If you were hoping to see Ian McKellen in the future adaptation of The Hobbit, you can rest comfortably.  The actor is more than willing to participate in the project.  Now it’s just a matter of him being asked.

On his personal website, the veteran of the Lord of the Rings trilogy expressed a desire to once again travel back in time and resurrect his Oscar-nominated role.  And if Peter Jackson has any say, he will.  But the two scheduled prequels are now in the hands of an entirely new director (Guillermo del Toro, Pan’s Labyrinth), and he has yet to give McKellen the greenlight.

“Encouragingly, Peter and Fran Walsh have told me they couldn’t imagine The Hobbit without their original Gandalf.  Their confidence hasn’t yet been confirmed by the director Guillermo del Toro but I am keeping my diary free for 2009!”

With Jackson serving as the executive producer for both installments, I’m guessing the fans will eventually get what they want.