Here’s word on what once-upon-a-time-Hobbit-director Guillermo del Toro has to say about the casting choices revealed for The Hobbit films thus far:
“I have the perfect actor for every character in the movie, but I don’t feel morally correct to saying who now that I’m not directing. But [about Martin Freeman playing Bilbo Baggins] absolutely, 100%. I’m a huge fan of his. I love him in The Office and Love Actually.”
As far as his decision to leave the director’s chair of the two-part movie, GDT says:
“[It’s] a hard thing when you’ve spent two years on a movie and it’s going nowhere”.
News courtesy of Simon Reynolds over at Digital Spy.
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Cathy sends this in: The timing couldn’t be more perfect for the announcement of Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins. His most recent work in Sherlock will be premiering in the US this coming week on PBS. Check your local listings for Masterpiece Mystery, which typically airs on Sunday evenings, but here in Los Angeles, KCET will be airing it next Thursday evening. The first episode up is Sherlock: A Study in Pink, where we first meet Afghan war vet Dr.John Watson and his soon to be flat mate Sherlock Holmes. It’s a stunning piece of work for both actors. So for those of you who don’t yet know who Martin Freeman is, check this out and take notes.
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Up to date casting new is available at our Hobbit Cast Page.
The announcement of the cast for The Hobbit took place on October 21st, 2010, additional announcements were made on November 1st, 2010.
CAST LIST SO FAR (As of November 1st, 2010)
MARTIN FREEMAN – BILBO BAGGINS CONFIRMED
RICHARD ARMITAGE – THORIN OAKENSHIELD CONFIRMED
AIDAN TURNER – KILI CONFIRMED
ROB KAZINSKY – FILI CONFIRMED
GRAHAM MCTAVISH – DWALIN CONFIRMED
JOHN CALLEN – OIN CONFIRMED
STEPHEN HUNTER – BOMBUR CONFIRMED
MARK HADLOW – DORI CONFIRMED
PETER HAMBLETON – GLOIN CONFIRMED
JAMES NESBITT – BOFUR CONFIRMED
ADAM BROWN – ORI CONFIRMED
Rumored and Speculative
SYLVESTER MCCOY – RADAGAST THE BROWN UNCONFIRMED
BRIAN BLESSED – unknown RUMORED
BILL NIGHY – THE VOICE OF SMAUG RUMORED
VIGGO MORTENSEN – ARAGORN RUMORED
IAN MCKELLEN – GANDALF RUMORED
HUGO WEAVING – ELROND RUMORED
CATE BLANCHETT – GALADRIEL RUMORED
ANDY SERKIS – GOLLUM RUMORED
Unknown Casting or Voice Talent
Balin
Bifur
Nori
Bert
Tom
William
Beorn
Elvenking
Master of Lake-town
Bard
Dain
Eagles
Spiders Etc..
—
MARTIN FREEMAN – BILBO BAGGINS
Martin John C. Freeman (born 8 September 1971) is an English actor. He is known for his roles as Tim Canterbury in the BBC’s Golden Globe-winning comedy The Office, Arthur Dent in the film adaptation of Douglas Adams’ The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, and Dr. John Watson in Sherlock.
Freeman has appeared in at least 18 TV shows, 14 theatre productions, and several radio productions. His most famous role remains that of Tim Canterbury in The Office. He also appeared in the sitcom Hardware. Additionally Freeman has appeared in several films, including Sacha Baron Cohen’s Ali G Indahouse (2002) and Richard Curtis’ Love Actually (2003). As well as his various comic roles, Freeman has also appeared in serious dramatic parts. His most prominent dramatic role to date has been as Lord Shaftesbury in the 2003 BBC historical drama Charles II: The Power and The Passion. He can also be seen making a brief appearance in the first episode of the second series of This Life, helping himself to £30 from Milly and Egg’s bedside table before unknowingly swigging a mouthful of Egg’s urine from a lager can. Freeman also starred in the BBC’s television series The Robinsons. Freeman also had a cameo performance in episode 1 of Black Books.
He had a cameo in Hot Fuzz (2007), a film written by Shaun of the Dead writers Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright, and had a brief non-speaking role in Shaun of the Dead as Yvonne’s boyfriend, Declan. He is in the 2007 film The All Together written & directed by Gavin Claxton. He also appeared along side Roger Lloyd Pack, Jamie Hogarth and Christopher Mellows in the 2007 Bill Kenwright theatre production of The Last Laugh. Continue reading “Meet Your Hobbit Cast”
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Shawn sends along this interview with the amazing Simon Pegg, when asked about his Hollywood friends he mentions Martin Freeman and drops this serious bomb, does this mean an announcement is pending?
“Martin’s the anti-me: a soul aficionado and a vinyl junkie – absolutely not a resident of the geek universe. Not the type of person who will relish the attention he’ll get for being Bilbo Baggins. Ha!”
UPDATE: Simon posted this on Twitter this morning. “Woah, woah, woah I did NOT confirm Martin Freeman was in The Hobbit. As far as I know, talks are ongoing. Hope he is. Great choice.”
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Discussion board member olipowell has chimed in on the Movie: Hobbit board about casting for Bilbo:
I now know 2 people who have read for Bilbo that I went to Drama school with and I can say categorically they are both entirely unknown outside of the world of theatre & bit TV parts. So…they ARE seeing and have seen unknowns and I would not be surprised if that is the route they take.
Join in on the discussion! [Discuss]
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Join Cliff “Quickbeam” Broadway as he and other Tolkien fans celebrate Bilbo’s 111th birthday party with a picnic out at Los Angeles’ Griffith Park.
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