“The smoke is white … we have a new wizard!” proclaims one of the ad-libs in this Willie Nelson screen test. Peter Jackson has it within his power to grant America’s favorite octogenarian his fondest birthday wish: Cast aside that talentless hack Ian McKellen and install Nelson as the wizard Gandalf in The Hobbit 2.

Even if Willie’s wish doesn’t come true, join him in celebrating his 80th birthday today by reading Tim Stegall’s wonderful profile in “On the Bus Again,” and checking out this Gandalf audition reel below that was released by Team Coco.

Youtube video

Youtube video

This article appears in April 26 • 2013.

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Marjorie Baumgarten is a film critic and contributing writer at The Austin Chronicle, where she has worked in many capacities since the paper's founding in 1981. She served as the Chronicle's Film Reviews editor for 25 years.