Ian McKellen All But Signed On For The Hobbit

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Wednesday, March 26th, 2008

MTV reports that McKellen is setting aside time to act in the new films, and he further expressed his interest on his website. When asked if he would return he said “Yes I will, if Peter Jackson and I have anything to do with it, he being the producer and me being, on the whole, a very lucky actor.” Guillermo Del Toro has yet to make clear his opinion, and his final word of approval is all that stops this deal short of being final, but chances are he won’t have any problem with McKellen reviving his role.

Gandalf plays an integral part in The Hobbit, not only as the guide to the dwarves and Bilbo, but also the journeys he goes on off-screen are central to what happens in the Lord of the Rings. Those journeys are the supposed subject of the second Hobbit film — which include his encounters with Aragorn, Gollum, and the expulsion of The Necromancer (Sauron) from Mirkwood.

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Comments:

zach:
If Del Toro doesnt want Iam McKellen as Gandalf he is very stupid. He is an icon for gandalf, and him not as Gandalf would ruin it.

HMMcKamikaze:
I really don't think he'll have a problem with Ian McKellen. Del Toro and PJ seem to be on the same page so far, and I think few directors in their right mind would make a different decision anyways.

zach:
Yea, I sure hope so. I was just saying in the off case that he may decide to do so ... It wouldnt be good.

Blood:
If he chose to not take Ian McKellen, he would be gayer than...Ian McKellen...:P

_Freek:
Let's just see this film get a director and a script first :P

payne:
It's already been written. I've never heard of a studio agreeing to produce a film without seeing the story on paper first.

_Freek:
It hasn't been written yet, due to the writers' strike and all. I do think it is being written at this point, and they probably had some rough plot outlines (there's the book) when they agreed to do them.

Alindur:
This looks nice :D.

Mithrandir7:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freek

It hasn't been written yet, due to the writers' strike and all. I do think it is being written at this point, and they probably had some rough plot outlines (there's the book) when they agreed to do them.

Don't Fran and PJ right the script? Anyway, this is awesome news :D

_Freek:
No, PJ is exec producer not writer :P (or director)
He's basically the boss for the project, but doesn't actually do any of the dirty work himself.

HMMcKamikaze:
I thought I read somewhere that he was still doing the script, or working on it with Del Toro. I could be easily proven wrong, but I'm pretty sure I heard something of that sort.

_Freek:
Well Im citing from the top of my head here. Im pretty sure no actual lead writers have been announced yet, though.

zach:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freek

No, PJ is exec producer not writer :P (or director)
He's basically the boss for the project, but doesn't actually do any of the dirty work himself.

PJ and his wife are writing it. Thats the last I heard.