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First shot of Ian McKellen as Gandalf in The Hobbit

By InCinemas / 14 May 2011 (Saturday)

Source: totalfilm.com

Ian McKellen has posted online a snapshop of himself on the set of The Hobbit.

And it seems that Gandalf The Grey is a fan of 3D; in the behind the scenes pic, he’s wearing a very cool pair of 3D glasses.

Alright it’s all sort of a joke, seeing as The Hobbit is currently being shot in 3D, but it’s great to see McKellen back in the familiar grey beard as Middle Earth’s favourite sorcerer.

It’s especially comforting for Lord Of The Rings fans who were pulling their hair out for years over Hobbit’s long and tortured pre-production process.

Accompanying the image, McKellen posted: “The Hobbit is being filmed in 3D. Even wizards have to wear the glasses. Snapped by Peter Jackson in Wellington, 2011.”

Elsewhere in Hobbit land, Martin Freeman has just departed the film's production for a scheduled hiatus, during which he'll return to England for filming of BBC TV series Sherlock. Writes McKellen on his blog:

"Martin Freeman has left The Hobbit. This is not another April Fool, just a May Fact.

"Before signing as Bilbo, Martin had agreed to make three 90-minute TV films in London, again playing Dr Watson to Benedict Cumberbatch's Sherlock Holmes.

"No worries: he'll be back in Middle Earth after our first hiatus, during which Peter Jackson will have spare time to edit the scenes already completed."

Photo: Flickr

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First shot of Ian McKellen as Gandalf in The Hobbit