May 21, 2008 by Courtney O.

Viggo Mortensen, Ian McKellen and Andy Serkis Back for The Hobbit?

Pre-production is about to get under way in New Zealand on The Hobbit, according to Variety, but it seems that some previous unannounced cast members have made their return.

Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens are expected to write the scripts under the direction of Peter Jackson and Guillermo del Toro. Preliminary contact has already been made with at least three actors whose The Lord Of The Rings characters also appear in The Hobbit storyline: Viggo Mortensen (Aragorn), Ian McKellen (Gandalf) and Andy Serkis (Gollum).

"We will all be involved in the script in some fashion but the exact definition is about a week away, " said del Toro. "I am all for keeping the actors who originated the parts, as much as availability and their willingness will allow."

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey comes to theaters December 14th, 2012 and stars Cate Blanchett, Saoirse Ronan, Orlando Bloom, Elijah Wood, Martin Freeman, David Tennant, Ian McKellen, Christopher Lee. The film is directed by Peter Jackson.


Sources: Variety

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Comments (57)

  1. Err

    i have faith in del toro. i think he'll make a decent movie out of this.

    4 years agoby @err2005Flag

  2. Saquin Turok 'X'

    Most good movie franchises end up making one film too many. Don't think that'll be the case here. The story is already written, and it's legendary. The directors, del Toro and Jackson, have outstanding track records. The actors, especially Sir Ian McKellen, have shown that the parts were almost written with them in mind. So with these factors in mind, can't see how this'll bomb, if you excuse the pun PB.

    4 years agoby @teesterxFlag

  3. PypeBomb

    I have a sickening feeling that The Hobbit is going to be about as good as The Phantom Menace was. Don't ask me why, but it seems like every time a great thing is f*cked with, the end result is 100% Moldy-Badger-Sh*t!!

    4 years agoby @pypebombFlag

  4. Saquin Turok 'X'

    The Hobbit certainly will be different from LOTR. That was more of a war story (albeit in a fantasy land inhabited by fantastic creatures). A classic and brilliant good against evil story. The Hobbit is set in the same place of course, but this is a fantastic voyage to pillage a dragons treasure. Middle Earth is definitely a different place without an imminent apocalyptic war. However, with Tolkkien, it's mainly about the journey than the destination in The Hobbit and LOTR books.

    4 years agoby @teesterxFlag

  5. Oli

    I remember reading the Hobbit in middle school. This is going to be great, especially with Guillermo directing it. It will be a different feel from the LOTR trilogy, I think. But it's too early to say that Guillermo's better than Peter Jackson though. I say they're about the same :D.

    4 years agoby @reviloleeFlag

  6. HAPPYJACK

    LETS NOT GO NUTS NORMAN, YOUR TALKIN ABOUT 1 OF THE GREATEST TRILOGYS EVER!!!!!!

    4 years agoby @happyjackFlag

  7. MC Legendary

    i like Guillermo del Toro ten times better than Peter Jackson... after meeting Guillermo i believe these will be better than the trilogy!

    4 years agoby @normanse7enFlag

  8. -GnR-

    i hope they dont mess it up......coz it will be very very hard to even come close to the LOTR trilogy....i wish peter jackson was directing them.

    4 years agoby @gnrFlag

  9. girlyc25

    i read all 4 books and thought they were great... im happy they are making the hobbit... it can go with my other movies...

    4 years agoby @girlyc25Flag

  10. sirmetro

    give us 3hours of this sh*t

    4 years agoby @sirmetroFlag

  11. Radimus-83

    as for me reading books, yeah i'll honestly put my hand up and say i'm lazy. anything with more than about 200 pages is a no go for me! (deff if it ain't got any pics!... :)

    4 years agoby @radimus-83Flag

  12. Radimus-83

    Nerd/geek/jock, yeah if thats how you wanna put it. i wasn't trying to be funny or have a dig at anybody. i was being serious when saying thanks! and no point anybody on here trying to say they ain't a nerd or geek, cause we wouldn't be on here if we weren't.

    4 years agoby @radimus-83Flag

  13. RingWraither

    Oh yes!!! =D

    4 years agoby @ringwraitherFlag

  14. Heath_Ledger_is_gay

    AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!
    THE HOBBIT WAS THE BEST!!!!!

    4 years agoby @zombiegenociderFlag

  15. Saquin Turok 'X'

    Than, again, that was a couple of months ago. Might have changed since then.

    4 years agoby @teesterxFlag

  16. Saquin Turok 'X'

    Was on the forum when it announced that del Toro was gonna direct The Hobbit. Apparently, The Hobbit is staying in one part, and the second was more of a standalone film. More like a follow up than an out and out sequel (mainly 'cos Tolkkien didn't write one). A continuation of the storyline, leading upto the LOTR story. But your right, they should be class.

    4 years agoby @teesterxFlag

  17. HAPPYJACK

    I WOULD,NT BE SURPRISED IF YOUR RIGHT TEESTER'X'. BUT I WOULD,NT BE SURPRISED IF THEY JUST SPLIT THE HOBBIT IN 2 PARTS! EITHER WAY THEY SHOULD BE CLASS!!

    4 years agoby @happyjackFlag

  18. Saquin Turok 'X'

    To answer Slysnide's question, the sequel is set between the time after The Hobbit story and the beginning of the LOTR story, which is about 80 years. Not heard anything else about this though. I'll take a lead of what Wildsmurff suggested; following what Gandalf was upto from when he disappeared for a time in The Hobbit.

    4 years agoby @teesterxFlag

  19. HAPPYJACK

    HAHHAHAHAHAHA!

    4 years agoby @happyjackFlag

  20. wildsmurff

    I am glad that my reading and retaining information helps out those that don't seem to have the time or ability to read a really good story.

    Also I am also a sport nut and love to play sports so it is Nerd/geek/jock.

    4 years agoby @wildsmurffFlag

  21. Radimus-83

    i love it here on movieweb, all the geeks and nerds who know all the in's and out's of this stuff. saves me reading books, thanks!

    4 years agoby @radimus-83Flag

  22. wildsmurff

    Yes the Necromancer is Sauron, but that battle takes place during the Hobbit. It is briefly mentioned right before Gandalf leaves the Dwarves and Bilbo to go into the Woods on thier own. He goes with the White Councel to fight the Necromancer. In the Book the Dwarves are held captive by the wood elves for a long period of time. Thus explaining that there is enouh time between Gandalf leaving and then reappearing for this to happan.

    Sadly there is only a mention of it in the Hobbit. Gandalf states that he must leave to deal with pressing matters somewhere else. That is the last of Gandalf in the Hobbit until he returns right before the battle of 5 armies.

    4 years agoby @wildsmurffFlag

  23. LEO: Lord Epsilon Omega

    Good point, jasonbourne! The first movie could be 100% The Hobbit, then the 2nd is the filler stuff like Balin going to moria and stuff like that, and THAT is when Aragorn is introduced. That's probably how they're gonna do it! :-D
    But, "Necromonger?" Isn't that The Chronicles of Riddick? I think you meant to say, "Necromancer."

    4 years agoby @epsalonFlag

  24. DuDisNow

    Bring back all the character they can!

    4 years agoby @dudisnowFlag

  25. The Narrator: The Better Man

    I agree. This will rock sox. I agree with wildsmurf. Legolas has a really big chance of coming back. and hes my fave character. lol. I think the sequel will be on aragorn in the dunedain, Gollum being hunted and captured, Balin and the trip to moria, and the Necromonger. Hell Yes.!! To bad they killed him during the hobbit and he turned back into Sauron. If i recall properly. Anyways. This is great news.

    4 years agoby @narratorFlag

  26. acebone

    WHAT!!! This is FREAKIN' AWESOME!!! I'm a great fan of the The Lord of the Rings Trilogy. I even own the extended edition DVDs. They're cool. I suggest to better watch them. You'll definitely enjoy them...

    4 years agoby @aceboneFlag

  27. Movieguru2

    Friggin sweet!

    4 years agoby @movieguru2Flag

  28. slysnide

    I can't remember Aragorn in the book. It wouldn't be good to add him into this already good story. Then again they're supposed to be making 2 films back to back, which is strange, given that they say the second is definitely a sequel, and not a part 2 of the hobbit, which was too short a book to split into 2 movies anyway. Anybody know what the sequel may be?

    4 years agoby @slysnideFlag

  29. Shadow Of The Day

    Awesome news.

    4 years agoby @asifFlag

  30. 4weston7

    sweet i can't wait for this movie.i'm glad there putting aragorn in the story

    4 years agoby @4weston7Flag

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