McKellan Will Be Back For The Hobbit

Over the past few days we’ve been inundated with Hobbit news, what with del Toro getting the directorship, and rumors about who would reprise what role. So, it comes as no surprise to get our first official reprisal; Sir Ian McKellan will indeed be picking up the big grey cloak again to play Gandalf.
After a quick hunt across the internet, I finally found the original article over at Empire Online, who caught up with the British knight at the UK premiere for Speed Racer (no one seems to know just why he was there).

“Yes, it’s true,” he said, speaking of his reprising the role of Gandalf in del Toro’s prequel movies. “I spoke to Guillermo in the very room that Peter Jackson offered me the part and he confirmed that I would be reprising the role. Obviously, it’s not a part that you turn down, I loved playing Gandalf.”

According to McKellen, “Guillermo will be getting around to starting the script in about six weeks when he’s finished filming Hellboy 2.” However, it does seem like Gandalf isn’t 100% certain what is going on. It looks as if Empire asked McKellen what the second movie was going to look like, and here’s how he responded:

“Well I’ve read The Hobbit so I’ve got a good idea of what the story would be. But as to how it’s going to work over two films and what going to happen on screen, well Guillermo has not got down to working out the major details yet – I can tell you it’s going to be amazing though.”

Uh… hasn’t he been told that the Hobbit is only the first movie, not both? Either way, I’m stoked to have Ian back on board, now, I just have to keep my fingers crossed until Ian Holms is announced to reprise his role as B! It could happen!
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JHill
4/30/2008
Empire Online