"Spirits in the shape of hawks and eagles flew ever to and from his halls; and their eyes could see to the depths of the seas, and pierce the hidden caverns beneath the world."
I see Bard still haven't been cast. And Orly is Legolas. Hm.
Without disputing the Smaug theory, I do think Cumberbatch would make a splendid Bard.
"Aargragaah. It mean lit’rally der time when you see dem little pebbles and you jus’ know dere’s gonna be a great big landslide on toppa you and it already too late to run. Dat moment, dat’s aagragaah.”
Terry Pratchett, Jingo