The Tolkien community is in hysterics today as we finally get the ‘official’ announcement concerning ‘The Hobbit.’ (Full Release) Now what? What can we expect? Well, first off, join the Tolkien community discussion in our forums and in Barlimans (IRC Chat). Then, strap on those seatbelts as we gear up for a wild ride! Director speculation, casting speculation, and don’t forget the infamous SPY REPORTS! Woo! We can’t wait! [Forums] [Java IRC Chat] [Digg It!] [Official Hobbit Blog] [Official Community Site]
And don’t forget to check out the TORn presentation on ‘Making the Hobbit Happen’ from DragonCon 2007. In the presentation TORn staffers reveal how we believe the films will play out – including casting, locations and more! [Hobbit Presentation]
December 18, 2007
Bernard Hill (born December 17, 1944, Manchester, England, UK) is a British actor of film, stage and television. He attended Xaverian College although at the time it was known as “Xaverian School”. Hill is reportedly an experienced horseback rider and a purple belt in karate. He also attended Manchester Polytechnic School of Drama at the same time as Richard Griffiths. Hill came to prominence in the role of the unemployed Yosser Hughes, a working-class man ultimately driven to the edge by an uncaring system, in Alan Bleasdale’s BBC Play for Today The Black Stuff (1979) and its more famous series sequel (also by Bleasdale), Boys from the Blackstuff (1982). His character’s much-repeated phrase “giz a job” became popular with protesters against Margaret Thatcher’s government, because of the high unemployment of the time. Previously, he had taken smaller parts in a number of British television dramas, notably appearing as the no-nonsense Roman soldier Gratus in I, Claudius (1976). He also played the Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York in the BBC’s 1982 productions of Shakespeare’s Henry VI plays. Also on TV, he played the part of Tom Higdon in The Burston Rebellion (1985).
(Or One Author’s Trip to the Woods)
Miranda Otto (born December 16, 1967) is an Australian Film Institute-nominated and Logie Award-winning Australian actress. The daughter of actors Barry and Lindsay Otto, she began acting at age nineteen, and has performed in a variety of low-budget and major studio films. Her first major film appearance was in the 1986 film Emma’s War, in which she played a teenager who moves to Australia’s bush country during World War II. After a decade of critically acclaimed roles in Australian films, she gained Hollywood’s attention after appearing in supporting roles in The Thin Red Line (1998) and What Lies Beneath (2000). Her breakthrough role was in 2002, when her character Éowyn was introduced to audiences in The Lord of the Rings trilogy.