(http://images.huffingtonpost.com/gen/16555/thumbs/s-HOBBIT-large.jpg)
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/03/28/gandalf-hopes-for-role-in_n_93879.html
QuoteNew Zealand â€" Ian McKellen, who played Gandalf the Wizard in the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, is hoping to reprise the role in another tale from Middle Earth.
A fan asked McKellen on the actor's official Web site if he would play the role of Gandalf in "The Hobbit," which is being produced by Peter Jackson, director of the "Rings" trilogy.
"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," McKellen, 68, said in a reply dated Wednesday.
Jackson reached a deal with New Line Cinema late last year to make two films of J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Hobbit," a planned prequel to the blockbuster "Rings" trilogy. Jackson will serve as executive producer for the "Hobbit" movies.
Another fan asked: "Have you been approached yet by Peter Jackson or anyone else" to play the ancient Wizard?
McKellen replied: "Encouragingly, Peter and (partner) Fran Walsh have told me they couldn't imagine `The Hobbit' without their original Gandalf."
"Their confidence hasn't yet been confirmed by the director Guillermo del Toro, but I am keeping my diary free for 2009!" he said.
Del Toro's manager, Gary Ungar, told The Associated Press on Friday that del Toro, director of "Pan's Labyrinth" and "Hellboy," is being considered for the "Hobbit" films.
"It's still under discussion, (but) yes," he said.
He declined to give any details, but when asked about an announcement timeline, he said: "I hope it resolves soon. .... Everybody has to agree in everything."
OMG!!!! i had no idea they were making "the Hobbit"!!
i am sooo there for that one!!! i agree stephendare, Gandalf was superb in his first reprisal. if you ask me, he and that cute little elf arrow guy MADE LOR!!!!
i actually talked to a friend the other day and he told me that it was C-R-A-Z-Y the lengths they had to go to to get all the little hobbits to appear as small as they were...it was like 6 different techniques. AMAZING!
anyway, i'm totally looking forward to the hobbit!!! thanks for posting this!!
here is the latest, btw...
http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/article/mckellen%20confident%20of%20rings%20return_1064774
my absolute FAVORITE Gandalf quotes!!!
http://en.thinkexist.com/reference/gandalf_quotes/