It seems all the speculation can end as Warner Bros. has issued a press release officially announcing pre-production for Peter Jackson to direct The Hobbit and its sequel for December 2012 and 2013 release dates. On top of that, it was also confirmed Martin Freeman (The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy) will play the lead role of Bilbo Baggins in the film. Freeman was long linked to the role so this hardly comes as a surprise.
Quoted in the press release Jackson said, “Despite the various rumours and speculation surrounding this role, there has only ever been one Bilbo Baggins for us. There are a few times in your career when you come across an actor who you know was born to play a role, but that was the case as soon as I met Martin. He is intelligent, funny, surprising and brave – exactly like Bilbo and I feel incredibly proud to be able to announce that he is our Hobbit.”
Joining Freeman is Richard Armitage (UK TV’s MI-5 and soon to appear in Captain America: The First Avenger) who will play Thorin Oakenshield, the leader of the Company of Dwarves which sets off to reclaim the Lonely Mountain from a thieving dragon. Additionally, Aidan Turner (TV’s Being Human) and Rob Kazinsky (Red Tails) who play the dwarves Kili and Fili respectively, Graham McTavish (Rambo) will play Dwalin; John Callen will play Oin; Stephen Hunter will play Bombur; Mark Hadlow (King Kong) will play Dori and Peter Hambleton will play Gloin.
There is no mention of Ian McKellen, Andy Serkis or Hugo Weaving whom have either said they will be in the film or have been reported at one time or another. McKellen has been the most vocal over the past few years and I would fully expect him to return as gandalf, but we’ll just have to wait for confirmation on that.
