Sir Ian McKellen told Empire Online recently that he was indeed coming back for The Hobbit and The Hobbit Sequel.

McKellen stated, “Yes, it’s true. 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. We talk occasionally and he’s looking forward to coming out of retirement, yes. Guillermo will be getting around to starting the script in about six weeks when he’s finished (editing) Hellboy II: The Golden Army.”

About The Hobbit Sequel, Ian said, “Well I’ve read The Hobbit so I’ve got a good idea of what the story would be. But as to how it’s going to work over two films and what is going to happen on screen, well Guillermo has not got down to working out the major details yet – I can tell you it’s going to be amazing though.”

Writer and Director, Guillermo Del Toro, has recently said that “we’ll know in four or five days whether all the legal stuff on The Hobbit and its sequel has been worked out and if he’ll be moving ahead”. Del Toro has been listed as the lead in heading the next two films in the Lord of The Rings series; however nothing has been signed as yet.

He also added that his next small movie will be called “Saturn and the End of Days” about a young boy watching the end of the world while walking back and forth from the supermarket.

Coming from his previous movies like Pan’s Labyrinth and The Devil’s Backbone, this new project should raise some extreme interest from his fans.