As we see below, the ball is already rolling on preproduction for The Hobbit and while many of the iconic stars of Lord of the Rings who had a presence in The Hobbit prequel have signed on for the epic, Sir Ian Holm is clearly too old to play his younger self.
While James McAvoy seems to be a fan favourite for getting the role a new name has been rumoured – David Tenant.
Tennant is due to make his debut appearance at the world’s biggest science-fiction and fantasy convention Comic-Con in the US next week.
And Rings director Peter Jackson is also expected to announce his choice for the role when he attends.
Geoff Boucher of the Los Angeles Times, said yesterday: “David Tennant just happens to be making his very first trip to the San Diego expo to promote “Doctor Who,” a television series that he will soon be leaving behind. “Peter Jackson, the producer of the two-film “Hobbit” series that begins its theatre run in 2011, is also slated to appear this year, and, well you can see the dot-connecting possibilities. …
Harry Potter was also being considered, but I just don’t see this happening. He will have a hard time outrunning Potter and he still has two more films to play him. But on top of that, I just don’t see him as a match.
McAvoy does feel like a good fit, but now that the rumour mill is putting up Tennant’s name, I am really digging that idea. He too was in Harry Potter as Barty Crouch Jr, and he was great as that, and he is by far my favourite Doctor, and I think he would be incredible as Bilbo Baggins.
The timing is right. Tennant is ending his run on Doctor Who after this current makeshift season of TV events ends, and after playing the role for 4 seasons he needs something to distance himself from the most loved Doctor on the series.
Perhaps the most loved Hobbit?
Tennant would be the best choice for Bilbo. I can totally see him pulling off the role. It would be magical!
Tennant would be OK, if he toned down the Dr. Who tics and mannerisms. (And why wouldn’t he, being a pretty good actor?) McAvoy would be a good choice. But Martin Freeman just seems the best guy–the looks, the shyness, the hidden depths. My dark horse choice would be Colin Firth, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen him mentioned.
Rodney: I’m pretty sure the actor who played Harry Potter isn’t really called “Harry Potter”. Seems kind of disrespectful.
How about just calling him Daniel Radcliffe?
I called him that to emphasize the point that Radcliffe will have a hard time escaping the role he has played since he was but a child.
Its not disrespectful.
I don’t know about Bilbo, there seems to be several good picks. However, I can only come up with PERFECT fit for Gandalf, Liam Neeson. Seriously. who would be a better pick? He has the voice, he has the action while still being able to pull off the “wise wizard” and, did I mention HIS VOICE? Tell could possibly do a better job?
Let me rephrase that. For some reason, I have no idea why, I thought that Ian McKellen had died a couple years ago. I do not know why but I did and I guess he didn’t so yes, epic fail. So apart from him I think that Neeson would be a good pick.
Harry Potter would be an interesting choice… it might mark the first time a fictional character has played another fictional character on the big screen… They would just have to cover up that unsightly scar… ;-)
I just think that Daniel Radcliffe is already typecast as Harry Potter, most people are going to perceive him that way for a long time.
I was under the impression they were still going to use Holm? I seem to recall that being mentioned in interviews?
Its not like these films have to skimp on the prosthetics/special effects budget. Ian McKellen wore an enormous rubber nose throughout all of LOTR.
Sorry but I don’t see Tenant as Bilbo any more than I do McAvoy.
I dunno, I’ve never seen Tennant in anything, he looks okay as the part though. “Wanted” (which was pretty sucky if you ask me) left a bitter taste in my mouth regarding McAvoy, he’d probably do a good job, but I’d rather see someone else.
I’m not expecting any casting announcements at comic-con though, I’m pretty sure Jackson recently said that it was much too early and the script hadn’t even been finished yet.
Haven’t been able to muster up much excitement for this one at the moment. First off, I think the LOTRs films, although very fun and epic, are quite overrated, I’m also not sure about Del Toro, I thought Hellboy was pretty good, Pan’s Labrynth was pretty darn great, but Hellboy to was such a comeplete waste of time and energy, so yeah I don’t know anymore. Fingers crossed.
You haven’t seen Harry Potter 4?
Tennant as Bilbo would be “fantastic”. However, I don’t see this happening.
the rumour here in the uk is that Tennant and Russel T Davies (Dr who’s comeback mastermind) have both left the tv series behind to start work on a Dr Who movie franchise and this will be announced at the con
I am so for David Tennant as Bilbo. For whatever reason, McAvoy doesn’t sit right with me. Tennant is the best rumor I’ve heard so far.
isnt bilbo suppose to be played a by a 47-ish man. he was middle aged in the book
Hobbits only come of age at 33 and can reach 130, so it allows them freedom for how old a middle aged hobbit would look in human years.
TEAM MARTIN FREEMAN
I use to hope for McAvoy, but now I’m really pulling for Martin Freeman. I think he would be the best choice. he seems a little more Bilbo to me than both McAvoy and Tennant.
hey, not a bad suggestion at all…
aaaallllggg im sorry i just vomited a bit in my mouth
I think Tennant would be great. He is great as the Doctor, who was fantastic as Casanova (playing the younger version of Peter O’ Toole) and I think he would be a perfec fit for Bilbo.
McAvoy would be fantastic.
It will take some getting used to, I’m used to seeing him as the quirky, almost child like Doctor, but I can see it working.
I Tennant is my favorite Doctor as well, but I just can’t see him playing Bilbo.