Ian McKellan wants to return to the Lord of the Rings franchise (on one condition)

Ian McKellan has had a dazzling film career dating back to the 1960s. That said, he will be best remembered for playing Gandalf in the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit films. McKellan brought such poise and presence to the character that it's hard for fans to imagine anyone else playing him.

Evidently, McKellan feels the same way. The actor recently sat down for an interview with the Big Issue, and revealed that he would be overjoyed to return to the Lord of the Rings franchise to play Gandalf. He's dead set on reprising the character in whatever future installments are made.

Ian McKellan will return if the films get made soon

"I’ve just been told there are going to be more films and Gandalf will be involved and they hope that I’ll be playing him,"

The catch? Timing. Sir McKellan will return as long as the films get made soon. He told the outlet that the scripts for the upcoming films have not yet been written, and given his advanced age, he hopes it is a speedy process. "It’s not written yet," he remarked. "So they better be quick!"

McKellan has been frank about getting older in Hollywood. The actor, who turned 85 in May, claimed that he has no plans to retire, and will continue to challenge himself as long as he is physically and mentally capable. And judging by his recent performance in The Critic, he very much is.

McKellan hated the overt CG use in The Hobbit

"I shall just keep at it as long as the legs and the lungs and the mind keep working," McKellan said during a recent interview with BBC Breakfast. The actor's enthusiasm to return to the Lord of the Rings is a far cry from the last time he dabbled in the franchise.

McKellan was infamously critical of the Hobbit trilogy for its extensive use of green screen. "I was miserable," he affirmed to Time Out. There was even footage of the actor breaking down in tears during a scene in which he was the only real person.

Hopefully the new films strike a better balance between green screen and practical, so that Ian McKellan can rekindle the spark he had during the making of the LOTR trilogy.