Guillermo Del Toro Casts Himself in 'The Hobbit'?

While promoting his new film The Strain, director Guillermo Del Toro has revealed that he will play a small onscreen role in his upcoming film adaptation of The Hobbit. Del Toro will reportedly play a "small monster" in the Lord of the Rings prequel.

/Film reports: "Speaking in an interview on German television, Del Toro said the creature he will play himself is 'not an important one, just a background guy'." Watch the video interview below:

Del Toro later confirmed the details in a post on TheOneRing.net message boards:

I had a hand on the design of the creature and I will personally sculpt the appliances that will be applied on my face and hands. I used to sculpt the creatures for NECROPIA (my FX company) and I miss it a bit. I will have a line or two and die quickly.

In other Hobbit casting news, Ian McKellen is expected to return to his Lord of the Rings role as Gandalf in The Hobbit films, as well. At least, the actor said as much when Whoopi Goldberg asked if he would be "coming back to Harry Potter" during an excruciating interview on The View last week:

-- Daniel Lehman