As we know Guillermo Del Toro has confirmed what we already knew, that he would be directing The Hobbit. He also said that he hoped both Sir Ian McKellen and Andy Serkis would be in it. Well now we know that McKellen will be in it as Gandalf, and he also spoke a little about the X-Men spin off film for Magneto.

McKelland spoke to Empire at the Speed Racer premiere and confirmed that he'd spoken to
Guillermo Del Toro and Peter Jackson.

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...Guillermo will be getting around to starting the script in about six weeks when he’s finished filming Hellboy 2.

He also talked about the problem of filling in the gap between The Hobbit, and Fellowship of the Ring.

Well I’ve read The Hobbit so I’ve got a good idea of what the story would be. But as to how it’s going to work over two films and what's going to happen on screen, well Guillermo has not got down to working out the major details yet – I can tell you it’s going to be amazing though.

And it seems although there is a Magneto film in the pipeline, he probably won't be appearing in it.

They are making a Magneto spin-off but I don’t think it will involve me because it’s about the younger Magneto, it’s a back-story....Would I be willing to return to play a young Magneto? A cameo in my own movie? I don’t think so, I don’t think I could get away with playing a 19-year-old.

So he's signed up, and I guess Andy Serkis will follow soon. It also sounds like Del Toro has a few things up his sleeve for the second Hobbit film. It's going to be interesting to see what happens in the second film, unfortunately we have a long wait ahead.