ROTTEN TOMATOES: McKellen Misses Middle-earth

McKellen Misses Middle-earth

Sir Ian says he's on board for The Hobbit, Jackson or no Jackson.

by Jeff Giles | October 17, 2007

Whether or not the rumored Peter Jackson-New Line truce actually comes to pass, one thing is certain: Sir Ian McKellen is ready and waiting to play Gandalf again.

Recent reports have indicated that Jackson's long-running feud with New Line might be coming to an end, thus clearing the way for the director to helm The Hobbit -- but even if it isn't Jackson behind the cameras for the Lord of the Rings prequel, McKellen's interested. As IGN Movies quotes the actor (via Reuters):

"When Peter announced he had withdrawn from The Hobbit, he sent me an e-mail saying 'Because I am not going to do it, it doesn't mean you have to do the same. Of course, you must play Gandalf whether I direct or not'...I am glad to read that (The Hobbit) is looking more and more likely. ... I would be disappointed if they didn't want to have the original Gandalf. I suppose if I am still functioning and working well, it is very likely I would be asked to do it and if I were, I would be very pleased to do it."

Jackson's litigation against New Line seemingly turned a corner recently, when the studio was ordered to turn internal audits from the Rings movies over to the court. According to the Entertainment Weekly report we discussed a couple of weeks ago, the deadline for the audits' submission was October 9.

Source: IGN Movies

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(1-20 of 31 posts) | Reply

jomo999 writes:
on Oct 17 2007 06:18 AM

some good news at last - happy to see ian will be reprising the role.
Here's hoping Peter Jackson will be directing - it will certainly be something to look forward to.

(Reply to this)

Elixor writes:
on Oct 17 2007 06:24 AM

I also hope that Jackson directs this, but I also hope that it's realized that there's significant differences between The Hobbit and LoTRs. The Hobbit should be a much lighter movie.

(Reply to this)

dahluzz writes:
on Oct 17 2007 06:35 AM

bilbo baggins is a stone-cold pimp.

(Reply to this)

TombstoneLawDog writes:
on Oct 17 2007 06:50 AM

's not like they have to worry terribly much about Gandalf looking older..

(Reply to this)

0LDB0Y writes:
on Oct 17 2007 07:07 AM

I am sure going to miss the gay chemistry between Frodo and Samwise.

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tigerintexas writes:
on Oct 17 2007 07:36 AM

I was never that excited about a Hobbit film. The story-- compared to the trilogy-- might be a letdown after Jackson's LOTR adaptation. After you've saved the world, a there-and-back-again journey for riches might seem a bit insignificant.

Also, how would they deal with the finding of the ring? The Fellowship prologue simplified it to the point that people might say, "hey, wait" when the full telling comes out.

I'm a nerd.

(Reply to this)

tigerintexas writes:
on Oct 17 2007 07:37 AM

That said, McKellen's possible involvement would definitely be something to look forward to.

(Reply to this)

jacog writes:
on Oct 17 2007 07:49 AM

To above comment... in The Hobbit, the finding of the ring was really just a simple straight-forward affair. And it wasn't this scary sinister thing either.

(Reply to this)

jasperoosterveld writes:
on Oct 17 2007 08:23 AM

Good news :) I loved gandalf

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KubrickIsG-d writes:
on Oct 17 2007 09:27 AM

I read an article in the Chicago Tribune recently stating that Ian Mckellen is the most bankable actor in Hollywood. With the Lord of The Rings and X-Men, his films have grossed well into the billions. Consider that.

(Reply to this)

Alterran writes:
on Oct 17 2007 10:12 AM

This is the best news I've had all day, McKellan made a great Gandalf. And I liked the lighter tone of the hobbit, it makes for some nice variety. Besides, the whole "war over the treasure" part wasn't exactly butterflies and flowers. Now all we need is Peter Jackson . . .

(Reply to this)

Paul_Is_Drunk writes:
on Oct 17 2007 11:00 AM

Most bankable star?

Look, I like the guy, but he wasn't exactly the staring guy in these films. He's more like a white Morgan Freeman. Everyone likes him, he seems to get attached to good films, and while people are glad he's in the movie, most people didn't come to see him.

(Reply to this)

Stanley QBrick writes:
on Oct 17 2007 11:14 AM

Great Scott!! that is good news. Eventually Mckellan and the the new cast will get more tattoos done at the end of production.(a second for Gandalf)
My question is: what about the character played by Christopher Lee? shouldn't he be included in the Hobbit.

When i was a child I thought this book was about collecting stamps and other minor past times.

(Reply to this)

Elixor writes:
on Oct 17 2007 11:23 AM

Mckellen made a great Gandolf and a terrible Magneto, yet both movies made a ton of money. Consider that.

Advertising sells movie tickets better than good movies. Good movies sell more DVDs.

(Reply to this)

Elixor writes:
on Oct 17 2007 11:43 AM

LOL, I put myself in a box there. Considering that X-Men sold tons of DVDs, I should revise my point by saying people didn't go to see X-Men for Ian Mckellen, they went because it was X-Men. I personally hate the X-Men movies and would never buy those movies on DVD. Apparently most people disagree with that.

I agree with Paul_Is_Drunk. Mckellen is a great actor, but I don't think he draws people to movies like Harrison Ford or Arnold Schwarzenegger did/does. He just happened to be in some very popular movies.

(Reply to this)

rgallitan writes:
on Oct 17 2007 01:41 PM

Well I love the X-Men movies. I even forgive number 3. So, nyah! But.. anyway, I agree that McKellen isn't strictly a "bankable" star. I like the Morgan Freeman comparison - he's a well-respected and likable actor, and so he gets good parts in good films - films that care about that sort of thing. We should probably dump latter-day Michael Caine into that category as well (though I still think he's too famous to be Alfred, however good his performance was).

In response to Stanley QBrick, no, Saruman does not appear in the Hobbit, so neither would Christopher Lee. I've seen some discussion about including the White Council and their attack on the Necromancer in southern Mirkwood, but for my part that is a terrible idea.

(Reply to this)

samlane writes:
on Oct 17 2007 01:47 PM

Personally I kind of hope that jackson doesn't come back to direct. Don't get me wrong....the LOTR movies were great, but i think they could have been much better. I feel like jackson took way to many liberties with the stories. I can understand having to cut some parts because there would have been no way to get everything from the books into three movies, but many of the additions and changes he made seemed rather pointless to me. so, i would love to see someone elses vision of middle earth...although i'm not convinced that sam raime is the best man for the job either. I'm not sure who i would like to see take the reigns......

(Reply to this)

eastern2western writes:
on Oct 17 2007 03:28 PM

Of course he misses middle earth because that franchise is his biggest cash cow.

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JpPrewitt789 writes:
on Oct 17 2007 04:16 PM

I heard Forbes gave the title of most Bankable actor to Matt Damon like a month or so ago.

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Don't Tase Me Bro writes:
on Oct 17 2007 04:31 PM

what isn't well-known is that Sir Ian was in New Zealand earlier this summer touring with the Royal Shakespeare Company's production in the role of King Lear.

While there, Peter Jackson hosted a party for the whole cast, and serious discussion between Pete and Sir Ian was held at that time. The cast also were given a tour of WETA as well...

Needless to say, I PERSONALLY know that Peter Jackson and Sir Ian have met this summer and have discussed the possibility of 'The Hobbit'...

(am friends with one of the minor theatre actors in the production, and my friend has the facebook pictures of his tour of WETA, Peter Jackson and Sir Ian meeting, to prove it actually has happened...)

(Reply to this)

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