Sir Ian McKellenworried many people in recent months aftertaking a tumble off stageduring a performance of his Shakespeare play,Player Kings. On Saturday, theLord of the Ringsactor surprised many by appearing on a very different stage, and while his unexpected performance went without a hitch, it did almost end in tears.
McKellen, who is believed to be reprising his role as Gandalfin the upcomingLord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, appeared at British music festival Glastonbury on Saturday, performing his spoken-word piece from a song by the pop group Scissor Sisters. While the group were obviously listed to perform, McKellen’s appearance during the song “Invisible Light,” for which he recorded a monologue back in 2010, was something that took the crowd by surprise.
Another Beloved ‘Lord of the Rings’ Star Finally Addresses Possible Franchise Return
Another member of the Fellowship could return for ‘The Hunt for Gollum.’
Following the performance, a video captured backstage showed the 86-year-old actor holding back tears and covering his face with his hands as he heard the massive crowd chanting his name. The emotion of the moment was clear, and even after so many decades in the business, it shows that appreciation of an audience can always hit even the most veteran of stars.
Is Ian McKellen Returning as Gandalf?
Since the announcement that Andy Serkis would be directing a new installment ofThe Lord of the Rings, the internet has been desperately attempting to discover whether any of the old cast of the 2001 movie will be returning to their iconic roles. While Serkis is guaranteed to be once again voicing the titular hobbit, the casting of the other roles remains a mystery.
In an interview last year, McKellen seemed to let slip that he had been shown the script for the new movie, and gave a strong indication that if he was “still around” that he would most likely be donning the robes of the Tolkien wizard for the first time in over a decade, and almost 25 years since his first appearance inThe Fellowship of the Ring.
Other actors have also shared their own interest in returning to Middle Earth, with Viggo Mortensen, Orlando Bloom, Jonathan Rhys-Davies, and more making it clear that they would certainly consider a reprisal of their roles, but only if it was right for the film. Naturally, more than two decades have passed since the original journey into Tolkien lore began, and that is a lot of aging for those involved. However, with the use of CGI, it could be possible to iron out the wrinkles – literally – and bring back the original cast. Whether that happens is something we are still waiting to find out when the casting is finally revealed.
