Ian McKellen to Return as Gandalf, while Andy Serkis to bring back Gollum in ‘The Hobbit’

(HMG Movie News) – A couple of highly anticipated Lord of the Rings cast members have signed on to return in The Hobbit, the two-pic adaptation of the J.R.R. Tolkien novel being directed by Peter Jackson.   Ian McKellen will reportedly reprise his role as wizard Gandalf, while Andy Serkis has closed his deal to bring back Gollum, joining returning cast members Cate Blanchett (as Galadriel) and Elijah Wood (as Frodo), in The Hobbit.  Christopher Lee is in talks to reprise the wizard Saruman, and Ian Holm is set to return as an older version of Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman is playing that title role in the two new movies).  New dad  Orlando Bloom has an offer to return as elf archer Legolas, but has not accepted the deal as of yet.  Hobbit starts shooting Feb. 14 in New Zealand.