Copied from another forum:
“My message is simple: If you don’t think Peter did a fabulous job, very likely you won’t think I will. If you think he did, I will do my best to make you proud of me.” Del Toro talking to MTV.
Other news he mentions that Andy Serkis (shown right) returns as Gollum and as we already know but it was nice to get it confirmed, Sir Ian Mckellen will be back as Gandalf. As I’d suggested though, he is worried Sir Ian Holm might be too old for the casting of Bilbo but won’t let on who he has in mind for the part.
Regarding doing the story in 2 parts he says he wants to nail The Hobbit in the first movie and then move into the era where times start to turn dark and Sauron grows in strength. Del Toro calls it a “very interesting period in time” as civil war starts to break out. He and Peter Jackson have outlined the story they want to tell and how they want to tell it but no firm plans as yet.
Good news. McKellan ~owns~ the role as Gandalf. In fact if somebody else were cast that alone would make it distracting.
Good about Serkis too.
I wonder who’ll be Smaug?