IAN MCKELLEN - IAN MCKELLEN'S ROLE IN THE HOBBIT IS CONFIRMED

Actor Sir IAN MCKELLEN has revealed he will reprise his role as Gandalf the wizard in the upcoming two-part adaptation of THE HOBBIT.

Speaking to Empire magazine, Sir Ian, who played the character in all three of PETER JACKSON's LORD OF THE RINGS movies, said: "Yes, it's true, I spoke to Guillermo in the very room that Peter Jackson offered me the part and he confirmed that I would be reprising the role.

"Obviously, it's not a part that you turn down, I loved playing Gandalf."

THE HOBBIT will be directed by GUILLERMO DEL TORO, who will tackle both movies back-to-back.

Speaking at the premiere of SPEED RACER, Sir Ian revealed that he was unsure about how the director plans to divide JRR Tolkien's book into two films but added that he is sure it will be "amazing".

The BBC reports that New Line, the studio behind the film, claims that Del Toro is planning to cover the book in the first film and use the second to tell an original story which follows the characters in the years between THE HOBBIT and LORD OF THE RINGS.