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Ian McKellen to return for The Hobbit

Ian McKellen as Gandalf in The Two TowersIt looks like Ian McKellen will return as Gandalf in the upcoming film version of The Hobbit.

In the E-Post section of his official website, he indicates that he’ll be back as the wizard:

THE HOBBIT

Q: So has it come to pass, good Sir McKellen?

Shall the dreaming masses with their musty books and  their blackened pipes at long last hear those immortal words issue from under that famous nose?

“Yes, yes, my dear sir-and I know your name, Mr. Bilbo Baggins. And you do know my name, though  you don’t remember that I belong to it. I am Gandalf, and Gandalf means me! To think I should  have lived to be good-morninged by Belladonna Took’s son, as if I was selling buttons at the door!”

Looking about, I find I share the same hopes as  millions of others, so I ask, a single query in a  chorus… Will you again be our Gandalf in “The Hobbit” now that the deal is settled?

A: 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.  I’ve just read your quote out loud – fabulous speech.

The Hobbit is scheduled for release in 2011 and will be produced by Peter Jackson and directed by Guillermo del Toro.

> Ian McKellen’s official site
> The Hobbit at the IMDb
> The announcement in December about The Hobbit (finally) getting greenlit
> Find out more about Gandalf at Wikipedia

[Link via First Showing]