Production on The Hobbit yesterday took its most decisive step forward in ages: Peter Jackson finalizing his deal to direct both parts (in 3D, natch), with filming slated for February. Of course, they’ll an actor or two to throw in front of the camera, so casting is starting to heat up. Martin Freeman (The Office) recently spoke about his status as the frontrunner to play Bilbo Baggins (schedule pending), stating “If something could be worked out, that would be great.” With the film going forward in a more official capacity, Deadline confirms that Freeman in the lead is a pretty good bet.
David Tennant (Doctor Who) was once rumored as a Bilbo candidate, but is now talking to the studio about a different role. Likewise, an offer is out to James Nesbit (Match Point) — Michael Fassbender (Inglourious Basterds) is also on the producers’ wishlist. Ian McKellan and Andy Serkis are expected to reprise their roles as Gandalf and Gollum, respectively. Hit the jump for a synopsis of the book.
A synopsis for J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit:
Bilbo Baggins, the hobbit, is a peaceful sort of cozy hole in the Shire, a place where adventures are uncommon and rather unwanted. So when the wizard Gandalf whisks him away on a treasure hunting expedition with a troop of rowdy dwarves, he’s not entirely thrilled. Encountering ruthless trolls, beastly orcs, gigantic spiders, and hungry wolves, Bilbo discovers within himself astonishing strength and courage. And at the ultimate confrontation with the fearsome dragon Smaug, the hobbit will brave the dangers of dark and dragon fire alone and unaided. [Amazon]
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This is the one book related to the Lord of the Rings series I have actually read (thanks, high school curriculum!), but it was long enough ago that I couldn’t competently match these actors to the characters. How would you cast Nesbit, Fassbender, and Tennant?
We seem like we’re finally on the verge of The Hobbit movies becoming a reality, but it’s been a long and troubled saga getting here. Click here for all of our coverage on The Hobbit‘s development.
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“How would you cast Nesbit, Fassbender, and Tennant?”
I wouldn’t. I’ve read this book, 15 times? Fassbender could be bard, Ive never seen him in anything but he looks like bard.
Tennant, no clue, perhaps legolas’s father but, that would seem weak casting for a elf king, like they were just trying to get doctor who.
Thraduil and Bard are smaller roles and I like how Jackson tends to cast fantastic Kiwi actors whom I never knew of before in roles like this. I mean we wouldn’t have Flight of the Concords or John Noble and Karl Urban. I think the focus should be on getting the big guns behind the dwarves, and I’d rather here names like Brian Cox, Brenden Gleeson, Bryan Blessed, and Robbie Coltrane on their list.
Unlike LOTR The Hobbit does not require sexy young fan girl fodder, but people who can play dwarves and shape shifting beserkers.
“How would you cast Nesbit, Fassbender, and Tennant?”
I wouldn’t. I’ve read this book, 15 times? Fassbender could be bard, Ive never seen him in anything but he looks like bard.
Tennant, no clue, perhaps legolas’s father but, that would seem weak casting for a elf king, like they were just trying to get doctor who.
Thraduil and Bard are smaller roles and I like how Jackson tends to cast fantastic Kiwi actors whom I never knew of before in roles like this. I mean we wouldn’t have Flight of the Concords or John Noble and Karl Urban. I think the focus should be on getting the big guns behind the dwarves, and I’d rather here names like Brian Cox, Brenden Gleeson, Bryan Blessed, and Robbie Coltrane on their list.
Unlike LOTR The Hobbit does not require sexy young fan girl fodder, but people who can play dwarves and shape shifting beserkers.
legolas’s father is not in the hobbit
Except he was.
have you read the book??
If you’ve seen Tennant in Hamlet, you know he has a great deal more depth than a mere Doctor-clone. He would be excellent as the Elvenking, whose name is Thranduil and is Legalas’s father. Tennant has the right body and face for that rôle, tall and lanky with two sets of high cheekbones. And he could have the haughtiness of the ageless king who first captures the dwarves as dirty beggars but later brings his army to their rescue once the dragon has been dispatched. (That was something of an accident; the Elvenking was just after the treasure, just like everybody else.)
wait you mean that idiot elf king that throws them in a cell for no reason? Legolas came out of that RETARD??????????? that puts a smug sized hole in pretty much all theoies of geneitcs legolas would never have done that!
from that retards elven sperm i mean not out of him obviously LOL
wait you mean that idiot elf king that throws them in a cell for no reason? Legolas came out of that RETARD??????????? that puts a smug sized hole in pretty much all theoies of geneitcs legolas would never have done that!
God, I hate James Nesbit. Smirking twerp. Hope that casting doesn’t work out…
God, I hate James Nesbit. Smirking twerp. Hope that casting doesn’t work out…
Del Toro for the role of the director. Jackson — producer
Fassbender = Beorn
or Bard maybe
I could definitely see Tennant as Thranduil. Anyone know if Hugo Weaving is going to be reprising Elrond? And I’ve heard that Sylvester McCoy will be cast as Radagast the Brown…but he’s only mentioned by name once in the book so I don’t know how the character would actually factor in. Maybe they’ll expand upon the Necromancer defeat that Gandalf only mentions in passing.
Can we stop the “after the jump”? It usually means “scroll down 15 pixels”.