Ian McKellen Still not Signed on to Play Gandalf in THE HOBBIT!

Just when we thought everything surrounding The Hobbit was all happy flowers and rainbows we get the discouraging bit of news that Ian McKellen is still not signed on to play Gandalf in The Hobbit! McKellen made the reveal in an interview with Broadwayworld.

Here is the Q & A from the interview:

Are you involved in THE HOBBIT? 

I am not under contract, no. 

Have you had any meetings? 

I'm not going to say any more than that because it might complicate things! So, I would say - at the moment - no, I am not under contract. 

Is it OK for me to then take that as a "Yes" with a "but..."? 

Laughs. I'm not saying any more than what I've said! (Laughs.)

Will someone please get this man signed up to play Gandalf already! McKellen has to to be cast in the role! He is the main ingredient to the the whole Middle Earth franchise, bridging the gap between The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. 

Hopefully they will be able to work out whatever the hold-up is.

The film is being directed by Peter Jackson, who needs to get McKellen on board now, and currently stars James Nesbitt, newcomer Adam Brown, Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage (Captain America: The First Avenger), Aidan Turner (Being Human), Rob Kazinsky (EastEnders), Graham McTavish (Secretariat), John Callen (TV’s Power Rangers Jungle Fury), Stephen Hunter (All Saints), Mark Hadlow (King Kong), Peter Hambleton (The Strip) and Andy Serkis as Gollum.