Stephen Fry finishes filming, bids a fond farewell to Middle-earth

British actor Stephen Fry, who will appear as the Master of Laketown in the upcoming Hobbit movies (though perhaps only in the second one?? – just a guess…), has – according to the press – finished filming in New Zealand.  He’s clearly sad to go, as reported here.   (If you’re curious about Fry’s comments about broadband services, as mentioned in the article, you can read more here!)

What this means regarding what is ‘in the can’ and what is still to be shot can only be speculated.  Are all Laketown scenes filmed?  Have the technical wizards already started adding in a CGI Smaug?  Might Fry be called back for pick-ups after the first movie has been released?  Right now, the question I’m pondering is this: once he’s back in Britain, I wonder how soon the actor will find time to stop by the Hobbit pub in Southampton?  Perhaps he’ll wait till cast mate Ian McKellen can join him, later in the summer….