Should a “Hobbit” movie ever actually get made (and, frankly, we sometimes have our doubts), we want as many of the actors from “Lord of the Rings” to reprise their roles as possible - even the ones, like Viggo Mortensen and Orlando Bloom, whose characters aren’t actually even in the book. In the last few months, we’ve made it our mission to ask as many of them as we could about their potential involvement.
But one actor we wouldn’t want to see return is actually the actor when it comes to a Hobbit movie. While wizards and elves and part elf-men all age slowly (or not at all), hobbits get old quick, and we can’t imagine a 51-year-old Bilbo played by the same actor who brought him to life on his eleventy-first birthday.
But if not Ian, than who? How about “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” star Martin Freeman? Internet scuttlebutt has him front and center as a replacement candidate, and no one can argue that he doesn’t looks the part. So when we caught up with “The Office” alum while he was promoting his new film “The Good Night,” we asked him to address the hubbub.
“I’m not sure I should take it entirely as a compliment,” Freeman laughed when asked by MTV News if he was familiar with the online rumors. “Let me put it this way: People saying ‘You look like a f-cking goblin!’”
Ok, so he gets his goblins mixed up with his hobbits, but would he be up for it if Peter Jackson called?
“Peter Jackson has called,” Freeman revealed, although adding that it wasn’t about the “Hobbit.” “He has just this summer turned me down for a job [”The Lovely Bones”]. [But] I really enjoyed meeting with him.”
And if he gets offered the “Hobbit”?
“I’ll cross that troll’s bridge when I come to it!” he joked.
What would you think of Martin Freeman as Bilbo? If not him, then what actor would be your ideal pick? Sound off below.
September 17th, 2007 at 6:39 pm
Uhm, Shawn. “Strider”, AKA Aragorn, WAS in The Hobbit.
September 17th, 2007 at 7:04 pm
Kay Hallahan Says:
September 17th, 2007 at 6:39 pm
“Uhm, Shawn. “Strider”, AKA Aragorn, WAS in The Hobbit.”
Show me where, Kay, and I’ll send you a box of cookies.
September 17th, 2007 at 8:30 pm
I think Freeman would be great…loved him in Hitchhiker’s Guide.
But, yeah, Kay. I’m finishing The Hobbit for the fifth time, no sign of Aragorn anywhere. Sorry.
September 17th, 2007 at 9:05 pm
I say use the same great actor! They can use the awsome digital technology used in X-men 3 that made Magneto and Xavier appear younger in the flash back scene,(by the time they do the Hobbit the technology will be even better and more cost effective).
September 17th, 2007 at 10:12 pm
One actor I’ve rediscovered that would be perfect for the part would be Sylvester McCoy. He played Doctor Who #7, and did a great job. He even looks about the same today that Ian Holm looked back in 1999 when they were shooting the LOTR films. Granted, he’s in his 60’s, but give him a dark wig and some makeup, and he’d be perfect! After all, Bilbo was already in his 50s when he found the ring, so it’s not that big of an age difference.
September 18th, 2007 at 12:32 am
Aragorn never appeared in the Hobbit. In fact, *opens up a nearby copy of Return of the King* Aragorn was TEN when the events of The Hobbit took place (Aragorn born TA 2931, the events of The Hobbit in 2941) so there isn’t even a PLACE for them. I strongly doubt that all the best SFX technology in the world can make Viggo look 10.
September 18th, 2007 at 5:54 am
Well, I think you’ve made a big mistake here. It seems pretty probable that sir Ian Holm won’t make the Hobbit, but his age is not a reason for that.
If you read the books, you’ll see that the One Ring preserves life, so if Bilbo looked old in LOTR that was the same aspect he had in the Hobbit, because when you have one Ring of Power, you don’t grow older anymore, especially with the One Ring, so it could perfectly be Ian Holm the actor who plays the Hobbit. I understand that they wanted another younger actor, but I repeat, the age of the Hobbit is not the reason for that.
September 18th, 2007 at 10:35 am
I’d like to see Ian Holm, but if that’s not possible, here are three solutions:
1-Find an actor who looks like an exact copy of a young Ian Holm, and then
a) call Holm to dub this guy
b) reshoot the scene in LOTR when Bilbo finds the Ring with this guy, leaving the voice of Holm.
2-use the performance capture (we need Holm to do the voice over) and create a perfect replica of the young Ian Holm we see at the beginning of LOTR.
3-Do a Princess Bride approach where they have our Ian Holm Bilbo telling the story to a group of little hobbits ) I say five to ten years before the 111th birthday of Bilbo) gathered on the floor or chairs around him (like at his party). We could have Frodo, Sam, Merry, Pippin and maybe some others listening in with knowing smiles on their faces. Now, remember in Rivendell when Frodo told Bilbo he used to pretend he was off with him on one of his adventures? This would be a way for Elijah Wood to play both Frodo and Bilbo as he imagines himself on the adventure. (Thanks to grammaboodawg for this clever idea)
PLEASE, do not replace Ian Holm with another actor and pretend he is Bilbo… it would be just wrong.
And, most important, it would be painful for all the fans who have loved so much the trilogy, me included.
These solutions are not impossible to realize! They can be done. Please, don’t ruin the whole movie with an easy solution.
September 18th, 2007 at 11:19 am
Ian Holm would be best for Bilbo but if out of the question, then Martin Freeman looks like a good alternative. Whatever, I would just like to see a ‘Hobbit’ movie.
September 18th, 2007 at 1:41 pm
I agree with Morwen. The whole point of Bilbo not looking his age throughout The Lord of the Rings is because he had the ring. At the end of the trilogy we see him looking as he should at 111 years old, so at the time of the Hobbit he shouldn’t look much younger, if at all. Ian Holm’s age shouldn’t stop him playing Bilbo.
September 18th, 2007 at 1:51 pm
I am starting to agree with the Hobbit age thing. At first I figured he would be younger…would make sense. But then I remember Gandalf telling Bilbo, “You haven’t aged a day…”
This would lead me to believe that Bilbo either aged very slowly (because I am sure Gollum and even the elves aged slowly - would make sense for not erasing lines in the face of actors), or literally did not age at all. In either thought, Ian Holm does not have that luxury in real life…so depending on his look now may depended on the decision to make him younger or make another look older, which may be easier…
September 18th, 2007 at 2:10 pm
Both Ians as well as Hugo Waving are a must for this film - if ever made. Cate Blanchet and Christopher Lee is also a must if the 2 film version is still in the works. bring back as much of the original cast that may be slightly invloved in “The Hobbit” time line - eg. Orlando Bloom and even John Reyes Davies can make cameos in the battle of 5 armies. Speaking of Mr. Davies and dwarves; What about casting for the dwarves?
September 18th, 2007 at 3:31 pm
I don’t understand what the issue with Ian Holm is???
Go back and watch the start of The Fellowship of the Ring when there is the flash back scene to when Bilbo first finds the ring. Here all they have done is given Ian Holm a brown wig and have lifted his expression slightly using string beneath it (as you’d find out from watching the making of on the DVD).
I don’t ever recall watching this and thinking that is wasn’t convincing.
So… Ian Holm it is then. Solved.
September 18th, 2007 at 3:32 pm
I don’t understand what the issue with Ian Holm is???
Go back and watch the start of The Fellowship of the Ring when there is the flash back scene to when Bilbo first finds the ring. Here all they have done is given Ian Holm a brown wig and have lifted his expression slightly using string beneath it (as you’d find out from watching the making of on the DVD).
I don’t ever recall watching this and thinking that is wasn’t convincing.
So… Ian Holm it is then. Solved.
September 18th, 2007 at 4:11 pm
Uh… Viggo Mortensen and Orlando Bloom’s characters were in the book. Maybe you should actually check stuff out like that because otherwise it makes you look really dumb.
September 18th, 2007 at 4:13 pm
Whoops I misread. I am dumb.
September 18th, 2007 at 5:08 pm
Don’t care how good Freeman may look for the part; his obvious lack of respect for the importance of the story and the part disqualifies him as anybody I’d like to see in the film. PJ was right once already to pass him over for Lovely Bones.
September 18th, 2007 at 5:41 pm
Fellowship of the ring was only released a few years ago and Bilbo Baggins is meant to look exactly the same age as he did in the Hobbit due to the power of the ring.Anyone who is even bothering to discuss this issue should get their facts straight before opening their mouths.
September 18th, 2007 at 10:51 pm
Ian Holm is perfect for the role end of discussion….what’s next????
September 19th, 2007 at 2:47 am
Freeman looks the part for Bilbo, although Holm is a great actor and did a great job with his part. Will Weaving return as Elrond? And who do you think should do the voice of Smaug?
September 19th, 2007 at 8:59 am
Strider wasn’t in the published Hobbit.
However, the Appendix at the end of LOTR contains stories establishing that he was around doing stuff during that time period, in Rivendell, etc. (Remember that he is 87 years old)
SO they use the Appendix stuff
September 19th, 2007 at 10:38 am
Everyone forgets that there is already a shot of Ian Holm portraying a “The Hobbit” aged Bilbo in a brief exposition sequence in LOTR. He looks much younger with the wig and make-up. Anything’s possible and for the films to have continuity, Ian Holm must play Bilbo.
September 19th, 2007 at 11:12 am
Whomever wrote this is an idiot. What do you mean you wouldn’t want Ian Holm to play Bilbo again, because he wouldn’t look the same at 50 as he did at 111?
Do you not read or listen? When Bilbo found the ring, it prolonged his life, kept him from aging. Not only is it possible that Bilbo would have looked the same at 50 as he did at 111, but Gandalf even points out this fact, that he hasn’t aged a day.
Get with the program and stop spouting off on things you don’t know about. Ian Holm must play Bilbo, Ian McKellan must play Gandalf, Peter Jackson must direct it, or NOBODY IS GOING TO GO SEE IT.
Point. Blank. And. Period.
September 19th, 2007 at 11:31 am
I doubt Ian Holm would do it… First the short bit in Fellowship he said he had to have his face taped back under the wig to stretch his skin giving him a younger appearance… I recall him saying it was very painful… Can’t imagine him wanting to do that for a whole movie. Second… He’s 76 years old… I think the role is too physically demanding for someone that age.
September 20th, 2007 at 10:03 am
Well, Jeff, that’s a good reason for Ian Holm not to retake the role, but as I’ve said yet, the age that Bilbo seems to have in the film is not a good one… Suggesting anything else is not knowing anything of Middle Earth and Tolkien’s works… I think that before making such an statement, somebody should have read “The Hobbit” and LOTR…
September 21st, 2007 at 9:24 am
Orlando Bloom as Legolas wouldn’t be out of place (even though he wasn’t in the book)since Legolas was the son of Thranduil the King of the Wood elves that held the dwarves prisoner. I was always a little surpised in LOTR that Legolas didn’t seem to know Gloin when he met him at Rivendell. He surly was around when they were held prisoner by his father only about 50 or so years before.
September 21st, 2007 at 4:51 pm
They can’t use the Appendix stuff. Rights to those still remain with Christopher Tolkien. The Hobbit rights are (for now) with New Line.
October 13th, 2007 at 12:52 pm
though it had never occured to me, martin freeman WOULD be great as bilbo, but i’ve always thought that sam rockwell is THE one to play this iconic part. to me, he has it all: the acting chops, the sense of humor, and just the right look. but i’m sure the hobbit movie would be great no matter the bilbo they choose, as long as peter jackson is at the helm, and ian mckellan is gandalf!
and about ian holm playing the part, it’s not that he couldn’t look the part (did you see what they did to ian mckellan and patrick stewart in that one scene in the third x-men film? it was truly amazing!), it’s that it’s a part that has a LOT of action required of it, and he’s 76 years old!
January 1st, 2008 at 6:22 pm
I do agree that the part of bilbo baggins should be played by Ian Holm. In the first film in LOTR Gandalf says that bilbo does not lok much older…
So i think They should give Ian an opportunety to come back to the story and play bilbo.
I do not think that Orlando Bloom is the corect person to play Thranduil. how about Brad Pit as Thranduil?
P.s I LOVE THE HOBBIT
February 3rd, 2008 at 11:52 am
Tolkien Faithful: Everyone will go see it, with or without Holm. Only you will stay at home. Freeman should play Bilbo.
February 29th, 2008 at 7:47 pm
My 2 Cents worth: - My “Dream Cast” =>
Just a note that some of these choices I agree with are based on contenders from: TheOnering.net
Like many other posters on here, whilst I do love & admire Ian Holm as an Actor & would love to see him go around as Bilbo again, - also agree with many that He would be physically unable to pull it off - even if willing & even if makeup & FX were used ! Tho’ the continuity with LOTR films is a good argument to keep him ! -tough decision.
I agree with a prev poster (Sautter) who mentioned Sylvester McCoy from Doc Who fame ! Well Done !- he’s exactly who I thought also -as soon as I saw the photo for Martin Freeman !
Also I agree that Mr.Freeman may have disqualified himself, for same reasons as other poster stated.
I truly believe that the character of Bilbo should be played by an English / British Actor !
No Offence to others - & not being racist - but only from POV that Prof.Tolkiens works are English /Anglo/Celtic/Nordic in Mind-set & therefore almost require actor to be British, so as to express it properly !
Another Contender I would also promote would be, Martin Shaw (The Professionals fame) - he would make a worthy choice - if not for Bilbo - then love to see him involved Somewhere - esp since he Did a Great Narrated CD Audio version of the Hobbit !
With regard to previous poster who mentioned Orlando Bloom as Thranduil - non-issue -I don’t see anybody (or few) talking about him for that role anyway ! - but for Legolas: Definitely Orly has to Return - even if as cameo !
Other Elves: Virtually any Actor with Nordic looks or any Norse who can Act in English !
& as for Brad Pitt - sorry - No Way ! He can Act - but just doesn’t fit for that Role ! & definitely NO bloody George Clooney involvement - at all! - I can’t stand his smarmy smug style ! - bad choice ! Actually, the Less Americans the better ! -
Although Johnny Depp, anywhere would be great ! - esp as Thranduil - or even Ralph Fiennes, - & Jason Isaacs, good choice but would end up looking too much like Lucius Malfoy !, sadly - but which He did brilliantly !
For Bard: I’d go for: Jim Caviezel; Hugh Jackman; & Gerard Butler - in that order!
Rodrigo Santoro - Great Choice for Smaugs voice - Hooray ! or even Vin Diesel -but without heavy US accent !
Ron Perlman: yes for Thorin ! or even Johnny Depp.
Beorn: Is a tough one ! - how about Liam Neeson at a pinch ! or even Brendan Gleeson - or even one out of the box (tho he prob wouldn’t do it) - Mel Gibson !
Dwarves are bloody hard! - at first - but Maybe: Brian Cox; Brendan Gleeson; Sorry- not a fan of Stephen Fry! But throw in any other stocky Celtic/Anglo or Nordic Actors that look great in makeup & Beard ! - or How about David O’Hara (Braveheart fame - “It’s MY Ireland”!)- great as a Dwarf with Comic Value ! - Actually the more Comics as Dwarves the better ! - except Robbie Coltrane -sorry - will be too much like Hagred !
John Rys Davies Could Play Gimli’s Father - Gloin - with a change of makeup ! - Goin’ Off !
Aragorn / Viggo Issue: could be resolved with
relative unknown 10yr old Boy for 1st Hobbit Movie(or how about the Kid who played ELDARION in LOTR ROTK! -pretty good choice if I do say so myself!)
- but then with Viggo as Aragorn to play from LOTR Time - but in a Flashback / Remembrance scene (say with Gandalf/Elrond/Galadriel) going back to The Hobbit Days ! - Difficult to work, I know - but could if Included perhaps near the end of the PROLOGUE to the HOBBIT !!
Maybe Viggo (as Aragorn) could voice-over the Prologue - if Gandalf or Elrond or Galadriel doesn’t do it !
All Other LOTR Actors to Remain Same ! (with hopefully Cameo Flashbacks or even Flashfwds - if possible ! - for other difficult characters who aren’t in the Hobbit !
And to all the Tolkien Purists, yes I generally agree with U, but with these movies - esp with the 2nd so-called ‘bridging movie’ – We need to work them in somewhere - esp with Appendices concept - in spite of possible Legals & Rights issues.
Anyway - Can’t wait - No Matter what happens - It’s gonna be Freakin’ Huge & Orgasmic Eye & Ear Candy !
ps…. I hope Somehow Peter Jackson could also do the adaptation & movie/s of the SILMARILLION ! - difficult I know - but damn worth a try ! Could be another Trilogy for the Future ! - just a thought !
May 15th, 2008 at 8:50 pm
The problem with people saying Ian Holm was fine and that the ring kept him from aging is obvious. Remember the flashbacks to when he found the ring? He was too old looking then. Wasn’t Bilbo supposed to be about the same age then as Frodo was in FotR? Yes, plus or minus a few years. Compare Wood to Holm. Imagine what Holm would look like now, with his hair dyed and digital botox. It would be unintentionally hilarious.