The leading website for all things Lord of the Rings, TheOneRing.net, has a great interview with Guillermo del Toro on The Hobbit films.  In this interview he discusses a couple of different things, but I think the most important was a little news on casting.  Take a look:

Do you have any roles cast?

GDT: Well, I had the most charming meeting with Sir Ian, and all bureaucracy pending, he’s on board, as is Andy Serkis. We will continue giving you progress reports as the occur. It is our intention that we will not lose any of the key elements.

Those to actors reprising their roles are key, del Toro is right.  I have no doubt that the entire cast... who ever is in the script at least, will return.  These movies are going to be big and they won't pass it up.

I'm really excited to see what they come up with for both films, especially the second film.

If your a fan of the Lord of the Rings franchise, you really need to read this interview at TheOneRing.net.

-Phil