Sir Ian McKellan is saddened by the announcement that Peter Jackson will not be directing The Hobbit. I am too. But I will get over it.
Sir Ian McKellen, who played the wizard Gandalf in the smash hit “Lord of the Rings” movies, said on Wednesday he is sad director Peter Jackson may not make a film based on author J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Hobbit.”
“I’m very sad as I should have relished revisiting middle Earth with Peter again as team-leader. It’s hard to imagine any other director matching his achievement in Tolkien country,” McKellen wrote in a posting on his Web site, mckellen.com.
Now just like everyone else has said, it would be WONDERFUL to have Jackson do the Hobbit. No arguement there. Even Ian says it.
But one thing to notice is what he DIDNT say. He didnt say he was OUT without Jackson. He sounds like he is still committed to the Hobbit to reprise his role as Gandalf the Gray. He is talking like he is going to do it no matter who is attached to the project, and says something to the tone of “too bad Peter isnt coming with us this time around”
Sir Ian McKellan sang pretty high praises about Singer who directed him as the iconic Magneto in the first two XMen. When Singer was announced to not do X3, Ian didnt have a problem with that either.
If he had put his foot down and said “Fuck it. No Peter? No Ian.” then there might have been an issue with a Jackson Free production. When those close to the project start voicing concerns or staging threats we might have bigger problems, but with this casual comment from McKellan I am inclined to think that its not a big deal.
I personally HOPE that whoever it is that does The Hobbit will do a good job. I dont think it MUST be Jackson, but that would be cool. Im still going to see it anyways.
