Ian McKellen to Star in 'The Hobbit' With or Without Jackson
Filed under: Action, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Casting, MGM, New Line, Fandom, Family Films, Peter Jackson, Comic/Superhero/Geek, Remakes and Sequels
Now that The Hobbit looks like it will actually happen, it's time to once again talk about the film's casting. And it appears Sir Ian McKellan will most definitely return as Gandalf. He is quoted in The Guardian as saying that he would be "very pleased" to return to the iconic role, which he played in the three Lord of the Rings movies. He also stated that he will do it regardless of whether or not Peter Jackson is brought back to direct the "prequel". In fact, McKellan claims he has received Jackson's blessing to do the film without him. And so the actor said that if he's physically capable of playing the character, he will certainly do so. Of course, he hasn't officially been asked to return, let alone cast, in The Hobbit. But surely he will be offered the part, right?
Obviously, he must be cast. Aside from the fact that he's iconically associated with the character, McKellan was even recognized with an Oscar nomination for playing Gandalf in The Fellowship of the Ring. But the main reason for McKellan to return -- and I'm sure he recognizes this, as does Jackson -- is for the fans. Some fans will be extremely disappointed if Jackson doesn't direct The Hobbit, but nearly all of the fans should boycott the film if the production goes with a new cast. It will be hard enough accepting someone other than Ian Holm playing Bilbo Baggins, which could very well happen since Baggins is much younger in the earlier story of The Hobbit than in the LOTR trilogy. But if Jackson didn't come back to direct, the film could end up in the hands of Sam Raimi, who we can assume would do the project justice by casting McKellan. Yet despite the new healthiness of The Hobbit, we still can't be sure it will happen very soon. So, if for some terrible reason McKellan isn't "functioning," as he says, who could possibly be considered to replace him? Michael Gambon, perhaps?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
10-17-2007 @ 11:02AM
Joe V said...
"Baggins is much younger in the earlier story of The Hobbit than in the LOTR trilogy."
Remember the Gandalf line in LotR: "You haven't aged a day!"
The ring "froze" Bilbo's aging, so he would look the same age as, well, the Fellowship flashback we saw of him finding the ring in Gollum's cave. In fact, I rather wished Jackson had shot that whole sequence just so it could be inserted in the eventual Hobbit movie without discrepancy.
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10-17-2007 @ 11:15AM
Christopher Campbell said...
Okay, I have forgotten that line, but I also probably just thought it was a polite compliment.
But as much as I love Holm, it is hard to think he's young enough to be the Bilbo of The Hobbit.
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10-17-2007 @ 11:35AM
Akbar Fazil said...
The ring extended/stretched out Bilbo's life, it did not freeze his aging. IIRC, Bilbo was in his early 50s in the Hobbit. It might be a bit of a stretch for Ian to pull it off at this point (he is 76.)
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10-17-2007 @ 11:38AM
The Addict said...
I read this article then immediately went to College Humor and found this at the top of their videos list:
http://www.collegehumor.com/video:38546
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10-17-2007 @ 12:01PM
Britboyj27 said...
Okay, Bilbo is, chronologically, years younger when the Hobbit takes place. With that said, he stops aging when he finds the ring. Even at the start of Fellowship, Gandal remarks "you haven't aged a day."
Ian Holm can pull it off, I'm sure. Maybe a bit younger yes, but I don't think it's in dire need of a recast.
My criteria for giving it the benefit of a doubt are as follows:
1. Sir Ian as Gandalf. The end. No one else can do it.
2. Andy Serkis as Gollum. No one else can do it as well.
3. Legolas having at most a cameo in the court of Thranduil.
4. Someone cool as Bard - Daniel Craig, Clive Owen or even (at a stretch) Christian Bale spring to mind.
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10-17-2007 @ 1:11PM
Tim Johnson said...
I'm not a LOTR nerd or anything (ok, yes, I am), but I'm pretty sure Bilbo is supposed to look the same age in the Hobbit as he appears in LOTR. 1). During the time between the stories, he's in possession of the ring, which grants long-lasting life. This isn't to say he wouldn't change, but 2). in LOTR, Galdalf exclaims how Bilbo hasn't "aged a day" since the Hobbit took place, which, I believe, is set 50 years before LOTR. Or does 50 years pass after Bilbo leaves Frodo the ring? I'm not sure. The point is Holm could definitely play Bilbo. Worst case scenario, Jackson or whoever could mess with the timeline a bit. Jackson did it in LOTR, and it was fine.
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10-17-2007 @ 2:15PM
Garfinkel said...
I recently saw McKellen speak in NY. Yes, he did state that he has Peter Jackson's blessing to play the role of Gandalf with or without him, that no one else can play that role.
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