Sir Ian McKellen, the iconic English actor, is eagerly anticipating the magic that new Lord of the Rings movies might bring, potentially paving the way for his return as the beloved wizard Gandalf.

At 85 years old, McKellen has expressed a strong desire to reprise his role in the legendary film series, especially now that Peter Jackson, the renowned director of the original trilogy, is set to produce two new films inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien’s fantasy novels. McKellen shared this exciting news in an interview with Big Issue, marking one of his first public conversations since a notable incident in June when he fell off stage during a Player Kings performance at the Noël Coward Theatre in London.

In this candid interview, McKellen revealed that while he is aware of the plans for new films, details remain scarce as the script has yet to be written. With a touch of humor, he urged the filmmakers to expedite the process, saying, “So they better be quick!”

Reflecting on his recent fall, McKellen acknowledged that it left him feeling physically weakened. However, he is actively engaging in exercises to aid his recovery. He also touched on the emotional impact of such incidents, noting, “We all trip all our lives; it’s just when you get to my age you can’t always get up again.” Despite these challenges, McKellen confirmed that his decision to take the rest of the year off is a personal choice rather than a medical necessity.

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McKellen’s illustrious journey in the Lord of the Rings franchise includes six films to date: Jackson’s original Oscar-winning trilogy released between 2001 and 2003 and the subsequent Hobbit trilogy that premiered between 2012 and 2014.

In related news, Dominic Monaghan, another actor from the series, recently posted a nostalgic photo on Instagram. The image featured him alongside Elijah Wood and Billy Boyd, signifying a reunion of the actors who portrayed hobbits in the first three Lord of the Rings films.

On television, fans can also dive back into Middle-earth with Amazon’s second season of Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, which premiered on Thursday.