Thanks to Ringer Gary for sending us a link to Empire Online’s ‘Hobbit Week.’ Today they are reviewing which characters from The Lord of the Rings may make appearances in The Hobbit films. While experienced Ringers, like yourself, may already know most of these details, it is worth a look for the top notch presentation of the information. Jump on over to Empire Online! [Read On]

On this episode of Hobbit in 5 John Howe reports that Smaug the Golden and Eowyn & the Nazgul are available again, Orlando Bloom considers being in the Hobbit, we have another fabulous contest to announce.

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Please email submissions to contest@hobbitin5.com

Orlando BloomMona2505 sends this in: Seems that Orlando Bloom is in fact still in talks concerning the hobbit. Came across an interview today, where he refuses to comment on the Hobbit as he is not allowed to. You can find the original interview here. I happened to come across a translation of that interview here, just in case you don’t speak Spanish.

“…and his return to the Elvish world” The Hobbit “movie about he does not say a word. “They do not allow me”, he explains.”

What make you of this news? Comment below or on our message board!

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts announced its 2011- 2012 theatre season March 8. The season will feature a Kennedy Center-produced revival of Rodgers and Hart’s Pal Joey, directed by Christopher Ashley and featuring a revised book by Terrence McNally; Sydney Theatre Company’s exclusive American premiere engagement of Uncle Vanya, adapted by Andrew Upton, directed by Tamás Ascher and starring Cate Blanchett and Hugo Weaving; the Mabou Mines production of Dollhouse, adapted by Lee Breuer and Maude Mitchell from Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House; the fifth season of Barbara Cook’s Spotlight series, featuring Broadway performers in an intimate cabaret setting; an all-star Stephen Sondheim concert celebration; and touring musical productions of Memphis, Les Misérables, Billy Elliot the Musical, La Cage aux Folles, Come Fly With Me and The Addams Family. More..

The Telegraph reports today that Sir Ian Holm, who portrayed Bilbo to perfection in the Lord of the Rings, was contacted previously to reprise his role as an “older Bilbo” in the upcoming Hobbit films, but he hasn’t heard back from the producers since. Excerpts from the Telegraph’s article follow:

“I don’t know what’s happening,” the 79-year-old actor admitted to me at the Saatchi Gallery. “I haven’t heard anything for weeks.”

“I had great fun playing Baggins in the first two films and the plan had been, with Martin Freeman playing Young Baggins, I would be the Old Baggins,” he adds. “I suppose the earthquake in Christchurch couldn’t have helped with communications.”

Sophie de Stempel, Sir Ian’s wife, tells me: “I worry that the film has run into so much bad luck that they might have missed their chance altogether.”

Here’s hoping we get to see Sir Ian Holm in the character of the memorable old Bilbo once again. In case you’re interested, the topic is already being discussed over at our message boards.