ACTOR Sir Ian McKellen has reassured moviegoers that the film version of The Hobbit will be going ahead.

McKellen wrote on his Twitter page that he expected filming for the prequel to The Lord Of The Rings to be under way by the end of the year, despite the fact that director Guillermo Del Toro has quit the project.

The former Bolton School pupil wrote on his account: “Hobbit sets are ready, script ready and movie is casting this month. Fans are not to worry.”