Menu
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Podcast
      • Slice of SciFi 1030: GenZeroes“GenZeroes”: Aleks Paunovic & Neil Stevenson Moore
      • Slice of SciFi 1029: That Dirty Black BagDouglas Booth talks “That Dirty Black Bag” Season 1
      • Slice of SciFi 1028: The Reef: Stalked“The Reef: Stalked”: Shark Therapy in Action
      • Slice of SciFi 1027: Ayelet Zurer, Moonhaven“Moonhaven”: Ayelet Zurer talks utopian leaders and secret goals
    • View all
  • Movie Reviews
      • Bullet Train (2022)“Bullet Train”: A wild and blood-spattered ride
      • Review: Vengeance (2022)“Vengeance”: A highly enjoyable and engaging comedy-mystery
      • Review: Nope (2022)“Nope”: An outstanding mix of horror, Western and science fiction
      • Review: "Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen, A Journey, A Song" (2022)“Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen, A Journey, A Song”: The Story of a Modern Classic
    • View all
  • TV Reviews
      • "Project Blue Book"“Project Blue Book” explores the threads of UFO reports
      • Manifest Season 1: 5 Episodes In5 Episodes In: “Manifest”
      • 5 Episodes In: Reverie5 Episodes In: “Reverie”
      • 5 Episodes In: Marvel's Cloak and Dagger5 Episodes In: “Marvel’s Cloak & Dagger”
    • View all
  • DVD Reviews
      • DVD Review: Dual (2022)DVD Review: “Dual” (2022)
      • Discussion: The Spine Of Night (2021)Indie Talk: Another Look at “The Spine of Night”
      • Review: Creepshow S2 Blu-rayBlu-ray Review: “Creepshow Season 2”
      • Batman: The Long Halloween (2021)“Batman: The Long Halloween”: an effective if over-long story
    • View all
  • Columns
  • News
      • TV News
      • Film News
      • DVD News
      • Interviews
      • Events
      • Geeky, Funny & Weird
      • Online Entertainment News
      • Music News
      • On Stage
      • Space News

Slice of SciFi

This is How We Geek Out: Interviews, Reviews & More

  • Writers, After Dark
  • The Babylon Podcast
  • Slice of SciFi TV
  • Horror Happenings
  • SciFi Shop Talk
  • Contact Us
McKellen Returns as Gandalf

McKellen Returns as Gandalf

April 30, 2008 By Sam Sloan 11 Comments

Actor Ian McKellen (X-Men) will return to the Shire in his familiar role as the great wizard Gandalf the Gray in the upcoming trilogy of films to be based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Hobbit.”

McKellen, now 68, made the announcement in the latest edition of Empire Magazine.

The last time we saw him in Tolkien’s universe was in the “Lord of the Rings” (LOTR) trilogy, directed by Peter Jackson.

For the Hobbit films Jackson will stay out of the center seat, at least for the first one and second one, and famed “Pan’s Labyrinth” filmmaker Guillermo del Toro will direct entries one and two. Jackson will act as the film’s producer.

“Yes, it’s true,” McKellen said. “I spoke to Guillermo in the very room that Peter Jackson offered me the part and he confirmed that I would be reprising the role. Obviously, it’s not a part that you turn down, I loved playing Gandalf.”

“The Hobbit” will enjoy the same gorgeous scenery as the LOTR because all three of the films will also be shot on locations throughout New Zealand.

The shooting schedule is all set for next year with film number one slated for release sometime in 2010 and the second in 2011. All three movies will be filmed back-to-back as was done with the LOTR.

Share on TwitterShare on FacebookShare on Email

Filed Under: Film News

Comments

  1. Indiana Jim says

    April 30, 2008 at 6:14 pm

    I believe there are only two films set to be made?

    Reply
  2. Acheron says

    April 30, 2008 at 6:38 pm

    Jim, I was of that impression as well.

    I can just about see it as being a two parter, but stretching it to three might be pushing it a bit!

    Reply
  3. tim and darcy low says

    April 30, 2008 at 6:58 pm

    woot! cool news!!

    darcy

    Reply
  4. Sean says

    April 30, 2008 at 8:09 pm

    I hope they also get Ian Holm to play Bilbo again. No reason why they can’t since Bilbo “hadn’t aged a day” at the beginning of LOTR since the last time Galdalf saw him, which would have been The Hobbit storyline.

    Reply
  5. Sam says

    April 30, 2008 at 8:19 pm

    Two now with a possible third by 2012 or 2013. Some of that decision depends on the ultimate future of the scaled back New Line and how well the first two are received. Jackson has indicated that there is enough story there for three if that should become necessary.

    Reply
  6. V says

    May 1, 2008 at 12:37 am

    “Two now with a possible third by 2012 or 2013.”

    Thanks Sam.

    Reply
  7. skyjedi2005 says

    May 1, 2008 at 2:39 am

    a trilogy for the hobbit?

    that has to be the stupidest idea o have ever heard.

    it is a single children’s novel.

    as for lord of the rings that was six books + appendices and could have easily been six films.

    Reply
  8. Kyle Nin says

    May 1, 2008 at 4:46 pm

    I heard that the final Hobbit movie (whether that’s the second or third) will be used as a “bridge” to connect the story of “The Hobbit” to the story of “The Lord of the Rings”. I’m not sure if that’s been changed.

    Reply
  9. Michael from Denmark says

    May 2, 2008 at 11:02 am

    @skyjedi: I couldn’t agree more. The story would be perfect for a 2½-3h movie, but that’s it. It is a children’s story, and Tolkien never intended it to be anything more.

    And as for writing an original script to bridge the 60 year gap between The Hobbit and LOTR – well, that’s just sacrilege, and I will lose all respect for Peter Jackson if they do that…

    Reply
  10. DJ says

    May 2, 2008 at 8:20 pm

    I don’t think they are saying it will be an original script. Tolkien wrote plenty of material to bridge that gap. He would be taking things that where discussed but never “shown” per se, and adding them to the movie.

    Reply
  11. Grrrilla says

    May 3, 2008 at 5:17 am

    Three books actually makes a lot of sense. For one, it will be all there can reasonably be of the original published Tolkein works. Second, If you think about it, the Hobbit was already two books – easily divided into the journey to Rivendell and the second from Rivendell to the battle of five armies and the end. Although, from a real action standpoint (and cliff-hanger), it might be necessary to push the split back to the imprisonment with the elves.

    And there’s all sorts of new story to be placed between the end of the Hobbit and the beginning of the Fellowship of the Ring – there are enough hints, anecdotes, etc. in the tales told by Gandalf and Aragorn to fill that space for some truly epic story-telling – arguably even better and bigger than the real Hobbit story.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors
Filter by Categories
Audio Productions
Awards News
Book News
Book Reviews
Columns
Comics News
DVD News
DVD Reviews
Entertainment Business News
Events
Fan Films
Fan Productions
Film News
Film Reviews
Gaming News
Geeky, Funny & Weird
Human Interest
Interviews
Music News
On Stage
Online Entertainment News
Science News
Slice of SciFi
Slice Video News
Space News
Specials
Technology News
TV News
TV Reviews

Subscribe to Podcast

Apple PodcastsGoogle PodcastsiHeartRadioStitcherPodchaserTuneInRSS

Listen to Slice of SciFi

iTunes
iHeart Radio
Player.FM
RSS
 
  • Movie & TV Reviews

Recent Comments

  • linda on Slice of SciFi Interview with Rachel Luttrell: “many thanks sorry for delay!”
  • CassandraT on Aquaman vs Namor: “I don’t see their strength as being that different. They are probably about equal in that regard with Arthur maybe…”
  • Summer Brooks on “Astrid & Lilly Save the World” Season 1 Breakdown: “I’m waiting on renewal news on this one, too. So much fun, and for next season I would love to…”
  • Neil A Ottenstein on “Astrid & Lilly Save the World” Season 1 Breakdown: “Finally got a chance to watch the last two episode tonight and then listened to this. Great to hear the…”
  • Chris Howley on “The Northman” brings a Viking legend to life: “Your review makes me want to see this movie, which I had previously decided to skip over. Of course, I’ll…”
Tweets by Slice of SciFi
death to humans 160x600
Save 10-50% on in-stock toys at TFAW.com.

Slice of SciFi
1121 Annapolis Rd PMB 238
Odenton MD 21113
602-635-6976

Artwork:
Slice of SciFi spiral logo designed by Tim Callender

Theme Music:
Slice of SciFi music and themes
courtesy of Sci-Fried

Sister Sites:
Writers, After Dark
Horror Happenings
SciFi Shop Talk
Slice of SciFi TV

Copyright © 2005–2022 · Magazine Pro Theme On Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in