McKellen was indeed a perfect Gandalf, in spite of his personal evils.
I’d be just as happy if they lost Andy Serkis, though, but doubt that will happen. I don’t think he quite “got” Gollum; I know he didn’t get what “gollum” was (i.e. swallowing, not coughing).
I was wondering about that too. Plus, I sort of feel that the whole book The Hobbit has a very different feel than LOTR. Its a much more innocent little story, and Gollum, scary as he is, is almost a comical figure. It really is much lighter fare. I wonder if Del Toro gets that. His Pan’s Labyrinth was truly dark.
I wonder if the guy who did Gollum’s voice for the BBC radio dramatization is still around. Can’t remember the name - but his voice is what Goillum should sound like.
I always thought of it as more of a cough--specifically, that he was choking on the word "alone." After he'd been driven from the community of riverfolk, he was by himself for what...500 years? Unless he kept up a constant babble of conversation with himself (which he did, later on, didn't he?) his voice would have become bone-dry and ragged from neglect. And the word "alone" just fits him. My 2c, naturally.