After much speculation, rumour and set-backs, it could be that The Hobbit is actually going to start shooting in July. And how do we know? Cos Gandalf told us. Yeah. Put that in your elven bread and stab it to death with a big sword.

According to Ian McKellen’s blog, shooting is finally going to get off the ground this summer. He goes on to say

“Filming will take over a year. Casting in Los Angeles, New York City and London has started. The script too proceeds. The first draft is crammed with old and new friends, again on a quest in Middle Earth. The director Guillermo del Toro is now living in Wellington, close to the Jacksons’ and the studio in Miramar.”

Did you imagine him reading that out in a Gandalf voice? Yeah… Us neither.

There’s not been any official statement about any of this, but you know what, we trust the voice of Sir Ian. It’ll be a goodly while before the final product comes our way, but just knowing that the cogs are starting to turn makes us excited in a way only Middle Earth can.