Ian McKellen discusses potential two-part Gollum film adaptation

Sir Ian McKellen recently discussed the potential return to Middle-earth in a two-part film adaptation titled The Hunt for Gollum during an appearance on the British talk show This Morning. He expressed his willingness to reprise his role as Gandalf, emphasizing his reluctance to see anyone else take on the character. However, he noted that he had not read the script and was informed that the project would consist of two films. The Hunt for Gollum is based on a brief narrative found in Tolkien's appendices and Unfinished Tales, which raises concerns about the feasibility of expanding such a limited source material into two full-length films. The original story is only a few hundred words long, primarily featuring Gandalf's dialogue at the Council of Elrond, making it challenging to create a substantial plot. Peter Jackson, who previously directed the Lord of the Rings trilogy, is producing the film, with Andy Serkis directing and reprising his role as Gollum. The filmmakers face the challenge of crafting a compelling narrative that can sustain audience interest over two films, especially given the lack of extensive source material. Additionally, the return of Orlando Bloom as Legolas has been confirmed, which ties into the storyline as Aragorn captures Gollum and takes him to the elf king Thranduil in Mirkwood. The filmmakers are reportedly considering the use of artificial intelligence to address continuity issues related to the aging of characters, reflecting the evolving landscape of film adaptations.