First image of Ian McKellen as Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt For Gollum

A first behind-the-scenes video reveals the actor in costume, with his long gray beard and white hair.

It’s an image that should revive some memories among fans of the Lord of the Rings.

Ian McKellen is Gandalf again. A first video taken on the set of The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum has just surfaced and allows us to discover the British actor in costume, after his transition to makeup and hair.

The short sequence lasts only a few seconds but shows that Ian McKellen, 87 years old, has not really changed since his very first steps in the Shire, almost 30 years ago…

He played Gandalf for the first time in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring in 2001 (filming began in 1999), before reprising the role in The Two Towers And The Return of the Kingthen in the trilogy The Hobbit. So, The Hunt for Gollum will mark his return to the big screen in the shoes of the famous magician for over a decade. Elijah Wood will also reprise the role of Frodo Baggins, while Lee Pace will return to that of Thranduil.

At the helm, we find Andy Serkis, who directs the film and also reprises his role of Gollum, aka Sméagol. Filming officially began a few weeks ago.

The film will also welcome several newcomers. Jamie Dornan will play the Ranger, a younger version of Aragorn, played at the time by Viggo Mortensen, while Leo Woodall will play a new character named Halvard, and Kate Winslet will play Marigol.

The screenplay is by Arty Papageorgiou, Phoebe Gittins, Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens.

The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum will be released in cinemas in France on December 15, 2027.