9/30/2006
Gandalf actor Ian McKellen is waiting for The Hobbit, too: "I'd very much like Peter Jackson to consider it. I've put it to him a number of times. I think understandably his ambitions might lie elsewhere."
Complete interview at AfterElton.com
9/26/2006
In another interview Peter Jackson again talks about The Hobbit and says, the sets of Hobbiton and Rivendell do still exist and could be used in The Hobbit again.
Article at Entertainment Weekly
9/18/2006
Peter Jackson talks in an interview in detail about The Hobbit:
He still waits to be asked by MGM and New Line to produce The Hobbit. Meanwhile his calendar gets stuffed more and more with other projects. So maybe someone else will make the movie.
Jackson would like to continue with the actors from Lord of the Rings and even include these roles which don't appear in The Hobbit or are only mentioned marginally, like Legolas and Saruman. With a movie in two parts he would show Saurons defeat against the White Council and his return to Mordor.
Article at aintitcool.com
That's awesome!!
This would involve one of the problems with a prequel, because at the time of the Hobbit Saruman would have to be unquestionably virtuous, if not very personable, so that his relationship with Gandalf as seen in the start Fellowship of the Ring would make sense.