On Ian Mckellen's website, Mckellen.com, he's answered some questions regarding his return for the prequel to Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit.  Here is what Sir Ian had to say.

Q: So has it come to pass, good Sir McKellen? Shall  the dreaming masses with their musty books and  their blackened pipes at long last hear those  immortal words issue from under that famous nose?  "Yes, yes, my dear sir-and I know your name, Mr.  Bilbo Baggins. And you do know my name, though  you don't remember that I belong to it. I am  Gandalf, and Gandalf means me! To think I should  have lived to be good-morninged by Belladonna  Took's son, as if I was selling buttons at the door!"  Looking about, I find I share the same hopes as  millions of others, so I ask, a single query in a  chorus... Will you again be our Gandalf in "The  Hobbit" now that the deal is settled?

A: Yes I will, if Peter Jackson and I have anything to do with it, he being the producer and me being, on the whole, a very lucky actor.  I've just read your quote out loud - fabulous speech. 

Q: Have you been approached yet by Peter Jackson or anyone else about  reprising your wonderful role as Gandalf for the two upcoming  "Hobbit" movies. I read that principal photography begins in 2009,  and I can't imagine those movies without you!

A: 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!

I think its obvious Ian Mckellen would want to come back.  The Lord of the Rings trilogy had to be an amazing experience to film for all the actors.  Besides that, who knows how fans would react to Mckellen if he decided not to come back.  They'll be a riot.  I for one hope everything works out for the franchise and we can see more from the Tolkien universe.

On another note, more of just a simple comment about Ian Mckellen... he's an incredible actor and as much as people bitch about The Da Vinci Code, he was awesome in it.  X-men... Magneto... Kick ass and perfect casting.

Source: Comingsoon.net

-Phil