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30/04/2008
Sir Ian McKellan Reprises Wizard Role
English-born actor Sir Ian McKellen will reprise his role as Gandalf in the forthcoming adaptation of 'The Hobbit'.
Sir McKellen, 69, born in Burnley, Lancashire has received two Oscar nominations and is the recipient of the Tony Award.
He is best known for his role of the good wizard Gandalf in the Lord of the Rings film trilogy and as Magneto in the X-Men films.
The actor told Empire magazine that the role is "not a part that you would turn down", and that he "loved playing Gandalf".
Director of The Hobbit, Guillermo del Toro has also revealed that Andy Serkis will reprise his role as Gollum.
He told Tolkien fan site that he "had the most charming meeting with Sir Ian, and all bureaucracy pending, he's on board, as is Andy Serkis".
Del Toro will direct two films back-to-back in New Zealand, the first being an the adaptation of The Hobbit, and the second an original film set between the end of The Hobbit and the beginning of the Lord of the Rings trilogy.
Del Toro is reported in The Guardian as saying that there will be less CGI in the films and that he will be pushing for "full animatronics and animatronic creatures enhanced with CGI, as opposed to CGI creatures themselves".
(DS)
Sir McKellen, 69, born in Burnley, Lancashire has received two Oscar nominations and is the recipient of the Tony Award.
He is best known for his role of the good wizard Gandalf in the Lord of the Rings film trilogy and as Magneto in the X-Men films.
The actor told Empire magazine that the role is "not a part that you would turn down", and that he "loved playing Gandalf".
Director of The Hobbit, Guillermo del Toro has also revealed that Andy Serkis will reprise his role as Gollum.
He told Tolkien fan site that he "had the most charming meeting with Sir Ian, and all bureaucracy pending, he's on board, as is Andy Serkis".
Del Toro will direct two films back-to-back in New Zealand, the first being an the adaptation of The Hobbit, and the second an original film set between the end of The Hobbit and the beginning of the Lord of the Rings trilogy.
Del Toro is reported in The Guardian as saying that there will be less CGI in the films and that he will be pushing for "full animatronics and animatronic creatures enhanced with CGI, as opposed to CGI creatures themselves".
(DS)
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