Actor Ian McKellen will once again play the wizard of Gandalf in the long-awaited adaptation of the novel by J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Hobbit." The "Lord of the Rings" star confirmed this information on his official website, writes The Guardian.
Last year, Sir Ian stated that he would be "very happy" to play again Gandalf, but then it was not known whether the "Hobbit" would be shot at all. The fact is that the director Peter Jackson, who created all the series of the trilogy "The Lord of the Rings," sued the studio New Line Cinema because of the size of the fee for the first part, which prevented the beginning of filming "The Hobbit".
In December 2007, it became known that the New Zealand director still participate in the work on the film in collaboration with the film studio New Line Cinema. Peter Jackson will speak in the project as an executive producer. The director is the author of the "Devil's Ridge" and "Labyrinth of the Faun" Guillermo del Toro. "Hobbit" will consist of two parts, which are supposed to be shot simultaneously. It is planned that the shooting will begin in 2009, the first part will be released in 2010, the second - in 2011.
Formally, the 68-year-old McKellen has not yet signed a contract for filming in the tape, but said that Jackson told him that he could not shoot the "Hobbit" without the original performer of the role of Gandalf. The first part of the "Hobbit" will be shot according to the plot of the book, which narrates about the hobbit Bilbo Baggins, who went on a trek for the treasures of the dwarves captured by the dragon Smog. The second film will cover the 80-year period between the triumphant return of Baggins and the beginning of the "Lord of the Rings". The budget of the project will be about $ 150 million.
McKellen performed the role of Gandalf in all three parts of the trilogy "The Lord of the Rings" - "The Brotherhood of the Ring", "Two Towers" and "The Return of the King." All three films had a stunning box office success. Filming - for 270 days - was conducted in New Zealand, with just three series, which cost $ 300 million. "Lord of the Rings: Return of the King" was nominated for an Oscar in 11 categories and won the award in all.
This film by the number of Oscars received equaled the previous leaders - the films "Titanic" and "Ben-Hur". The film was also awarded the "Golden Globe" and was named the best film of the year by the Association of Film Critics of New York. His actor's ensemble has won the award of the American Guild of Screen Actors. The American Film Institute included the tape as one of the best films of 2003.