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ranger123
Rivendell
Oct 22 2010, 1:12am
Post #1 of 279
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Peter Jackson and New Line Announce 'Hobbit' Casting!!!
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Warner Bros. just released the following press release, confirming Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins and revealing a slew of other actors:
Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage, Rob Kazinsky, Aidan Turner, Graham McTavish, John Callen, Stephen Hunter, Mark Hadlow and Peter Hambleton have joined the ensemble cast of the The Hobbit, it was jointly announced today by Toby Emmerich, President and Chief Operating Officer, New Line Cinema; Alan Horn, President and Chief Operating Officer, Warner Bros.; Steve Cooper, co-Chief Executive Officer of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc., and Peter Jackson.
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 rumours 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."
Rounding out the Company of Dwarves are Aidan Turner (TV's Being Human) and Rob Kazinsky (TVs EastEnders) who play Kili and Fili, respectively. Jackson comments "Rob is an extremely talented young actor with a huge career in front of him, I'm thrilled that he has agreed to take on the role of Fili. Besides his talent as an actor, Rob is also a champion sword fighter; I'm looking forward to seeing the damage he can do to a horde of marauding Goblins!" He continues, "Adian is a wonderfully gifted young actor who hails from Ireland. I'm sure he will bring enormous heart and humor to the role of Kili."
The remaining dwarves will be played by Graham McTavish (Secretariat and TV's 24) as Dwalin; John Callen (TV's Power Rangers Jungle Fury) as Oin; Stephen Hunter (TV's All Saints) as Bombur; Mark Hadlow (King Kong) as Dori; and Peter Hambleton (TV's The Strip) as Gloin.
Jackson notes, "Graham is a terrific actor, with a great depth of experience, which I know he will bring to the role of "Dwalin. I have worked with Mark Hadlow on many projects; he is a fantastic actor. I am thrilled to be working with both of them on these movies. He adds, "I am also proud to announce the casting of New Zealand actors as Peter Hambleton, John Callen and Stephen Hunter. Fran and I know that they will bring great depth and talent to our Company of Dwarves."
The two The Hobbit films are being co-produced by New Line Cinema and MGM, with New Line managing production, Warner Bros Pictures handling domestic distribution and MGM distributing internationally. Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh and Carolynne Cunningham are producing the films, with Phillipa Boyens serving as co-producer and Ken Kamins as executive producer. The Oscar-winning, critically acclaimed LOTR trilogy, also from the production team of Jackson, Walsh and Cunningham, grossed nearly $3 billion worldwide at the box office. In 2003, “Return of the King” swept the Academy Awards, winning all of the 11 categories in which it was nominated, including Best Picture - the first ever Best Picture win for a fantasy film. The trilogy's production was also unprecedented at the time.
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/blogs/heat-vision/peter-jackson-and-new-line-32059
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entmaiden
Forum Admin
/ Moderator
Oct 22 2010, 1:14am
Post #2 of 279
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Martin Freeman is going to be an excellent Bilbo!!! So happy about that!
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ranger123
Rivendell
Oct 22 2010, 1:16am
Post #3 of 279
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P.S. I told you guys about the Aiden Turner casting ages ago hehe
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So it was true! 
We have our Bilbo! WOO HOO! Martin is perfect!
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Owain
Tol Eressea
Oct 22 2010, 1:18am
Post #4 of 279
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Wow! Cool! Nice to get some good news!
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"Question everything, embrace the bad, and hold on to the good."
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JRandomRohirrim
Rohan
Oct 22 2010, 1:18am
Post #5 of 279
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This cast is even more unknown than LOTR!
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I remember Martin Freeman, and Richard Armitage sounds familar (Jim says he's in the recent British Robin Hood).
Pittsburgh Flicks - Making Movies in the 'Burgh
http://www.pghflicks.com
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pandoraziki
Rivendell
Oct 22 2010, 1:21am
Post #7 of 279
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So Martin Freeman it is! And Richard Armitage  (pity he'll be hiding under all the dwarfish make-up). Thanks for some positive news!
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Tim
Tol Eressea
Oct 22 2010, 1:22am
Post #8 of 279
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*puts on my Happy Dance shoes again!*
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HA HA! Martin Freeman for BILBO yah baby yah!
King Arthur: Who are you who can summon fire without flint or tinder?
Tim: There are some who call me... Tim?
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Estel78
Tol Eressea
Oct 22 2010, 1:24am
Post #9 of 279
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odd casting imho
(This post was edited by Estel78 on Oct 22 2010, 1:24am)
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weaver
Half-elven
Oct 22 2010, 1:25am
Post #10 of 279
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this is so nice to see after all of the other news
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I missed out on the buildup around here to the LOTR films, so it's kind of nice to be here for this moment.
Very happy to read this and Peter's comments are heartening indeed!
Weaver
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pandoraziki
Rivendell
Oct 22 2010, 1:28am
Post #11 of 279
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He would make a great Bard. But then again he's a great actor so I am sure he will pull it off.
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Ruijor
Rohan
Oct 22 2010, 1:30am
Post #12 of 279
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I remember Martin Freeman, and Richard Armitage sounds familar (Jim says he's in the recent British Robin Hood).
Richard Armitage was often mentioned for the role of Bard so I´m quite surprised to him beeing cast as Thorni ...
Oh well, I trust Team Jackson.
(This post was edited by Ruijor on Oct 22 2010, 1:33am)
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Owain
Tol Eressea
Oct 22 2010, 1:31am
Post #13 of 279
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Richard Armitage
Robert Kazinsky
Aidan Turner
Graham McTavish
"Question everything, embrace the bad, and hold on to the good."
(This post was edited by Owain on Oct 22 2010, 1:32am)
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Hobbitonmayor
The Shire
Oct 22 2010, 1:31am
Post #14 of 279
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What about Balin? Seems like a very important supporting role....
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Woodyend
Gondor
Oct 22 2010, 1:33am
Post #15 of 279
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Thanks ever so much for the pics/
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May your beer be laid under an enchantment of surpassing excellence for seven years!
~~~~~~~~Gandalf~~~~~~~
Listen. Strange women lying in ponds, distributing swords, is no basis for a system of government. Supreme executive power derives from a mandate from the masses, not from some farcical aquatic ceremony!
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chrismortega
Bree
Oct 22 2010, 1:38am
Post #16 of 279
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to think that these faces which I have never seen before are going to become SO FAMILIAR.
Does anyone else think Richard Armitage is kind of young for Thorin. I trust PJ's judgment, but I'd always pictured him a lot older!
"NEVER TRUST AN ELF!"
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ranger123
Rivendell
Oct 22 2010, 1:40am
Post #17 of 279
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Just imagine him with the beard and cotume
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...
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CINE
Bree
Oct 22 2010, 1:43am
Post #20 of 279
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...I saw that mentioned as a possibility on the TORn front-page article. That would be freaking brilliant! I recall a lot of discussion as him as the Elven king, but I think his bordering-on-bored posh vocal delivery (combined with his classic snort-laugh) would be utterly great for Smaug (of course doctored up in sound post production to make the voice more booming and menacing).
Also, happy to see McTavish's name in the list of dwarves. I thought he was quite the bad-ass in the current Rambo flick (as the ex-SAS British merc).
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Estel78
Tol Eressea
Oct 22 2010, 1:43am
Post #21 of 279
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Yeah, Richard Armitage seems too young...
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with not enough meat on his bones and what about his voice? Kinda doubt it's baritone.
PJ always seem to cast too young actors before replacing them eventually *lol* case in point, Aragorn and the father in Lovely Bones.
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greendragon
Sr. Staff
Oct 22 2010, 1:43am
Post #22 of 279
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But wouldn't it confuse everyone to cast Aidan Turner AND Aiden Turner...?? 
GO TEAM MARTIN! 
'There are older and fouler things than orcs in the deep places of my fridge...'
'You never know what will happen next, when once you get mixed up with TORnsibs and their friends.'
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Seanwise
The Shire
Oct 22 2010, 1:44am
Post #23 of 279
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Great news! Congrats to Martin Freeman, he'll be great. Also good to see an Irishman, Aidan Turner, in the cast :)
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Estel78
Tol Eressea
Oct 22 2010, 1:46am
Post #24 of 279
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That's how i picture a dwarf, yeah...
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not all these skinny people. ;)
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chrismortega
Bree
Oct 22 2010, 1:47am
Post #25 of 279
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that all these guys are freaking out right now. I mean, they've known for a while, I'm sure, but now all their friends are calling them up saying, dude, you're in the Hobbit.
Cheers to you guys, if any of you read this!
"NEVER TRUST AN ELF!"
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