After years of delays in making of “The Hobbit,” the makers of the movie have finally given the world some proof that the film is on its way to the big screen.
The prequel to “Lord of the Rings” trilogy is shooting in New Zealand and there is one familiar face in the film, according to pictures released by Entertainment Weekly.
Ian McKellen, or Gandalf to “Lord of the Rings” fans, is featured in one of the photos published by the magazine. The gray haired wizard looks eerily similar to Gandalf from the trilogy even though the prequel is set years before Frodo and his friends go on a tireless journey to destroy the evil ring. Gandalf is sitting up against a tree, with a pipe in his mouth (something he did many times in the other films) staring into the world of Middle Earth.
Director Peter Jackson also handed over some photos to the mag featuring Martin Freeman, who plays the young Hobbit, Bilbo Baggins.
In the photo, Bilbo is looking at what looks like a long letter inside his home at the Shire, while others look on.
The film centers around Bilbo, who discovers the infamous ring, which he will later hand off to his nephew, Frodo.
”He fits the ears, and he’s got some very nice feet,” Jackson told EW in the piece set to hit stands Friday. ”I think he’s got the biggest hobbit feet we’ve had so far. They’re a little bit hard to walk in, but he’s managed to figure out the perfect hobbit gait.”
Jackson hasn’t been shy about giving out some information about the movie. He uses his Facebook page to interact with fans, and announced back in May that Orlando Bloom would make an appearance in the film, even though his character from the trilogy, Legolas, isn’t featured in the book.
