Why Was Gandalf Holding Out?

Sir Ian McKellen was among the last of the Lord of the Rings veterans to sign on for The Hobbit. The conventional wisdom was that he was holding out for more money. but the actor claims that wasn't the case.

Vulture points out this posting McKellen made this week at his official site where he explained his delay in agreeing to reprise his role as Gandalf in The Hobbit.

"All I had to decide was what to do with the time that is given me. I'm 71 and fit: though at my age who knows what accident is 'round the next corner? For a year or more, I have been arranging my professional commitments around the possibility of The Hobbit films starting at almost anytime," McKellen began.

He went on to say, "As my agent continued to negotiate with Warner Brothers, I kept wondering was Gandalf what I most wanted to do, more than a new play for instance or indeed a new part? Sequels aren't necessarily as rewarding to act in as their originals. Could I let Gandalf go? Would anyone else care if I did? Elsewhere, does anyone care that Michael Gambon was not the first to play Dumbledore?"