Tuesday, November 3

• McKellen "Couldn't Be Happier" about The Hobbit Script

  Talking to Sci Fi Wire, Ian McKellen (Gandalf) says that he has finally had a chance to read the script for Guillermo del Toro's live-action adaptation of The Hobbit ... and he "couldn't be happier" with it. And why shouldn't he be, since the part was written specifically with him in mind:

  As Peter has said, they loved writing Gandalf [for The Hobbit] because they knew who they were writing him for. ... There are a lot of characters in The Hobbit, including, crucially, Bilbo, and they don't know who's going to play Bilbo. So it's extremely attractive that this part has been written for me. The other Gandalf was written for, well, just as Gandalf. There's lots for me to enjoy, in all sorts of ways. And I couldn't be happier. But I'm sworn to secrecy. I'm not to say anything at all about the script.

  McKellen goes on to offer some reassurance about the continuity between The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings now that it is being helmed by del Toro, rather than Peter Jackson:

  They are the same person. ... They were separated at birth. They're twins. They have the same attitude. Neither likes working in Hollywood. They're both fascinated by fantasy and violence on the screen, and gore, and things that frighten you. They like going into the psyche. They're both brilliant storytellers in very much the same way. And I think the script, because I have read it, plays very much to Guillermo's strengths, as I've seen them. I have seen his other movies, and people act very well in them. So I think it's all fine. And Peter will always be there.

  Hopefully, this is all a signal that casting can now begin in earnest. Who's going to play Bilbo? Inquiring minds want to know.

  
  

  Posted 11/03/2009 by Bill

  Related: Ian McKellen | Peter Jackson | Guillermo del Toro | The Hobbit

Sunday, November 1

• John Rhys-Davies Has "Ruled Out" Playing a Dwarf in The Hobbit

  

  With all of the legal troubles MGM has been going through, it was beginning to look like The Hobbit, the prequel to The Lord of the Rings trilogy, would never get made. However, in early October, MGM announced that it had secured funds from "key lenders" to move forward with the production and that filming would begin in Spring 2010.

  Sir Ian McKellen has confirmed that the production is on track and that he will be returning as Gandalf, but said that "there won't be many of the actors going back." Now, at least one of those actors in question has said that he isn't interested in returning to Middle Earth. John Rhys-Davies, who played Gimli the dwarf, told Empire that he was asked about the possibility of playing Gimli's father, Gloin, but that he has "completely ruled it out."

  There's a sentimental part of me that would love to be involved again. Really I am not sure my face can take that sort of punishment anymore.

  Rhys-Davies' character was the only starring dwarf featured in the LOTR trilogy, but The Hobbit will have 13 dwarves, a fact that weighed on his mind when deciding not to play Gloin.

  Why would you want to do it if it was just a couple of shots? When you've been one of one, why would you want to be one of 13?

  
  

  Posted 11/01/2009 by BrentJS

  Related: Ian McKellen | John Rhys-Davies | The Hobbit | The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers | The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring | The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

Sunday, October 18

• Magneto Movie: "Maybe in Five Years"

  Of all the X-Men movies currently in production, it looks like X-Men Origins: Magneto is the furthest from production. X-Men producer Lauren Shuler Donner told Empire that the movie is "at the back of the queue" of all the X-Men movies, despite David Goyer's "brilliant script."

  It starts in the concentration camps and has Magneto coming out of there. But you know, I'm not sure that film is going to be made. The studio has a wealth of potential stories, and they have to stand back and decide which ones to make. Maybe it'll get made in five years — who knows? I can tell you that Ian McKellen won't be playing the character the whole way through. We used Lola technology in X-Men 3 to de-age Ian and Patrick [Stewart] for one scene, but it's very expensive. To do that for a two-hour movie would be prohibitive financially. And to find a younger actor to fill Ian's shoes, that's pretty daunting. It's not easy.

  McKellan seems to agree, claiming he's "too old" to play Magneto.

  
  

  Posted 10/18/2009 by Ryan

  Related: Ian McKellen | Lauren Shuler Donner | X-Men Origins: Magneto

Wednesday, October 14

• Sir Ian McKellen Says He's Too Old for the Magneto Movie

  In the wake of the first three X-Men movies' success, a whole slate of Origins movies were announced, including Wolverine, Deadpool, and Magneto. X-Men Origins: Wolverine debuted this year and is currently out on DVD and Blu-Ray. Actor Ryan Reynolds recently stated that he would be reprising the role of Wade Wilson/Deadpool, despite being cast as Hal Jordan in the Green Lantern movie. But, there hasn't been much talk about Magneto.

  David S. Goyer, the screenwriter of the Blade movies and The Dark Knight, has been attached as both the writer and the director of the Magneto film, but there has been no official word on when the production will get underway. According to Sir Ian McKellen, who portrayed Magneto in all three X-Men films, he may not be involved with the movie.

  There's meant to be a Magneto script floating around, but I've not read it, so I suspect it wouldn't involve me. I think it would be about the younger Magneto, and the most I could hope for would be to top and tail that. They can't have someone whose face is as lined as mine any longer!

  
  
  

  X-Men Origins: Wolverine - Trailer

  The prequel in the X-Men series

  Posted 10/14/2009 by BrentJS

  Related: Ian McKellen | Ryan Reynolds | David Goyer | X-Men Origins: Wolverine | X-Men Origins: Magneto | X-Men Origins: Deadpool

Tuesday, October 13

• Updates on The Hobbit from Ian McKellen

  In an interview with Empire, Gandalf — Ian McKellan, that is — provided an update on the status of The Hobbit and suggested that, despite all the recent threats to the project, everything is proceeding on schedule. On schedule for a slow-moving ent that is. Even McKellan seems amazed at the drawn-out production schedule:

  The scripts for the two [Hobbit] films will be delivered very soon. Then they'll be budgeted, and then they'll be cast. And they'll be going when they've always said they would be, which is next spring — March or April.

  Guillermo even told me at one point, "We're going to film for 383 days." He's got that artistic autism! Jackson's the same; they're very, very, very alike. They're also very different, but they've so much in common. They both can't stand Hollywood and have wonderful imaginations, and they're both obsessed with gore and fantasy. Both of them laugh a great deal. Guillermo's one of the most brilliant men I've ever met. His English vocabulary is way superior to mine.

  As far as casting goes, he warned fans not to expect too many familiar faces:

  Unfortunately, there won't be many of the actors going back, unless they're going to put masks on and be disguised as dwarves! Andy Serkis [Gollum] is, at the moment, I think, the only other actor who's doing this film.

  Of course, everyone is also expecting Hugo Weaving to reprise his role as Elrond, but still no word on that or who will play Bilbo yet.

  
  

  Posted 10/13/2009 by Bill

  Related: Ian McKellen | Andy Serkis | The Hobbit

Monday, August 24

• The Hobbit to Start Filming in March

  There have been all sorts of unsubstantiated rumors popping up in recent days about the two-part Hobbit movie being helmed by Guillermo del Toro. Now we have some real news, confirmed by Gandalf (Ian McKellen) himself.

  According to a report form TheOneRing.net, McKellen showed up at an all-night screening of The Lord of the Rings in London and revealed that he is currently re-reading The Hobbit in expectation of returning to New Zealand for filming in March 2010. He also said that he is supposed to see the script next week and indicated that while knows who is going to play Bilbo in the movie, he isn't prepared to name names. Speculation is currently focused on James McAvoy and David Tennant now that Daniel Radcliffe has bowed out.

  
  

  Posted 08/24/2009 by Bill

  Related: Ian McKellen | Guillermo del Toro | The Hobbit

Friday, June 12

• Guillermo del Toro Confirms McKellen, Serkis, and Weaving Returning for The Hobbit

  Many fans are anxiously awaiting the arrival of Guillermo del Toro's vision of The Hobbit, due in 2012. For the uninitiated, The Hobbit is based on the J. R. R. Tolkien book of same name, which takes place before his Lord of the Rings trilogy.

  Several of The Hobbit's characters were featured in Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings movies — leaving many to wonder if members of Jackson's cast would appear in del Toro's adaptation. According to the director himself, we can expect at least three familiar faces. In an interview with BBC Radio 5, he confirmed (around the 2:10:45 mark) that Ian McKellen, Andy Serkis, and Hugo Weaving will reprise their roles as the wizard Gandalf, the treacherous Gollum, and the elf lord Elrond, respectively.

  No other casting decisions have been announced. The screenplay was written by del Toro and Jackson, along with Lord of the Rings co-writers Phillipa Boyens and Fran Walsh.

  
  

  Posted 06/12/2009 by Rich Z

  Related: Hugo Weaving | Ian McKellen | Peter Jackson | Guillermo del Toro | Philippa Boyens | Fran Walsh | Andy Serkis | The Hobbit

Monday, January 19

• Dominic Monaghan in The Hobbit?

  When it comes to The Hobbit, the prequel to the Lord of the Rings Trilogy, Ian McKellen returning as Gandalf or Andy Serkis returning as Gollum seems natural, considering their characters' involvement in the original J.R.R. Tolkein novel, but Dominic Monaghan and his fellow hobbits returning seems odd, since their characters were not even born when The Hobbit takes place. Still, that's precisely what Monaghan revealed to MTV: "They really want us to come back, and I think there's a really strong chance that we might be back."

  The return of Monaghan and company would have to include some serious re-writes, however. "We're not in 'The Hobbit,' no, but I think the idea in [Peter Jackson's and director Guillermo del Toro's] heads is that the trilogy of the Lord of the Rings films was so beloved by the fans that they're really keen to try to say thank you for the support that they gave to the Lord of the Rings movies and possibly bring back some of those characters that they know and love."

  Whether Monaghan and company will appear in The Hobbit or its sequel, which will link the movie to the Lord of the Rings trilogy, is uncertain.

  One thing that is is clear is that Serkis is ready to protect his "precious" again as Gollum: "I am going to really be looking forward to it," he told ComingSoon.net, "I mean the combination between [Del Toro] and Peter is extraordinary as well. I know they are writing at the moment."

  
  
  Next Showing: The Hobbit is scheduled for December 2011

  Posted 01/19/2009 by Ryan

  Related: Ian McKellen | Peter Jackson | Dominic Monaghan | Guillermo del Toro | Andy Serkis | The Hobbit | The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King | The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers | The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

Friday, January 9

• Ian McKellen Talks Hobbit and Magneto

  In an interview with iFMagazine, Sir Ian McKellen confirmed his involvement with the Lord of the Rings prequel, The Hobbit, saying "I have been been promised I'm in it," a mere twelve hours from eating dinner with Hobbit director Guillermo Del Toro.

  As for X-Men Origins: Magneto, the next possible X-Men spin-off, McKellen isn't sold: "If the Wolverine movie does well, they'll probably just do another Wolverine movie." Even if it does, McKellen likely won't be involved: "If they do a spin-off, it would be about the young [Magneto]."

  
  

  Posted 01/09/2009 by Ryan

  Related: Ian McKellen | Guillermo del Toro | The Hobbit | X-Men Origins: Magneto

Friday, April 27

• Goyer on board for Magneto spin-off

  Variety reports that Fox has finally given the go-ahead to the long-awaited X-Men spinoff Magneto, with David Goyer attached to direct. The movie will be a prequel of sorts, dealing with the origins of villain depicted in the X-Men films by Ian McKellen.

  One of the industry's most sought-after screenwriters, Goyer's directorial efforts to date have underwhelmed critics. His latest film, The Invisible, opens today.

  Things are mighty busy over at Marvel these days. Another X-Men spin-off, Wolverine, is also moving forward, with Hugh Jackman set to star.

  
  

  Posted 04/27/2007 by reelz

  Related: Hugh Jackman | Ian McKellen | David S. Goyer | X-Men: The Last Stand | X2: X-Men United | X-Men