Perhaps in response to the latest set of fan waverings about the film, the filming location for which is still uncertain, Warner Bros. Pictures, New Line Cinema, and director Peter Jackson have officially announced a good chunk of the cast for The Hobbit.
Per the casting rumors we passed on last week, Martin Freeman will be playing Bilbo Baggins. David Tennant, Jimmy Nesbit, and Michael Fassbinder, rumored to be under consideration for roles unspecified, have not been confirmed, nor have Sir Ian McKellen as Gandalf or Andy Serkis as Gollum. But good news, everybody! Now we know the actors who are going to play a bunch of dwarves.
Collider breaks down the dwarven casting:
- Richard Armitage (MI-5) as Thorin Oakenshield
- Aidan Turner (Being Human) as Kili
- Rob Kazinsky (EastEnders) Fili
- Graham McTavish (Secretariat) as Dwalin
- John Callen (Power Rangers Jungle Fury) as Oin
- Stephen Hunter (All Saints) as Bombur
- Mark Hadlow (King Kong) as Dori
- Peter Hambleton (The Strip) as Gloin
From the press release:
Since The Hobbit films received a green light on October 15, pre-production has been in full swing. Set for release in December, 2012 and December, 2013, we can confirm that Martin Freeman (The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, Hot Fuzz) will play Bilbo Baggins, the hero of the story. Richard Armitage (UK TV’s “MI-5” and soon to appear in Captain America: The First Avenger) is set to play Thorin Oakenshield, the leader of the Company of Dwarves which sets off to reclaim the Lonely Mountain from a thieving dragon.
“Despite the various rumors and speculation surrounding this role, there has only ever been one Bilbo Baggins for us,” says Peter Jackson. “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.”
He adds: “Richard is one of the most exciting and dynamic actors working on screen today and we know he is going to make an amazing Thorin Oakensheild. We cannot wait to start this adventure with him and feel very lucky that one of the most beloved characters in Middle-earth is in such good hands.”
Meanwhile, Deadline’s Nikki Finke, who nailed the Bilbo Baggins casting, drops a few more juicy possibilities: “Stephen Fry, Saoirse Ronan and Bill Nighy (as the voice of the dragon Smaug) are possible participants.”
