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Posted by: Dreamteam Jun 21 2008, 04:55 PM

Filming of The Hobbit hasn't started yet, in fact it seems they haven't even finalised the cast list. There was a rumour that James McEvoy would be playing Bilbo (I think he'd be great, but then I've liked every part I've seen him play so far lol) but apparently its now been confirmed that he hasn't been cast.

Who would you like to see cast in the film? What part would you like them to play and why?

Posted by: Moose_Starr Jun 22 2008, 11:29 AM

If they cant or wont bring Ian Holm back as Bilbo, I would like to see James McAvoy in the role, or Martin Freeman from Love Actually. At one time is was rumored that Dan Radcliffe was offered the role but personally I cant see him as Bilbo, or even a Hobbit. He could make a good elf, maybe.
I would like to see Ian McKellan back as Gandalf, he's a very old wizard so I dont think there should be a problem with casting him.
I'm not sure if Andy Sirkis has been confirmed for Gollum but he so should get that role, he was awesome as Smeagol.
For some reason I think Sean Connery would make a good Beorn but I dont really know why, maybe it's the voice.
I'm really excited for the Hobbit movie and I'm confident that it will be done properly now that PJ is definitely involved.

Posted by: Dreamteam Jun 22 2008, 04:58 PM

Ian Holm was great as Bilbo in LotR but he's older now and The Hobbit was set earlier in time so it really needs someone younger. I agree that Martin Freeman would be good, he does have a certain hobbitish look about him, I can easily imagine him with pointy ears, I also think http://www.bbc.co.uk/drama/hustle/images/450x187/danny_blue.jpg would make a good Bilbo.

Ian McKellan would really need to be Gandalf, he's made that part his own and I just can't imagine anyone else playing it. I also like the idea of Sean Connery as Beorn, he has a certain power in his voice that I think Beorn would have, I also think Brendan Gleeson, http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a357/Isis_Williams/blessed.jpg (he already looks like a great bear) or http://www52.tok2.com/home/spaceman/movie/043RO/london-kills-me/cast/tony_havgarth.jpg might be good in that part

Posted by: SnapesSister Jun 22 2008, 05:47 PM

Dreamteam, Brian Blessed would make a fantastic Beorn! He already looks the part, and he certainly has the big, booming voice I imagine Beorn to have.

As for other characters, I don't really mind, but they have to bring back Ian McKellan as Gandalf. After seeing him in LoTR, I'm convinced that no one else can do justice to the character like he can.

I'd also like to see Andy Serkis back as Gollum, and, if they leave Elrond in the script, Hugo Weaving to reprise the role. I just don't think I'd like to see other people take over those roles, after they've been played to such perfection (in my opinion) in LoTR.

Posted by: Moose_Starr Jun 23 2008, 11:33 AM

Alas, I know but I'm secretly hoping they'll decide they can do enough with make-up and effects to make Ian Holm look younger. He *is* Bilbo now, it will be very difficult for anyone to take that role. And we are told that the Ring has had the effect of stopping Bilbo aging (seemingly, anyhows) so they wouldnt have to make Ian Holm look too much younger than he did at the start of FOTR. But, I guess it's just a whole lot easier to get a new actor because otherwise they'd have to do special effects for every Bilbo scene.
Neat, I hadnt thought of Brian Blessed as Beorn but he does look like a bear, possibly more so than Sean Connery. Okay a lot more than Sean Connery.

Posted by: helyx Jun 24 2008, 03:22 PM

James McAvoy, and lets see, James McAvoy and let's not forget James McAvoy. To me he is Bilbo Baggins. As for the Burly hairy man who laughs in the Hildebrandt Pictures - I haven't a clue yet who would be perfect for him. I want as much as the orignal cast back in this film as their characters- especially Christopher Lee (Saruman - hopefullly in the full length of his story), Ian McKellen as Gandalf (PLEASE!).

As for the characters that go on the journey, well I haven't cast that in my head read - still re-reading the Hobbit RIGHT NOW! As for Smaug - well, lets see - um, either Andy Serkus or Tim Curry or Christopher Lee (altered voice wise like they did Treebeard with John Rhys Davies - hey wait a minute, what about him being Smaug?). Personally, I think Andy made his Gollum outfit green so people would subcousiously think of him as being sort of dragony. Sure he will be doing Gollem, but Gollem has slippery fingers - not much screen time, unless we peer more into the development of Gollum...who is secretly the Witchking who longs to be Smaug with shiny shiny precious precious precious - Gollum the true TRANSFORMER! more than meets the EYE...

Posted by: Moose_Starr Jun 26 2008, 11:18 AM

That's who I thought of (after it was explained to me who he is lol, and yes I did see Narnia but I didnt realize who he was) but alas according to rumor James McAvoy has not been chosen for the role.

I think Andy Serkis will be given the role of Gollum, after all he is the voice of Gollum/Smeagol and I think they used motion capture so Gollum *is* Serkis, because the expressions and movements are the same.
Assuming they dont cut the riddle scene like in GoF, which I doubt PJ would allow, Gollum does have a comparively large amount of screen time. If they include all the riddles and the scenes before and after the riddles, like with Gollum sneaking around in the dark, he should have more screen time than the trolls or even the spiders.
Gah ... it was bad enough watching the one Frodo / spider scene in LOTR, there's a whole lot more spider screen time in The Hobbit

Posted by: Pyxis Jul 1 2008, 08:17 AM

I know absolutely zero about actors, as far as I am concerned, Alan Rickman should just be in everything. I didn't vote in the poll, but what scenes do you think will be cut? What would be a tragedy if it wasn't included?

Personally, I think the whole thing with Beorn will be cut, he's a cool character, but probably dispensible. Obviously the Gollum scenes have to be in it to tie to LOTR, but I really hope they make the most of the discussion between Bilbo and Smaug.

Posted by: Moose_Starr Jul 1 2008, 11:04 AM

Well I agree with that statement

Somehow I didnt imagine any scenes would be cut. If PJ has any influence over the production of this movie I would think very few scenes will be cut. In my opinion the whole Beorn thing is fairly important in The Hobbit because he gives them the use of his ponies, lets them stay a whiles, Gandalf sets off from there with them & Beorn follows at a distance and from a movie point of view, it's a great opportunity for narrative. In the book, Gandalf tells Beorn all about their adventures and purpose of their journey and where they're going. This surely is a movie makers dream come true because it's a natural situation for movie-Gandalf to narrate any unexplained things, to fill in any gaps that havent been covered thus far in the movie & Beorn is kind of unique as a character & too good to pass up. He's a huge bear-man yet he's a gentle & caring person. He doesnt fit any good guy or bad guy labels, he's a one of a kind.
But I have to admit that I havent heard or seen any rumors about Beorn casting so I sure hope that doesnt mean they'll cut his scenes.

Posted by: Fragmentary Aura Jul 1 2008, 11:51 AM

I totally agree, SnapesSister. I just can't see anyone else in that role. I would have loved to have him as Dumbledore, but of course it's too late for that. I think he was doing LotR and/or X-Men movies at the time anyway.



Definitely! Hopefully he didn't do too much damage to his voice from the last three movies.



LOL!! I absolutely love that statement!

-sorry, just saw that.


Edited by Dreamteam to merge two consecutive posts

Posted by: kbdiggity Jul 1 2008, 07:37 PM

Bilbo's journey in the Hobbit takes place 77 years before Frodo sets off on his journey. But I distinctly remember reading in the books that the ring kept Bilbo young and that many Hobbits of the Shire felt the way he looked was "unnatural." In fact in the films Gandalf tells Bilbo "you haven't aged a day." Then again, the movies totally skipped over the fact that it was 17 years between the time Bilbo had his farewell feast and Frodo left on his journey... they made it seem like almost no time had passed.

There are plenty of arguments for and against using Ian Holmes as Bilbo.




I can't see any excuse to cut anything. The Hobbit is less than 300 pages long, far shorter than any of the LoTR books. I will be exceptionally ticked off if they cut anything.


Edited by Dreamteam to merge two consecutive posts

Posted by: Moose_Starr Jul 7 2008, 11:57 AM

So apparently there are some interesting rumors about the casting for Smaug, personally I cant think who I would want to voice Smaug. But, the rumors seem reasonably balanced between David Suchet and Jason Isaacs. A dragon that talks like Lucius would be interesting, it would put that edge into the character, like a balance between menace and malice and amusement. Like when Smaug first meets Bilbo he's almost likeable, a dragon in sheep's clothing. Jason Isaacs could do that I guess

Posted by: Dreamteam Jul 7 2008, 05:06 PM

Wow, they're very different actors, like Poirot v Lucius hmm. Out of the two I can imagine Jason Isaacs as more Smaug-like but the person who really yells Smaug at me is Bill Nighy, he can sound so smooth, yet wicked and sly all at the same time and he has such a persuasive lilt to his voice, I think he'd be great.

Posted by: SnapesSister Jul 7 2008, 05:44 PM

Ooh, I think Bill Nighy is an excellent suggestion! He has a wonderful voice, as you say, Dreamteam, and he's a superb actor. I think he's been brilliant in everything I've seen him in.

Posted by: Moose_Starr Jul 8 2008, 11:45 AM

Yes I agree also Bill Nighy would be awesome as Smaug. Before these rumors I hadnt even thought about who would star as Smaug but now, I can totally hear Bill Nighy as Smaug. Jason Isaacs *could* do the Smaug-gets-mad scenes and even the scenes where we first see him and are not yet certain about how *evil* Smaug is, like he's almost civil to Bilbo. Jason (doh, I wrote Lucius) could do that but somehow Bill Nighy has more of an all-encompassing Smaugly lilt.

Posted by: Pyxis Jul 9 2008, 12:44 AM

I shouldn't even be posting in this thread, since I don't know anything...but I do know Jason Isaacs, and I can totally imagine his honey-smooth voice doing the discussion with Bilbo, he has just the right amount of evil-edge to his tone that would make Smaug's dialogue intriguing.

Posted by: Moose_Starr Jul 12 2008, 09:25 AM

I was watching Star Trek First Contact, and in one scene Captain Jean-Luc Picard gets real mad, ranting about the Borg invading our space, and we fall back, they assimilate entire populations, and we fall back, the line must be drawn here ... and the way he says it (especially the *here* part) is like so full of emotion and loathing, yet he can be charming and calm, so I think Patrick Stewart could make a good Smaug.