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Update: Jackson denies Hobbit casting news at Comic-Con
[Updated: Peter Jackson denied to Empire magazine that he'll be announcing any Hobbit casting at Comic-Con: "No, we won't be announcing Bilbo for a little while. We're starting to think about casting, but we're knee-deep in the script right now. And when we do go to actors, they're probably going to ask to see a script, so we're powering ahead with getting the first draft done."]
The two proposed Hobbit movies are not on the agenda of next week's Comic-Con in San Diego, but many of its principal players will be there, either in an official capacity or as visitors: producer Peter Jackson, there to promote District 9; rumored star David Tennant, to flack Doctor Who; possible cast member Doug Jones; maybe even director Guillermo del Toro, who has been known to haunt the exhibition hall looking for collectibles.
So it's no surprise the Los Angeles Times' "Hero Complex" blog is speculating that a big casting announcement may come at the four-day pop-culture confab:
The whisper we keep hearing in recent days is that the name of the lead star in Guillermo del Toro's The Hobbit will be announced next week at Comic-Con International.A few people also point out that David Tennant, one of the purported candidates for the role of Bilbo Baggins, just happens to be making his very first trip to the San Diego expo to promote Doctor Who, a television series that he will soon be leaving behind.
Peter Jackson, the producer of the two-film Hobbit series that begins its theater run in 2011, is also slated to appear this year, and, well, you can see the dot-connecting possibilities. ...
Other rumored Bilbos include Wanted's newly buff James McAvoy, and even Harry Potter himself, Daniel Radcliffe.
By usul at 8:54 AM ON 07/17/09
um...don't we already HAVE a Bilbo baggins? Pretty sure somebody played him in the Lord of The Rings movies. re-cast=epic fail.
By techgnome at 9:30 AM ON 07/17/09
"um...don't we already HAVE a Bilbo baggins? Pretty sure somebody played him in the Lord of The Rings movies. re-cast=epic fail."
I'm sorry, but are you actually suggesting that 78 year old Ian Holm take up the mantle again for The Hobbit? A story set decades before The Lord of the Rings?! Seriously?
By Mr Cinema at 9:36 AM ON 07/17/09
No, what usul means is that there was a tiny flashback during the first film where you saw a young Bilbo pick up the ring.
By Eric at 9:39 AM ON 07/17/09
The part of Bilbo wouldn't require an incredible amount of stress would it? One could only hope that Ian Holm would be able to. He is the best as Bilbo. Best of luck to those working on this grand production.
By wulff at 10:58 AM ON 07/17/09
The "young Bilbo" from LOTR WAS Ian Holm. It took a lot of makeup and taping back his skin to make him appear younger, and he himself said he would not want to go through that again to reprise the role.
By mhochman at 11:25 AM ON 07/17/09
There is no reason that a 78 y ear old Holm cannot play Bilbo, as if i recall, Bilbo is supposed to be around 50 at the time of The Hobbit, so with a little makeup... I mean if SFX/Makeup can make Brad Pitt an old man, if you see what i'm saying.
By Fearless Fred at 11:41 AM ON 07/17/09
Interesting little fact.: Ian Holm has played both Bilbo AND Frodo. He was Frodo in the 1980's BBC Radio adaptation of LOTR.
As for Ian playing Bilbo again, I think they may need to go with someone a bit younger. I know Bilbo is 50-ish in the book, but you have to remember that the ages for Hobbits don't really match with Human ages. After all, Frodo doesn't come of age until his 33rd birthday in the books. Equate that to 18 or 21 in Human terms, and that would make Bilbo late 30s-ish in human terms during the course of the Hobbit.
By mredder4 at 12:54 PM ON 07/17/09
If the chuckleheads in charge of this whole thing had just made the Hobbit first, the issue would have been getting the actor for Bilbo back for the sequel trilogy. Instead, they did things completely ass-backwards and now have to re-cast, which yes, is a travesty to some fans. Ian Holm was an awesome Bilbo.
By bradinator at 4:06 PM ON 07/17/09
Yeah, Holm was good as 100+ yr old Bilbo. Not so much so as an equivalent aged 30 something (he left that behind sometime ago). Get over it! I'd think Mcavoy would be a good pick. Radcliffe is a bit young maybe although i'd go with that too. David Tennett is a little too high energy for Bilbo I think.
By David N. at 6:04 PM ON 07/18/09
I absolutely LOVE the tenth Doctor. David Tennant does a fantastic job. But I cannot picture him as Bilbo Baggins. I would be greatly surprised if they chose him.
By Shadowcat at 9:45 AM ON 07/19/09
I think James McAvoy would be excellent as Bilbo. He is a fantastic actor and can play a variety of roles very well. He does have science fiction/fantasy experience. Remember he was Mr.Tummnus in the first "Narnia " movie and was Leto II in the "Children of Dune" mini-series. Martin Freeman and David Tennant would be my second and third choices. David Tennant is my favorite Doctor! IMHO Daniel Radcliff is a little young to play Bilbo.
By Bobanort at 3:01 PM ON 07/19/09
I didn't realize Ian Holm was that old. They sure made him look young in the flashback scenes. He sure did a great Bilbo for those films. That's too bad, but understandable, that he wouldn't want to reprise the role. BTW - I'm pretty sure Bilbo was around 50 at the time of the Hobbit.
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Bobanort:
I didn't realize Ian Holm was that old. They sure made him look young in the flashback scenes. He sure did a grea...More »