Lord of the Rings Prequel Confirms Gandalf and Frodo Appearances

A brand-new Lord of the Rings film is officially in pre-production, and two familiar names from Middle-earth have just been confirmed to appear.

Titled The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, the film is scheduled to begin shooting next year with Andy Serkis both directing and reprising his iconic role as Gollum. While details about the project remain scarce, a recent update has shed light on which characters will be part of the story.

Speaking at the For the Love of Fantasy convention in London, Sir Ian McKellen revealed that both Gandalf and Frodo would appear in the upcoming prequel.

“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 said. “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. Apart from that, my lips are sealed.”

Although the actor confirmed the characters’ involvement, it remains unclear whether McKellen will once again don Gandalf’s robes or if Elijah Wood will return as Frodo. McKellen, now 86, has previously spoken about his difficult experience filming The Hobbit, raising questions about his willingness to reprise the role.

As for the story itself, The Hunt for Gollum will be set between The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. It will explore Gandalf and Aragorn’s pursuit of Gollum after they begin to suspect the true nature of Bilbo’s mysterious ring.

Fans may recall Gandalf referencing this unseen search in The Fellowship of the Ring, where he says, “I searched everywhere for the creature Gollum, but the enemy found him first.” This new film aims to expand on that untold chapter, offering more depth to Tolkien’s world and filling in narrative gaps between the beloved trilogies.

With Andy Serkis at the helm and Middle-earth back in the spotlight, anticipation for The Hunt for Gollum is already building—especially with the promise of seeing Gandalf and Frodo return to the screen.