Sean Mathias News

According to ContactMusic.com Ian Mckellen tells New Zeleand's Good Morning that he may not return to his role of Gandolf in the prequel to 'The Lord Of The Rings' films, 'The Hobbit.' The film has been plagued with many production delays, as previously reported.

Guillermo del Toro has abandoned his role as director on the upcoming film versions of 'The Hobbit,' based on the novel by J.R.R. Tolkien, www.deadline.com reports. However, he will continue to participate in the writing of the screenplay.

According to reports from EW.com, Academy Award winning actress Rachel Weisz will star in the upcoming film 'Jackie.'

Tony Award winner Roger Rees and Matthew Kelly will join the West End's production of 'Waiting for Godot' at the Royal Haymarket, January 21-April 3. The Theatre Royal, Haymarket's hit production of Beckett's Waiting for Godot that ended a sell-out run in August of this year will return for an encore run early next year. The show also stars Ian McKellen.

The final performance of Sean Mathias' production of Waiting for Godot starring Ian McKellen (Estragon), Roger Rees (Vladimir), Matthew Kelly (Pozzo) and Ronald Pickup (Lucky) will take place on Sunday 4 April as previously announced. Mathias' production opened at the Theatre Royal Haymarket in May last year following a UK national tour and has been revived for this final run before the production tours to Australia and New Zealand.

The U.K.'s Independent reports today that Sir Ian McKellen has been honored with the Empire Icon Award for his work on screen at the 2010 Jameson Empire Awards. Said McKellen on his win: 'I couldn't be more surprised or delighted. Middle-earth rejoices!' Also honored at the ceremony was Jude Law with the Empire Hero Award for his role of Dr. Watson in Sherlock Holmes.

According to stage and screen star Sir Ian McKellen's website, The Hobbit, the prequel to the Lord of the Rings trilogy, will begin shooting in New Zealand in June. The book, The Hobbit, by JRR Tolkien, has been adapted for the screen in two films, which will both be shot over the course of a year. Casting has begun in Los Angeles, New York City and London. Writes McKellen on his hompage: '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.'

The final performance of Sean Mathias' production of Waiting for Godot starring Ian McKellen (Estragon), Roger Rees (Vladimir), Matthew Kelly (Pozzo) and Ronald Pickup (Lucky) will take place on Sunday 4 April as previously announced. Mathias' production opened at the Theatre Royal Haymarket in May last year following a UK national tour and has been revived for this final run before the production tours to Australia and New Zealand.

Ian McKellen (Estragon), Roger Rees (Vladimir), Matthew Kelly (Pozzo), Ronald Pickup (Lucky) star in Sean Mathias' production of Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot at the Theatre Royal Haymarket from 21 January - 3 April 2010.

Sir Ian McKellen's one-man show 'Acting Shakespeare' has been released on DVD.

Tony Award winner Roger Rees and Matthew Kelly will join the West End's production of 'Waiting for Godot' at the Royal Haymarket, January 21-April 3. The Theatre Royal, Haymarket's hit production of Beckett's Waiting for Godot that ended a sell-out run in August of this year will return for an encore run early next year. The show also stars Ian McKellen.

During his run as Estragon in London's Theatre Royal's revival of 'Waiting for Godot' last year, reputed film and stage actor Ian McKellen kept a diary with observations and commentary of events surrounding the production.

Tony Award winner Roger Rees and Matthew Kelly will join the West End's production of 'Waiting for Godot' at the Royal Haymarket, January 21-April 3. The Theatre Royal, Haymarket's hit production of Beckett's Waiting for Godot that ended a sell-out run in August of this year will return for an encore run early next year. The show also stars Ian McKellen.

Ian McKellen (Estragon) and Ronald Pickup (Lucky) will be joined by Roger Rees (Vladimir) and Matthew Kelly (Pozzo) in Sean Mathias' production of Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot which will have a further run at the Theatre Royal Haymarket from 21 January - 3 April 2010. Mathias' sell-out production opened in May this year following a national tour and played to packed houses through its run, breaking all previous Theatre Royal Haymarket Box Office records.

The Theatre Royal, Haymarket's hit production of Beckett's Waiting for Godot that ended a sell-out run in August of this year will return for an encore run early next year, according to the show's star, Ian McKellen. In his acceptance speech after winning the Lebedev Special Award for outstanding contribution to British Theatre at the Evening Standard Awards earlier today, McKellen remarked that he felt he had unfinished business with the production, which he called 'the most joyful professional experience I've ever had.'

The 55th Annual Evening Standards Theatre Awards, honoring outstanding achievements in London Theater, today has released their long list of 2009 nominees. The award ceremony, which will take place on November 23 at the Royal Opera House, will honor some of theater's biggest stars, including Ian McKellen, Kevin Spacey, Sam Mendes, and more. Sponsored by U.K'.s Evening Standard newspaper, with nominees selected by a panel of London theater critics, the shortlist of nominees will be sometime next week.

David Schwimmer will make his second foray into directing with the film 'Trust,' starring Clive Owen and Catherine Keener. The project was conceived by Schwimmer and penned by Andy Bellin for Millennium Films.

Breakfast at Tiffany's plays Theatre Royal Haymarket, runs through January 1, 2010

Sean Mathias is to direct Anna Friel as Holly Golightly and Joseph Cross as William 'Fred' Parsons in Samuel Adamson's new stage adaptation of Truman Capote's classic novella Breakfast at Tiffany's, currently in its 50th anniversary year.

Miriam Zendle casts her critical eye over the new shows making their way to Theatreland this autumn. Want to know what the hot tickets are? She'll tell you...