Hobbit Casting Rumours!

With Peter Jackson attending next week’s San Diego Comic Con to promote District 9, speculation has begun that we’ll be treated to a casting announcement for The Hobbit. Not just ANY casting announcement, but THE announcement – Bilbo Baggins.

With Ian Holm sadly not able to take up the role once more, fans have been speculating as to who will be filling the famous rubber feet in the upcoming prequel to The Lord of the Rings trilogy, and as well as one familiar name popping up once more there are also a couple of surprise additions in store!

Of course James McAvoy, star of last year’s Wanted is being touted as a possible Baggins. This is a rumour that’s been rife since May 2008 at least, but along with him come David Tennent (Doctor Who) AND Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince).

I’m still a big supporter of McAvoy landing the role myself, he has an innocent, almost naive look about him which seems to be the prerequisite for being one of the small folk, and of course he still isn’t at the point of fame where his personality has began to overshadow the role he’s playing.

It’s been widely acknowledged that Tennent would be attending Comic Con to announce a Doctor Who film, and while there may be some truth to that it could be that he’ll be there a Hobbit announcement instead. Thinking about it while I write this, Tennent could well be the perfect choice for Bilbo Baggins. I mean if you’ve ever seen an episode of Doctor Who then you know he’s perfectly capable of portraying passion and emotion, and of course he’s often got a cheeky twinkle in his eye as the Timelord. And for some reason I can picture him in the Shire, holding his own against Gandalf and all of the weird and wonderful creatures of Middle Earth while chuffing on a pipe and stealing magic rings.

The one possibility I can’t get my head round is Daniel Radcliffe. The young actor is coming to the end of a lengthily series of films, would he really want to step into another mammoth fantasy franchise so soon? Not only that, but he would run the risk of being seen as Harry Potter no matter what fantasy world he’s thrown into. Radcliffe’s best move once the series is complete would be a good drama or action flick in my opinion, something as far removed from witchcraft and wizardry as possible to try and shake the HP label.

So what do you think my good Shire folk? Who would you like to see face off against Gollum in his cave?

Hero Complex

Tags: daniel radcliffe, david tennant, hobbit, james mcavoy