In a piece about Guillermo del Toro today, Variety reports that Viggo Mortensen, Ian McKellen and Andy Serkis are in talks to reprise their roles once again in Guillermo del Toro's "The Hobbit" and presumably the sequel after "The Hobbit." "The Hobbit" is based on the book by J.R.R. Tolkien that served as a prequel to the "Lord of the Rings" books. New Line and MGM will be distributing both "The Hobbit" and the unnamed sequel during the holiday seasons of 2011 and 2012.

Peter Jackson, who co-wrote and directed the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, will be exec producing along with Fran Walsh.