McKellen optimistic of Jackson return

Ian McKellen is still hopeful the movie adaptation of The Hobbit will be brought to the big screen with Peter Jackson at the helm, despite the director's ongoing dispute with bosses at New Line Cinema.

Jackson, who is currently embroiled in a legal dispute with the film company over royalties from The Lord of the Rings trilogy (LOTR), told fans last week that he will not be involved in the big screen adaptation of the JRR Tolkien classic, or in another LOTR prequel.