Ian McKellan Sees 3D Bilbo

Ian McKellan has seen Bilbo Baggins in 3D.

Martin Freeman, who has landed the central role in Peter Jackson's The Hobbit, was testing out the green screen for his up coming role and McKellan went along to watch.

In a blog on his website the actor revealed: "Martin improvised a hobbity gait, padding back and forth, testing his big hairy Hobbit feet, pointy ears and little tum," he posted.

"Three Bilbos simultaneously, two performances on screen and the actor beyond: which was the real one?"

The movie, which has been fraught with set backs, will see McKellan reprise the role of Gandalf while Cate Blanchett, Elijah Wood and Orlando Bloom are all reported to be returning.

Richard Armitage, Aidan Turner and James Nesbitt are just some of the new faces on the cast list.

Filming on The Hobbit, which will be split into two movies, is expected to get underway in the next few weeks.