Openly gay veteran actor Sir Ian McKellen has revealed he's set to return to New Zealand to film The Hobbit in July.
"The Hobbit's two films start shooting in New Zealand in July, filming will take over a year," he said on his official website.
"The director Guillermo del Toro is now living in Wellington, close to the Jacksons' and the studio in Miramar," he added.
Sir Ian, who played the wise wizard Gandalf in the landmark Lord of the Rings film trilogy, lived in New Zealand for most of the year 2000 as he filmed with acclaimed director Peter Jackson. While here he met with Kiwi gay organisations for charity events. He then returned for a brief tour in 2007 with the Royal Shakespeare Company, saying he loved New Zealand.
