WELLINGTON, New Zealand -- British actor Sir Ian McKellen, who played Gandalf the Wizard in the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, is hoping to reprise the role in another tale from Middle Earth.

A fan asked McKellen on his official Web site if he would play the role of Gandalf in "The Hobbit," which is being produced by Peter Jackson, the director of the Rings trilogy, and is likely to be filmed in his home country of New Zealand next year.

"Yes, I will, if Peter Jackson and I have anything to do with it, he being the producer and me being, on the whole, a very lucky actor," McKellen replied in comments dated March 26.

Jackson reached a deal with New Line Cinema late last year to make two films of J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Hobbit," a planned prequel to the blockbuster Rings trilogy. Jackson will serve as executive producer for the "The Hobbit" movies.

Another fan asked the 68-year-old McKellen: "Have you been approached yet by Peter Jackson or anyone else" to play the ancient Wizard?

"Encouragingly, Peter and Fran Walsh [Jackson's director partner] have told me they couldn't imagine 'The Hobbit' without their original Gandalf," McKellen said.

"Their confidence hasn't yet been confirmed by the director Guillermo del Toro, but I am keeping my diary free for 2009!" he added.

Del Toro, best known for the films "Pan's Labyrinth" and "Hellboy," has yet to be officially named as director of the Hobbit movies, but McKellen's note was seen as another sign that Del Toro will helm the films.

The films have a combined budget of New Zealand $186 million (US$150 million;) and are set for release in 2010 and 2011. They are scheduled to be shot simultaneously, the same method Jackson used to make the Rings trilogy.

New Line Cinema is owned by Time Warner.