News: “Hobbit” Casting to Bring “Lord of the Rings” Gang Back Together

It’s been confirmed that Viggo Mortensen, Ian McKellen and Andy Serkis are all in preliminary talks to reprise their roles as Aragorn, Gandalf and Gollum from Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings saga for the upcoming pair of prequel films that Guillermo Del Toro is directing, starting with The Hobbit.

“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.”

With Jackson producing and actors possibly returning, the hope is that the transition in direction will be relatively seamless, although there’s a significant chance that Smaug the dragon won’t have any eyes, for some reason. It’s a Del Toro flair.