[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

He also pointed out that Saruman is not in the Hobbit.

That is true but it does seem to affect rumours about the 'second movie', which often include ideas like showing the meeting of the White Council. Saruman was the leader of the White Council, so this may mean that rumour is dead.

[Oyarsa]

Personally, I'm hoping that there is no second movie; Peter Jackson was very free in the making of LOTR in three areas:

1) Changing of the personality/motivations of major characters.

2) Changing of major aspects of the plot

3) Changing of the themes of Lord of the Rings.

While I realize that Jackson is not directing the Hobbit (for which I am very thankful) I do not believe that most directors tend to be rather free with existing plots and characters, and they are moreso when they provide "filler".

If a second movie was produced, I would hope they would limit it to information on the third age taken from the Silmarillion and the Unfinished Tales.