Ian McKellenis 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 byElijah Woodin 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 videoof 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. New 'Lord of the Rings' revealed:Peter Jackson to produce 'The Hunt for Gollum' 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 directorPeter Jacksonreturning 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. McKellenpreviously told The Sunday Timesin 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. Ian McKellenon if he'd return as Gandalf in new 'Lord of the Rings' movie: 'If I'm alive' "It would be pretty incredible," he toldJoBlo 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" is set to hit theaters on Dec. 17, 2027. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Ian McKellen reveals 'Lord of the Rings: Hunt for Gollum' casting
