At 85 years old, Ian McKellen is acutely aware of his mortality, yet he remains as passionate about acting as ever. The legendary actor recently quipped, “If I’m alive,” when asked about the possibility of reprising his iconic role as Gandalf in the upcoming “Lord of the Rings” movie, “The Hunt for Gollum.” This candid remark highlights McKellen’s thoughtfulness about the roles he takes on at this stage of his life.

As the “X-Men” star, who is currently playing Falstaff on the U.K. stage in “Player Kings,” explained, “If you want to know that you are mortal, you just have to look at your address book. And so when a script comes through, or the hint of an offer, you think, ‘This might be my last job. No. I’m not doing that.’ So if Falstaff is my last job, I’d better get it right, hadn’t I?”

Gandalf’s Potential Return

While McKellen stressed that there is “no script, there is no offer, there is no plan” for the next “Lord of the Rings” movie, he revealed that he has heard Gandalf will figure into “The Hunt for Gollum.” Conveniently, the actor added, he hasn’t “shaved in months,” hinting at his readiness to reprise the beloved role.

Andy Serkis is set to direct “The Hunt for Gollum,” which is officially announced for release in 2026 and will be the first of two new “Lord of the Rings” movies. Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav said the film is in the “early stages of script development” and will “explore storylines yet to be told,” with director Peter Jackson involved as a producer.

A Legendary Career

McKellen’s portrayal of Gandalf in the original “Lord of the Rings” trilogy from 2001 to 2003 and the “Hobbit” prequel trilogy, released from 2012 to 2014, cemented his status as a beloved figure in the fantasy genre. However, his illustrious career spans far beyond Middle-earth, with roles in movies like “The Critic,” “Cats,” and “The Good Liar,” as well as numerous stage productions.

Despite his advanced age, the actor has no plans to retire from acting anytime soon. In a 2023 interview with Variety, McKellen stated, “Retire to do what? I’ve never been out of work, but I’m aware that any minute now something could happen to me which could prevent me from ever working again. But while the knees hold up and the memory remains intact, why shouldn’t I carry on? I really feel I’m quite good at this acting thing now.”

A Master of His Craft

McKellen’s dedication to his craft is evident in his thoughtful approach to selecting roles and his commitment to delivering outstanding performances, even at this stage of his career. Whether he ultimately reprises the role of Gandalf or not, his legacy as one of the greatest actors of our time is already secure.

As audiences eagerly await news about “The Hunt for Gollum” and the potential return of the beloved wizard, McKellen’s candid remarks serve as a reminder of the fleeting nature of life and the importance of cherishing every opportunity to pursue one’s passions.