Bond forged through The Hobbit stays strong

Mexican film-maker Guillermo del Toro is no longer directing The Hobbit, but the bond remains strong with Sir Ian McKellen, who will reprise Gandalf in the film.

Sir Ian spent the past few nights staying at Del Toro's "man cave" in Wellington's Worser Bay, while preparing for Waiting for Godot, which opened in Wellington last night.

The season has been extended to another two shows on Saturday.

Del Toro, who quit as director in May, bought two houses in Wellington when he began work on the film.

One was for his family and the other, which he dubbed his "man cave", was to hold a large library, including toys and memorabilia.

"Most of his toys have been locked away now and perhaps sent back to Los Angeles ... But he is coming to see the show [Waiting for Godot] on Saturday," Sir Ian said.

He understood Sir Peter Jackson was in Britain casting for The Hobbit, while negotiations continued on who would direct the two-part film in Wellington. Though nobody has been officially cast in The Hobbit, Sir Ian and Andy Serkis, who plays Gollum, have said they will star.

At a press conference for Waiting for Godot yesterday, Sir Ian, who was in Wellington for several months while filming The Lord of the Rings, said he would love to be a tour guide for the rest of the Waiting for Godot cast, but they were performing six performances in four days.

"That's a job I aspire to. I'd love to take them round, [but] there's not even time to take them round Worser Bay.

"We might go to Cuba Mall. That's quite lively at three o'clock in the morning on a Friday. I could tell you a few stories."

The play's cast also includes British television and film actor Roger Rees, of Cheers, Matthew Kelly, best known as presenter of Stars in Their Eyes, and Brendan O'Hea of Quantum of Solace.

Kelly, who plays the comic Pozzo, said the play appealed to all ages. In Adelaide he spoke to an 87-year-old woman. "She said: `I had to see this play. I had to see it because I'm 87 and I know all about waiting'."

The play has had a record-breaking season at the Theatre Royal Haymarket in London, and has been a hit on tour.