The Hobbit to start filming in July, Ian McKellen confirms

The Hobbit to begin filming in New Zealand in June, Sir Ian McKellen confirms

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Thursday, 18, Mar 2010 05:15

By Sarah Garrod.

The long-awaited film version of JRR Tolkien's The Hobbit will begin filming in July, Sir Ian McKellen has confirmed.

The British actor, who will reprise his Lord of the Rings role as Gandalf in the new film, said casting for the film had already started.

On his official website, the 70-year-old actor wrote: "The Hobbit's, two films, start shooting in New Zealand in July. Filming will take over a year.

"Casting in Los Angeles, New York City and London has started. The script too proceeds. The first draft is crammed with old and new friends, again on a quest in Middle Earth.

"The director Guillermo del Toro is now living in Wellington, close to the Jacksons' and the studio in Miramar."

Mexican-born film-maker Guillermo del Toro will direct the film, a prequel to Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy, and its proposed sequel.

Del Toro, who won three Oscars for Pan's Labyrinth, has called the directing role "an absolute dream come true".