Revealing he has got his hands on the script, the actor who will reprise his Gandalf role shares, 'As Peter has said, they loved writing Gandalf because they knew who they were writing him for.'
- Nov 3, 2009
AceShowbiz - Ian McKellen has finally read the script for "The Hobbit", and he shared that producer Peter Jackson and his co-scribblers, Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens, have written the Gandalf screenplay specifically for him. The 70-year-old gushed about the matter to Sci Fi Wire while promoting AMC's "The Prisoner".
"As Peter has said, they loved writing Gandalf [for The Hobbit] because they knew who they were writing him for," the actor who will be seen reprising his role as Gandalf said. "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."
While being blunt in expressing his feeling toward the script, McKellen was careful enough to not spill any beans. "The other Gandalf was written for, well, just as Gandalf," he went on saying. "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."
The actor who is also known for his portrayal of Magneto in the "X-Men" franchise then spoke about Jackson and director Guillermo del Toro being on the same page for the script. "They're both fascinated by fantasy and violence on the screen, and gore, and things that frighten you," he said. "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," he furthermore elaborated on his comment. "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."
"The Hobbit" is taken from J.R.R. Tolkien's novel of the same title and is planned to be made into two-part movies. The movies will re-create the scenes of the novel, with additional events that make an impact to "The Lords of the Rings", such as the expulsion of Sauron from Mirkwood by The White Council. The first of the adventure fantasy movie is scheduled for December 2011 U.S. release, while "The Hobbit 2" is expected to hit theaters a year later.
