The One Ring Forums: Tolkien Topics: Movie Discussion: The Hobbit: Casting Rumor: Shane Briant for Mayor

The One Ring Forums: Tolkien Topics: Movie Discussion: The Hobbit:
Casting Rumor: Shane Briant for Mayor

Otaku-sempai
Immortal

Nov 25 2010, 3:56pm

Views: 3428

Casting Rumor: Shane Briant for Mayor

Actor Shane Briant reveals in the following video that he has auditioned for the Mayor of the Shire (or, more properly, the Mayor of Michel Delving): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kcQBrxgtQfM.

dormouse
Half-elven

Nov 25 2010, 4:16pm

Views: 2468

Interesting...

I like him - years ago he was in 'Anzacs' - one of the best WW1 dramas I've ever seen.

But whether he gets the part or someone else does, it's interesting to know that they have a part for the Mayor of Michel Delving. Suggests an increased amount of hobbityness, perhaps at the end of the film???

RaoulJ
Rivendell

Nov 25 2010, 4:34pm

Views: 2426

Everytime I see something WWI-related

.. I tend to believe it.. Peter Jackson is of course fond of anything WWI-related.. and he surely has seen above mentioned movie/miniseries.

But ofcourse it is possible that Shane Briant sent his audition in without ever talking to PJ.. But I did like his performance in the miniseries Anzacs. It is ages ago, so maybe PJ hasn't thought of it...

macfalk
Valinor

Nov 25 2010, 5:56pm

Views: 2471

Dont know who this guy is, but wow! Mayor of Michel Delving? I like!

I also loved the "I hope to be in The Hobbit" around 1:00 and everyone goes oooooooooooooo

Obviously the mayor of Michel Delving is not in the book, but I kind of like this (everything to see more of Hobbiton!). This a PJ invention that sounds great to me.

The greatest adventure is what lies ahead.

Frodosfriend
Rivendell

Nov 25 2010, 9:21pm

Views: 2336

I agree

A hobbit mayor in the movie will be interesting.

Patty
Immortal

Nov 26 2010, 8:03am

Views: 2352

I don't suppose I should admit this...

but the only thing I know this actor from was a version of Lady Chatterley's lover, from years ago.

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Doriath
Rivendell

Nov 26 2010, 8:12am

Views: 2364

nice to get more potential casting tidbits but...

am I the only one worried over the lack of a Gandalf announcement? Reasons for this have probably been discussed but I seem to have missed them. What gives?

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Elijah B.
Registered User

Nov 26 2010, 12:20pm

Views: 2267

Casting Rumor: Shane Briant for Mayor

I hope it's not the mayor of Laketown, because the characterization Briant described is wrong, according to the book.

"The man who sets out to carry a cat by its tail learns something that will always be useful and which never will grow dim or doubtful" - Mark Twain.

Kangi Ska
Half-elven

Nov 26 2010, 1:26pm

Views: 2273

Weli actually there is no mayor of Lake Town...

There is a Master of Lake Town. Also The Mayor of Michel Delving was considerd the Mayor of the Shire by default.

Kangi Ska Resident Trickster & Wicked White Crebain
New Zealand is Middle-earth & today life is good.

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dormouse
Half-elven

Nov 26 2010, 2:07pm

Views: 2252

This may sound a little crazy...

... but his mention of a bow tie sounded to me more like a hobbit, if they're following the general feel of the costume design in the previous films. Not that I know how they will invisage Lake Town, but I find it quite hard to imagine a Lake Town in which bow ties would fit...

Also when he acted out his audition he seemed to be looking up...

Clutching at straws here, because I agree with your point about the characterization.

dormouse
Half-elven

Nov 26 2010, 2:52pm

Views: 2233

Not the only one...

... it would be so nice to know that everything was settled for Gandalf, Gollum, Elrond and so on. But I tell myself that maybe there's hope in the fact that there have been no further casting announcements at all since the first two. We know the film is definitely going ahead and they're all hard at work, so perhaps they're saving the rest for one big casting announcement, or they're just going to go ahead and let the news leak out, or they think the casting of Gandalf etc isn't news because everyone knows who it will be... There are so many parts that haven't been announced yet - I'm guessing that someone, somewhere, is drafting out contracts round the clock!

Otaku-sempai
Immortal

Nov 26 2010, 3:47pm

Views: 2245

Contract Negotiations

In Reply To

am I the only one worried over the lack of a Gandalf announcement? Reasons for this have probably been discussed but I seem to have missed them. What gives?

I'm sure that it's just a matter of negotiating the contract. An official announcement won't be issued until all the "t"s are crossed and the "i"s are dotted.

entmaiden
Forum Admin / Moderator

Nov 26 2010, 4:09pm

Views: 2223

And Frodo isn't Bilbo's nephew

The movies make many small alterations, and I wouldn't be surprised if the script converts the Master to Mayor.

Elentari03
Rivendell

Nov 26 2010, 4:09pm

Views: 2191

They probably were waiting

for Harry Potter to debut and Thanksgiving to be over in the US before making any more cast announcements in order to maximize the press the announcements will generate.

My guess is they will make more announcements soon.

Ainu Laire
Tol Eressea

Nov 26 2010, 4:53pm

Views: 2202

Mayor of... the Shire? Strange!

I am trying to imagine what the Mayor of Michel Delving would do in the Hobbit; it would certainly be a bit role, but seeing more of the Shire does sound exciting.

On the other hand, he could have meant the Master of Lake-town (which could have been switched to 'Mayor' for the films). And considering that the Master is a bit ridiculous, it fits!

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Flagg
Tol Eressea

Nov 26 2010, 5:07pm

Views: 2179

I hope

he plays the Mayor of Michel Delving. He looks too hobbity and not nasty enough to play the Master of Laketown. I can imagine him having a part in the first film's opening scenes, as well as the second films's closing ones. Maybe he'll be in Hobbiton on a visit from Michel Delving, or perhaps Bilbo will have to travel to Michel Delving for some reason, and will encounter him there.

Flagg
Tol Eressea

Nov 26 2010, 5:13pm

Views: 2225

I always thought

that the word 'Uncle' was being used as an affectionate term, not a literal one. Some children in real life refer to their parents' close friends as 'aunts' or 'uncles'. It wouldn't be much of a stretch for the young Frodo to grow up knowing his father's ageing cousin as 'Uncle Bilbo'. Or perhaps he only started calling him that when he was adopted by him.

I think the non-literal uncle/nephew relationship is even mentioned at some point in the books.

(This post was edited by Flagg on Nov 26 2010, 5:13pm)

Otaku-sempai
Immortal

Nov 26 2010, 5:50pm

Views: 2202

Mayor vs. Master

In Reply To

I imagine that the Mayor might be present for (or even presiding over) the auctioning of the estate of the missing-and-presumed-dead Bilbo Baggins. I definitely had the impression that Briant was auditioning for a hobbity role as opposed to a human one.

dormouse
Half-elven

Nov 26 2010, 6:27pm

Views: 2192

You're right, it is...

...the actual relationship is spelt out in some detail - 'first and second cousin, once removed either way' but in Bilbo's farewell speech at the party he says,

"For it is, of course, also the birthday of my heir and nephew, Frodo. He comes of age and into his inheritance today."

So you can't really put that down as a change the filmmakers made - it is in the book. They simplified the relationship by picking up on that alone.

Altaira
Superuser

Nov 26 2010, 9:38pm

Views: 2185

Nice catch, doormouse

As may times as I've read LOTR, that never jumped out at me. But, by golly, you've found a contradiction by The Professor, haven't you?

Maybe it can be rationalized by the possibility that Bilbo didn't feel comfortable calling Frodo his son (even though he raised him), but 'cousin' felt too distant, so he settled on nephew by default. Crazy

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FarFromHome
Valinor

Nov 26 2010, 9:58pm

Views: 2155

It's not really a contradiction

It was apparently quite a common convention in the days when extended families were the norm. Second cousins once removed are a generation apart, like uncles and nephews, and in fact were often referred to as uncles and nephews. In LotR there are several places where Bilbo is referred to as Frodo's uncle, as well as times when Frodo is called Bilbo's nephew. Here's an example with both 'uncle' and 'nephew', after Frodo wakes up in Rivendell:

"Looking in a mirror he was startled to see a much thinner reflection of himself than he remembered: it looked remarkably like the young nephew of Bilbo who used to go tramping with his uncle in the Shire..."

They went in, and Sam shut the door.
But even as he did so, he heard suddenly,
deep and unstilled,
the sigh and murmur of the Sea upon the shores of Middle-earth.
From the unpublished Epilogue to the Lord of the Rings

Altaira
Superuser

Nov 26 2010, 10:14pm

Views: 2100

I guess

..it's time for a re-read! Laugh

(twist my arm)

More nice catches, FarFromHome. Smile

I wasn't aware of that convention with cousins. Thanks for the additional details.

Koru: Maori symbol representing a fern frond as it opens. The koru reaches towards the light, striving for perfection, encouraging new, positive beginnings.

"Life can't be all work and no TORn" -- jflower

"I take a moment to fervently hope that the camaradarie and just plain old fun I found at TORn will never end" -- LOTR_nutcase

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Melilot
The Shire

Nov 26 2010, 11:18pm

Views: 2104

Still in use

At least in German, which Tolkien of course spoke quite well. In German you'd refer to your first cousin's sons and daughters as nephews and nieces; if you want to be very clear you'd call them "second-degree" nephews and nieces.

Never spotted the confusion in LotR either, I have to admit...

grammaboodawg
Immortal

Nov 27 2010, 5:35am

Views: 2125

giggle I loved the audience reaction

to his announcement :D It does sound like he wasn't sure what mayor he'd be... the Shire most likely, but he could also be describing the mayor of Lake-town. Although, the description of the Lake-town leader make me think he'd hold himself in high regard and would be more pompous and his stature would be more proper. His quick show if how he held himself and acted sounds more hobbity.

I really need these new films to take me back to, and not re-introduce me to, that magical world.

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carrioncrow
Lorien

Nov 27 2010, 12:41pm

Views: 2061

got to be

Master of Laketown. And i hope for his sake he hasn't botched his chance with his loose lips (and even a sneak peak performance Unsure

)

Kangi Ska
Half-elven

Nov 27 2010, 1:50pm

Views: 737

Well there is really only one Mayor

And that is the Mayor of Munchkin City. Evil

Kangi Ska Resident Trickster & Wicked White Crebain
New Zealand is Middle-earth & today life is good.

At night you can not tell if crows are black or white.

Otaku-sempai
Immortal

Nov 27 2010, 10:11pm

Views: 705

Sorry, no.

In Reply To

Master of Laketown. And i hope for his sake he hasn't botched his chance with his loose lips (and even a sneak peak performance Unsure

)

No. It doesn't have to be the Master of Lake-town. In fact, Mr. Briant's description of the role that he auditioned for argues against it. As others have also pointed out, the Master would be more pompous and serious-minded--and I could not remotely imagine him wearing a bow tie. It seems much more likely to me that the part of the Mayor of the Shire was created for the screenplay.

carrioncrow
Lorien

Nov 28 2010, 2:08pm

Views: 656

okay

the truth will out (if he hasn't already botched it for himself)

Pete
Bree

Nov 29 2010, 1:28am

Views: 639

Extending the Shire

I can definately see them extending the parts in the Shire at the beginning and at the end. The ending would be very lighthearted with the auction at Bag End (the Mayor I'd imagine would be over seeing it).

As long as the film ends with Bilbo handing Gandalf the tobacco-jar!

sharku
Rivendell

Nov 29 2010, 10:31am

Views: 675

Actually...

In Reply To

Nice catch, doormouse

Here's another one for you - it's 'dormouse'. Pirate