For many fans, THE LORD OF THE RINGS characters feel like part of the family and many have been wondering which ones would make it back to the big screen in THE HOBBIT. As most of you are aware, THE HOBBIT story takes place 60 years prior to the happenings in THE LORD OF THE RINGS and, with the life expectancy of wizards, elves, and hobbits being what it is, some of the characters from THE LORD OF THE RINGS films will be present in THE HOBBIT telling. Peter Jackson is hard at work prepping THE HOBBIT and, while promoting THE LOVELY BONES, he confirmed some returning characters and actors.

Jackson confirmed that Gandalf would play a big role in THE HOBBIT. In an interview with MTV, he said “Gandalf, being a 2,000-year-old wizard, is still around and plays a major role in ‘The Hobbit,’ and we’re having Ian McKellen reprise…There’s a couple of other characters: Elrond, who was played by Hugo Weaving [in the original films], and there’s a possibility of Galadriel, who was played by Cate Blanchett.”

Sadly, that means the presence of Orlando Bloom’s flowing locks, Sean Astin, Dominic Monaghan, Viggo Mortensen and John Rhys-Davies is highly unlikely.

THE HOBBIT is currently set for a December 2011 release. The film is the first of two planned HOBBIT films. We can expect more casting information to be released early next year. Jackson is also executive-producing the flick and writing the screenplay.

Other articles that you might like:

• Peter Jackson says THE HOBBIT might be delayed a few months
• MGM and WB really want Peter Jackson to direct THE HOBBIT films
• Casting for THE HOBBIT begins
• HOBBIT casting descriptions
• MGM financial problems stall ROBOCOP, MATARESE CIRCLE and THREE STOOGES; may keep Jackson off THE HOBBIT