The currently untitled series, thought to be the most expensive TV show of all time, recently wrapped up filming and will be released in 2022.
In the meantime, the legendary actor took to Twitter to reply to an article speculating how his character could appear in the prequel series played by a different – and younger – actor.
‘How Gandalf Can Appear In Amazon’s Lord of the Rings (But Not Ian McKellen)’ read the headline from Screen Rant, quite harshly.
But Sir Ian did not let that bother him and share the piece on his Twitter profile adding: ‘I think this would be the most upsetting headline I’d ever read, if I weren’t gainfully employed elsewhere.’
In recent years, McKellen has shied away from screens, dedicating himself to his theatre career instead.
He is currently playing the titular role in an age-blind production of Hamlet at the Theatre Royal Windsor and will star in The Cherry Orchard at the same venue starting this autumn.
He previously joked that he wasn’t willing to give up his role just yet. After all, Gandalf is over 7000 years old so how much younger would he really need to be looking?
As for the new series, now much is known about the plot yet. It will be set in the Second Age of Middle-earth, before the events of the original Lord of the Rings and Hobbit novels and films.
It will follow an ensemble cast of characters as they confront the re-emergence of evil in the mythical land.
Announced to be returning from the original franchise so far will be Morfydd Clark’s character Galadriel but most other players are expected to be new and original.
Amazon bought the right to adapt the world of J. R. R. Tolkien for television all the way back in 2017 as part of a $250 million deal, but they have taken their sweet time getting the show off the ground.