Latest news with #McKellen
USA Today
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Ian McKellen reveals major 'Lord of the Rings' heroes returning in 'Hunt for Gollum'
Ian McKellen is letting the "Lord of the Rings" secrets slip. The actor, 86, gave a major update about the next "Lord of the Rings" film, "The Hunt for Gollum," during an appearance at the For the Love of Fantasy convention in London on Sunday, Aug. 17. According to McKellen, his character, Gandalf, and Frodo Baggins, the character played by Elijah Wood in prior "Lord of the Rings" films, will both be in the new movie. "I'll tell you two secrets about the casting: There's a character in the movie called Frodo, and there's another character called Gandalf," he said, according to a video of the appearance shared on X. "Apart from that, my lips are sealed." McKellen also said the movie will begin shooting in May. USA TODAY has reached out to Warner Bros. Pictures for comment. Andy Serkis, who played Gollum in the previous "Lord of the Rings" movies, is set to direct "The Hunt for Gollum," with the franchise's longtime director Peter Jackson returning as a producer. This will be the first new live-action "Lord of the Rings" film since 2014's "The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies," as well as the first not to be directed by Jackson. "The Hunt for Gollum" will also mark the series' live-action return to the big screen amid Prime Video's ongoing streaming show "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power." An animated prequel movie, "The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim," was released in December. McKellen previously told The Sunday Times in June 2024 that he heard Gandalf is in "The Hunt for Gollum," and joked that he would play the character again "if I'm alive." After starring as the famed wizard in the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, McKellen reprised the role in three "Hobbit" prequel movies, released from 2012 to 2014. It was not immediately clear how Frodo would be involved in "The Hunt for Gollum," but Wood has previously expressed interest in returning. "It would be pretty incredible," he told JoBlo in August 2024. "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. So yeah, it would be awesome." 'The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum' release date "The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum" is set to hit theaters on Dec. 17, 2027.
See - Sada Elbalad
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- See - Sada Elbalad
Ian McKellen and Elijah Wood to Return for "The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum"
Yara Sameh Back to Middle-earth, old friends are waiting. Ian McKellen, the legendary actor behind Gandalf the Grey in the original Lord of the Rings film trilogy, dropped a bombshell update on the casting of "The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum" over the weekend. "I hear there's going to be another movie based in Middle-earth, and it's going to start filming in May. It's going to be directed by Gollum, and it's all about Gollum," McKellen teased at the For the Love of Fantasy fan event in London on Sunday. Last year, original LOTR helmer Peter Jackson was revealed to be producing a new live-action installment in The Lord of the Rings franchise with Gollum actor Andy Serkis directing and starring in the new film, which is slated for a December 2027 release. "I'll tell you two secrets about the casting: There's a character in the movie called Frodo, and there's a character in the movie called Gandalf," McKellen said. Smiling to himself as the crowd gasped in amazement, he joked, "Apart from that, my lips are sealed!". @gronkcosplay HUGE hunt for Gollum casting announcement #huntforgollum #ianmckellen #castingannouncement #lotr #breakingnews ♬ original sound - Gronk Cosplay Earlier in the day, Warner Bros. Discovery CEO and President David Zaslav discussed Serkis' film during the company's quarterly earnings call. Zaslav noted that "The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum" joins the likes of upcoming "Batman","Superman," and "Harry Potter" projects at the top of the studio's priority list. Although McKellen did not specifically say whether he and original Frodo Baggins star Elijah Wood would reprise their roles in the entry, Wood was present at the fan event, smiling conspiratorially as McKellen spoke alongside fellow LOTR alums Sean Astin, Dominic Monaghan, Billy Boyd, and John Rhys-Davies. Since the original Lord of the Rings film trilogy wrapped up in 2003 with the Oscar-winning "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King," McKellen, Wood, and Jackson all returned to Middle-earth with the Hobbit trilogy, which unspooled between 2012 and 2014. Jackson was not involved in Amazon's "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power" series, but last year he produced the franchise's first animated foray into the works of J.R.R. Tolkein, "The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim." Jackson was joined on the project by Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens, both producers on the original film trilogy, who are also on board The Hunt for Gollum. In June, Serkis told Collider , "We're very early on in the process. We've been talking about the film over the course of the last year. We're about to start a period of prep in the next few months or so. We will be shooting in the early to mid-part of next year, I guess, and then it'll be as long as it takes to shoot, which — it's a sizable movie — all ready for a December 2027 release." read more New Tourism Route To Launch in Old Cairo Ahmed El Sakka-Led Play 'Sayidati Al Jamila' to Be Staged in KSA on Dec. 6 Mandy Moore Joins Season 2 of "Dr. Death" Anthology Series Don't Miss These Movies at 44th Cairo Int'l Film Festival Today Amr Diab to Headline KSA's MDLBEAST Soundstorm 2022 Festival Arts & Culture Mai Omar Stuns in Latest Instagram Photos Arts & Culture "The Flash" to End with Season 9 Arts & Culture Ministry of Culture Organizes four day Children's Film Festival Arts & Culture Canadian PM wishes Muslims Eid-al-Adha Videos & Features Story behind Trending Jessica Radcliffe Death Video News Israeli-Linked Hadassah Clinic in Moscow Treats Wounded Iranian IRGC Fighters Arts & Culture "Jurassic World Rebirth" Gets Streaming Date News China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier News Ayat Khaddoura's Final Video Captures Bombardment of Beit Lahia Business Egyptian Pound Undervalued by 30%, Says Goldman Sachs Videos & Features Tragedy Overshadows MC Alger Championship Celebration: One Fan Dead, 11 Injured After Stadium Fall Arts & Culture South Korean Actress Kang Seo-ha Dies at 31 after Cancer Battle Lifestyle Get to Know 2025 Eid Al Adha Prayer Times in Egypt News The Jessica Radcliffe Orca Attack? 100% Fake and AI-Generated
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Ian McKellen reveals Gandalf and Frodo to return for 'The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum'
The new installment in the sprawling fantasy franchise, to be directed by original Gollum actor Andy Serkis, will commence production in May, McKellen says. Back to Middle-earth, post haste! Old friends are waiting. Ian McKellen, the legendary actor behind Gandalf the Grey in the original Lord of the Rings film trilogy, dropped a bombshell bit of casting news over the weekend. "I hear there's going to be another movie based in Middle-earth, and it's going to start filming in May. It's going to be directed by Gollum, and it's all about Gollum," McKellen teased at the For the Love of Fantasy fan event in London on Sunday. Last year, original LOTR helmer Peter Jackson was announced as producing a new live-action installment in The Lord of the Rings franchise with Gollum actor Andy Serkis directing and starring in the new film that was slated for a 2026 release at the time. The film is now expected in December 2027. McKellen then shocked the audience with new details. "I'll tell you two secrets about the casting: There's a character in the movie called Frodo, and there's a character in the movie called Gandalf," he said. Smiling to himself as the crowd gasped in amazement, McKellen joked, "Apart from that, my lips are sealed!" Entertainment Weekly has reached out to a representative for Warner Bros. for in the day, Warner Bros. Discovery CEO and President David Zaslav discussed Serkis' film during the company's quarterly earnings call. Zaslav noted that The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum joins the likes of upcoming Batman, Superman, and Harry Potter projects at the top of the studio's priority list. Though McKellen did not specifically say whether he and original Frodo Baggins star Elijah Wood would reprise their roles in the film, Wood was present at the fan event, smiling conspiratorially as McKellen spoke alongside fellow LOTR alums Sean Astin, Dominic Monaghan, Billy Boyd, and John Rhys-Davies. Since the original Lord of the Rings film trilogy wrapped up in 2003 with the Oscar-winning The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, McKellen, Wood, and Jackson all returned to Middle-earth with the Hobbit trilogy, which unspooled between 2012 and 2014. Jackson was not involved in Amazon's The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power series, but last year he produced the franchise's first animated foray into the works of J.R.R. Tolkein, The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim. Jackson was joined on the project by Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens, both producers on the original film trilogy who are also on board The Hunt for Gollum. In June, Serkis told Collider, "We're very early on in the process. We've been talking about the film over the course of the last year. We're about to start a period of prep in the next few months or so. We will be shooting in the early to mid-part of next year, I guess, and then it'll be as long as it takes to shoot, which — it's a sizable movie — all ready for a December 2027 release." Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly
Mint
29-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Mint
Viral Video: Ian McKellen receives grand reception at Glastonbury as crowd chants his name during surprise appearance
Glastonbury Festival continues to serve unforgettable moments in its latest edition, but few could match the thunderous reception that greeted Sir Ian McKellen during an unannounced appearance on stage with the Scissor Sisters. The legendary British actor, best known for his iconic roles in 'The Lord of the Rings', 'X-Men', and numerous Shakespearean productions, stunned fans when he walked onto the stage to perform a dramatic reading of the monologue from the Scissor Sisters' track 'Invisible Light'. Originally voiced by McKellen on the band's 2010 album 'Night Work', the piece has remained a cult favourite for fans of the group. This live rendition, however, took things to another level. As the first words of the monologue rang out across the crowd, audience members erupted with cheers. Many began chanting 'Ian! Ian! Ian!' in unison, visibly moving the 85-year-old actor, who appeared touched and emotional as the tribute echoed through Worthy Farm. Social media quickly lit up with fan reactions, many describing the moment as the highlight of the day. 'Ian McKellen showing up to perform with Scissor Sisters might have been THE highlight of the day (sic),' one fan wrote on X. 'Sir Ian McKellen gets emotional as the #Glastonbury crowd chants his name. I love this man! (sic)' read another post. 'Sir Ian McKellen doing the 'Invisible Light' monologue during Scissor Sisters set at Glastonbury! MAJOR MOMENT, goosebumps all over. One of my all-time favourite tracks from one of my all-time favourite albums (sic)," a user exclaimed. Others captured the emotional resonance of the moment: 'Oh Christ, Ian McKellen rocked up with the Scissor Sisters #Glastonbury,' wrote one fan. Another user wrote 'I spent the entire set screaming for Ian McKellen to come out and then cried when he did.' McKellen, a long-standing supporter of LGBTQ+ rights and an openly gay icon in the arts, has collaborated with the Scissor Sisters before but has rarely performed the monologue live. His appearance at Glastonbury not only delighted the crowd but served as a poignant reminder of the intersection of queer artistry, performance, and legacy. The festival, renowned for its eclectic line-up and cultural significance, has once again proven its power to deliver moments that transcend music. Amid performances from the likes of Neil Young, Rod Stewart, Alanis Morissette, and Brandi Carlile, it was Sir Ian McKellen's theatrical cameo that truly stole the show on Saturday.
RTÉ News
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
Ian McKellen delights fans with surprise appearance at Scissor Sisters gig
Ian McKellen delighted fans by making a surprise appearance at the Scissor Sisters reunion gig at London's O2 on Friday evening. The US pop group, who celebrated the 20-year anniversary of their debut album last year, have recently reformed and are playing a series of shows across the UK and are also due to play the SSE Arena in Belfast and 3Arena in Dublin. Fans at the O2 screamed and cheered as the 85-year-old actor took to the stage to recite spoken-word vocals for the band's hit song Invisible Light. During his brief appearance the Lord Of The Rings star read out the monologue he performed on the recorded version of the track which was first released in 2010. Fans at the concert took to social media to share their delight at McKellen's cameo. One fan wrote on X: "Absolute mayhem as Sir Ian McKellen does a dramatic reading of his lines from Invisible Light, one of my favourite scissor sisters songs of all time. "Cried a little, just so blessed to see this." Another wrote: "A concert cameo like no other. "Sir Ian McKellen has blown The O2 roof off at The Scissor Sisters' 21st anniversary tour." Another surprise appearance was from Rebecca Lucy Taylor, known better by her stage name Self Esteem, who joined the group for a rendition of Take Your Mama. The group - including lead singer Jake Shears, multi-instrumentalist Babydaddy and guitarist Del Marquis - are performing their first live shows in 12 years. Singer Ana Matronic decided not to join the tour as she has "other projects she is focusing on right now", according to a statement from the group. Scissor Sisters rose to prominence in the early 2000s with a colourful style blending multiple genres and pioneering LGBT+ representation in mainstream music.
