Thanks to Ringer Kookie for sending in this tip! On wednesday (or around there), Sir Ian McKellen’s official website (McKellen.com) made an update to its ‘2010’s Film’ section. While we don’t have an official press release yet, the update to his website seems to imply he is coming back as Gandalf for ‘The Hobbit’ films:
THE HOBBIT’s, two films, start shooting in New Zealand in February 2011. Filming will take over a year. Casting in Los Angeles, New York City and London has started. The script too proceeds. The first draft is crammed with old and new friends, again on a quest in Middle Earth.
THE HOBBIT
Director: Peter Jackson
Role: Gandalf
Again, we do not have an official press release yet. Afterall, it is a US Holiday and I’m sure the PR team for the films are still recovering from a heaping portion of Turkey. (I know I am!) But light those beacons folks, “Hope is kindled.” [McKellen.com]
From the folks at chud.com: In a question and answer session at the Savannah Film Festival (after Gods & Monsters), Ian McKellen reenacts his experience filming the famous “You shall not pass!” scene in Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring.
From broadwayworld.com: Today, we present a particularly thrilling taste of the forthcoming InDepth InterView in this BWW WORLD EXCLUSIVE with one of the finest actors of stage and screen – and, now, thanks to the Scissor Sisters NIGHT WORK album, recording studio – the foremost Shakespearean interpreter of our age and star of two of the biggest film franchises of all time – LORD OF THE RINGS and X MEN – Sir Ian McKellen! In this portion of the complete discussion, we discuss his second year hosting the ONLY MAKE BELIEVE gala to benefit hospitalized children, as well as discuss how he became involved with the Deana Hammerstein-founded charity. We also discuss his participation in Peter Jackson’s forthcoming LORD OF THE RINGS prequel THE HOBBIT and his cameo in the epic music video for his Sister Sisters collaboration “Invisible Light” – plus thoughts on Shakespeare, stage, screen and monster movies (and not just GODS & MONSTERS). All god, no monster, Ian McKellen is as renowned and respected as it gets. And rightfully so. More..
How will the cast of “The Hobbit” look together as they journey to the Lonely Mountain and encounter trouble along the way at every turn? Probably not exactly like this but IanH was kind enough to give us a glimpse of actors with digital photoshop makeup in the roles recently announced. Enjoy!
Sir Ian McKellen was one of the many celebs at the “Les Miz” 25th anniversary show on Sunday night at London’s O2 Arena. Just finished with a stage production of “Waiting for Godot,” Sir Ian is now Waiting for Peter Jackson. He’s supposed to appear in Jackson’s “Hobbit” movie, and is hopeful that the lawyers involved will have papers for him to sign soon so he can reprise the pivotal role of Gandalf. “It’s still a matter of MGM and Warner Bros. sorting things out, but I’m told they’re close.” More..
Seven global actors’ unions have instructed their members to walk away from roles in the two big-budget Lord of the Rings prequels because producers have allegedly refused to negotiate a deal guaranteeing wages and working conditions for performers in New Zealand. Unions in the US, Australia, the UK and Canada, acting under the umbrella of the International Federation of Actors (FIA), said Kiwi performers had “struggled on non-union contracts” for some years during filming of the Lord of the Rings trilogy. They said the contracts “provide no minimum guarantees of wages or working conditions”, no payment for future broadcasts and no cancellation payments. More..
Thanks to Ringer Kookie for sending in this tip! On wednesday (or around there), Sir Ian McKellen’s official website (McKellen.com) made an update to its ‘2010’s Film’ section. While we don’t have an official press release yet, the update to his website seems to imply he is coming back as Gandalf for ‘The Hobbit’ films:
From 
