Merie sends this in: From iftn.ie – “Ros Hubbard is a world renowned casting director having worked on hugely successful films such as ‘The Commitments’, ‘The Lord of the Rings’ trilogy and ‘Father Ted’ with her family. IFTN caught up with the Irish talent spotter to talk about casting hobbits and dwarves for Peter Jackson, her trouble finding thin Irish children and ‘Father Ted’ bringing out her catholic guilt!” She basically confirmed that Saoirse Ronan has a part in “The Hobbit”. More..

From www.scifi.com: Saoirse Ronan, who stars as the doomed Susie Salmon in Peter Jackson’s upcoming adaptation of Alice Sebold’s novel The Lovely Bones, told reporters that the film’s events are heartbreaking, but that it’s ultimately a hopeful story. In the drama, Susie Salmon is a young girl who’s raped and murdered by a serial killer (Stanley Tucci). Following her death, Susie looks on from heaven as her parents (Mark Wahlberg and Rachel Weisz) and her sister (Rose McIver) grieve and as her killer sets his sights on a next victim. Ronan Sees Hope In Dark Bones