With just a few weeks left before he heads to New Zealand for several years del Toro checked in with MTV News to discuss his plans for “The Hobbit” and beyond, including news on Smaug, Doug Jones as the Elvin King, Guillermo Navarro, Elrond and more. On Smaug he noted:

I discussed the Smaug appearance with great detail with [Tolkien illustrators] John Howe and Alan Lee, and there’s some illustrations that John did out of that meeting in London that approximate Smaug. I cannot say much more. He is becoming clearer and clearer.

Regarding approaching some of the actors, someone mentioned Hugo Weaving and he said:

Oh yeah. We have to approach him — of course. Hugo Weaving, Andy Serkis, Ian McKellen — they all must be approached to do the movie.

The written interview also includes a video on MTV News