Three actors from the original LORD OF THE RINGS movies are expected to come back for the proposed prequel THE HOBBIT and the other movie New Line are producing with Guillermo del Toro at the helm.

Those three actors are Sir Ian McKellen (Gandalf), Viggo Mortensen (Aragorn) and Andy Serkis (Gollum), all of who have been contacted to discuss their involvement.

"We will all be involved in the script in some fashion but the exact definition is about a week away, " said del Toro to Variety. "I am all for keeping the actors who originated the parts, as much as availability and their willingness will allow."