getting such a great response. He explained he couldn’t be there in person because his doctors advised against flying, and honestly, I completely understand – better to be safe than risk anything. It was just good to get a message from him, knowing he’s taking care of himself.

Steven Soderbergh’s new dark comedy, ‘The Christophers’, features Michaela Coel, James Corden, and Jessica Gunning in its cast.

The story centers around the adult children of a well-known artist who are no longer close to each other. After their father passes away, they enlist a forger to finish his incomplete paintings, hoping to sell them as newly discovered works.

Ed Solomon, who previously worked with Steven on projects like the 2021 film No Sudden Move, the Full Circle miniseries, the Mosaic murder mystery, and Bill & Ted Face the Music, wrote the script.

The movie was filmed quickly, with Sir Ian shooting his scenes in February – his first project since a fall during a West End performance caused concern.

Read More

2025-11-06 14:33