A cool new infographic for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey has just become available. This one details each of the key characters from the film, along with a succinct line that gives an insight into the personality of each character.

Still, I must nitpick. Galadriel is not “the oldest of all the Elves in Middle-earth”. At the time of the Third Age, the oldest of the Eldar still in Middle-earth (that we know of), is the Telerin elf, and Lord of the Grey Havens, Cirdan the Shipwright. And we do see Cirdan briefly in the film adaptations of The Lord of the Rings — initially in the prologue sequence where the Three Rings are distributed by Celebrimbor (see here) and then at the end of The Return of the King when he greets the departing Frodo, Gandalf and co as they take ship for Valinor (see that one here). So Cirdan the Shipwright certainly exists in the movie universe.

You can read a little about speculation about the age of Cirdan in this old Greenbooks post by Staffer Turgon. Basically, Cirdan undertook The Great Journey (but stayed in Middle-earth); Galadriel was born in Valinor after the Vanyar, Noldor and some of the Telerin elves finished The Great Journey and reached Aman. Ergo Cirdan is the older of the two.

Anyway, arguments over canon aside, this is cool. Enjoy!

Continue reading “The Hobbit: new ‘company of characters’ info-graphic!”

I simply couldn’t do justice to the wit and warmth of this press conference with the cast playing Bilbo and the thirteen dwarves. Luckily, TV3 have now posted their video of the entire conference – a much longer clip than the one I posted before. ENJOY!!!

New Zealand actor Mark Hadlow, revealed only a couple of days ago as being cast as the dwarf Dori in The Hobbit, says he received text and phone messages three weeks ago telling him not to sign on to any roles for the film. Hadlow, who isn’t a member of NZ Actors’ Equity, had got callbacks for four different roles in The Hobbit.

About the missives he received Hadlow says,

“What arrogance. What is that about? No one tells me where I can or can’t work.”

Like many others, Hadlow too hopes the Hobbit movies will be made in New Zealand. Here’s what he says about that:

“I’ll do my utmost to try to convince everybody that New Zealand is the best country in the world to film a film in.”

However, if that’s not the way things work out, Hadlow hopes he can be wherever they film the movies.

Head over to Stuff.co.nz to read the entire article.

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”