Cast Speculation

Sat Apr 30, 2011 4:32 pm

The queen of the appropriate emoticoms strikes again!

Post by **Primula Baggins** » Sat Apr 30, 2011 4:48 pm

It was like this with Ian McKellen, IIRC—lots of "Oh, I would love to play the role, if it's offered" and lots of friendly praise but no specifics from PJ et al. That drove me nuts. I'd be happy to see Weaving back, but anyone other than Iain McKellen playing Gandalf would have been a disaster in my view.

Post by **Ethelwynn** » Sat Apr 30, 2011 6:09 pm

OTOH, think of the excuse we've got to use all the chocolate, prozac, and alcohol we want. We have to do something to combat the stress, after all . . .

Post by **Primula Baggins** » Sat Apr 30, 2011 6:49 pm

We're supposed to have an excuse?

Post by **Elentári** » Mon May 02, 2011 11:59 am

Looks like it's a done deal for Itaril...

Saoirse Ronan is looking forward to her first ever music festival. She’s already booked her ticket for Oxegen in County Kildare and is very excited about a line-up that features some of her favourite bands (Arctic Monkeys, Black Eyed Peas) and the chance to sleep in a caravan with three of her best friends. ‘That will be so cool,’ she giggles. ‘I wouldn’t even mind a tent in the mud, I so want to go!’

Like most 17-year-olds she’s music-mad, and is all set for an adventure that has become a rite of passage for teenagers across Europe. That is, if work doesn’t get in the way....

...She’s about to play Itaril the Elf in Peter Jackson’s film based on Tolkien’s The Hobbit, which has begun shooting in New Zealand. Peter also chose her for the highly coveted role of Susie Salmon in his 2009 movie The Lovely Bones (for which she got a Bafta nomination), so he’s clearly a fan. But of course it would mean missing Oxegen. ‘I know! It’s crazy, but I’m going to see if I can fly back for it – that’s how much I want to go!’

Post by **Dave_LF** » Mon May 02, 2011 1:28 pm

Did HoF just get a Hobbit scoop before TORN?

Post by **Elentári** » Mon May 02, 2011 2:10 pm

Hehe, yes looks like it...but I should admit I spotted it in a post on The Barrow Downs!

Post by **Lhaewin** » Sun May 22, 2011 10:05 pm

Martin Freeman just won a BAFTA award and in his speech he said that Benedict Cumberbach has been cast for The Hobbit.

http://news.scotsman.com/pa-entertainme ... 6772602.jp

Post by **Primula Baggins** » Sun May 22, 2011 10:11 pm

Interesting. It must be fun to cast a set of films that many really good actors want to be in. If this is PJ doing a favor for Martin Freeman, he's hardly hurting the films by doing it.

Post by **Alatar** » Sun May 22, 2011 11:30 pm

OOh! He could play a great Elf Lord from Rivendell, or possibly Bard?

Mon May 23, 2011 12:08 am

I'm guessing Bard, just because it doesn't make sense for him to come for a lesser part. Of course, the Elf Lord could be a big part, though I hope not.

Post by **Dave_LF** » Mon May 23, 2011 12:11 am

Voronwë the Steadfast wrote:I'm guessing Bard, just because it doesn't make sense for him to come for a lesser part.

That does seem like the most likely explanation, but unfortunate. My idea of Bard is much older than that. I joked on TORC that with Stephen Fry in, they'd need to get Hugh Laurie for Bard. I wasn't serious, but Laurie does have the age and the type of face I picture.

I'm going to hold out hope that Cumberbach is an elf in the b-plot. He looks elvish.

Mon May 23, 2011 12:32 am

He is a little young for Bard (he's about 35), but I think they could make it work, if they grim him up. They certainly could do worse.

(Please, not Hugh Laurie; that would be awful.)

Post by **Primula Baggins** » Mon May 23, 2011 1:01 am

I think Hugh Laurie is an excellent actor, but if he appears on screen anywhere near Stephen Fry, the mood would be shattered for a lot of people.

By himself I don't think he would be awful at all. I no longer watch House, but I think he's very effective in that dramatic and often grim role.

Edit: "warch"? Gah.

Post by **Dave_LF** » Mon May 23, 2011 1:13 am

Exactly. Pairing him with Fry would be too cute, but in an alternate universe where he was a virtual unknown who'd only done bit parts, I think he'd be a good choice.

Post by **Elentári** » Mon May 23, 2011 7:39 am

Bard seems to be the obvious role considering his dark looks, but he most definitely would make a great slightly aloof High Elf - dare one hope he might be cast as Glorfindel? Surely the White Council business would provide a decent-sized role for him...

Post by **eborr** » Mon May 23, 2011 12:03 pm

I think Hugh Laurie would be great in either a Kingly role please see Blackadder 3 or alternatively as a brave heroic warrior type see Blackadder goes Forth

On the subject of Mr Cumberbatch, although I recognise that Sherlock Holmes was very well recieved, I personally did not find enough in it to watch seriously, to my mind you cannot replace Jermey Brett, however he is an actor of talent, who will add to the films.

Post by **Alatar** » Mon May 23, 2011 1:33 pm

Apparently he was once asked for a favourite role and answered "Smaug in The Hobbit".

Now, that I can really see!

Mon May 23, 2011 3:14 pm

Here's the interview (or at least one interview) in which he said that:

http://www.londontheatre.co.uk/londonth ... rbatch.htm

It's from July of 2010, so it is reasonable to think that he might have auditioned for the role by then. Very, very interesting.

And if it is true, than it is an indication that the Reddit guy (who insisted that the Voice of Smaug was someone who had been heard twice in LOTR) was full of it.

Post by **Lalaith** » Tue May 31, 2011 1:59 am

Who is Bret McKenzie playing? He was listed in the article that Voronwë posted in the other thread. Is he playing Lindir for sure?