With the recent news that Peter Jackson has signed on to produce two films based on “The Hobbit,” we decided to run through our casting choices for roles up for grabs in “The Hobbit” (which you can read here), but we’ve saved the biggest choice for our blog.
Read below who we think should play Bilbo, then sound off on your choices for the Ring Bearer, Smaug, Beorn, and all the characters in the world’s most eagerly anticipated film.
BILBO BAGGINS:
Book Says: Hobbit of the Shire content to live a peaceful and happy life until coerced by Gandalf the Grey into joining a group of dwarves to recover their lost treasure. Brave and wise, Bilbo becomes the bearer of the One Ring and, soon after, the company’s savior on several occasions. Fifty-one years old at the time of “The Hobbit,” Bilbo was played by Ian Holm in Jackson’s “Lord of the Rings” trilogy, which begins at Bilbo’s eleventy-first (111th) birthday.
We Say: That Ian Holm gets a raw deal. Although he plays a younger Bilbo in one brief, flashback scene in “Fellowship of the Ring” – and there’s canonical evidence to suggest that Bilbo appeared to age very little while in possession of the ring of power – we fear that the 76-year-old Holm is too old to convincingly play “The Hobbit,” particularly given that he may be nearing 80 by the time the shoot wraps. This is especially true in the universe Jackson created given that he cast a then 19-year-old Elijah Wood to play the 51-year-old Frodo in “LOTR.”
So would should it be? Well, for starters it needs to be someone who could conceivably pass as a younger version of the same character, someone who at least looks and sounds like Holm. Bilbo spends much of “The Hobbit” playing in over his head, confused by the circumstances that brought him to where he is, but cocky and excited enough to, say, talk to a dragon, for instance. The actor who plays Bilbo should be good at exhibiting inner intelligence, but even better at masking that intelligence under a veil of foolishness. Months ago, internet rumors pegged Martin Freeman for the part. Sometimes the internet has it right. We like MARTIN FREEMAN.
Alternates: Anything’s possible in this day and age, with computer technology a veritable fountain of youth for some actors (Look no further than the opening shots of “X-Men: The Last Stand” for proof.) If there’s a will and a way, of course we’d love to see IAN HOLM reprise his role.
Might need a few stunt doubles tho.. hehe
Frodo left the Shire on 23 September 3018, the day after his fiftieth birthday, this is mentioned in FOTR and the Apendicies.
I think Martin Freeman is a good shout, but I'd rather have Ian Holm play Bilbo- even if only for the close ups.
After all, no one would guess that about 75% of Gimli seen in LOTR was NOT John Rhys-Davies but his stunt double. They can do anything these days!
Think also of the only good change made by Lucas to the original Star Wars trilogy (the insertion of McDiarmid into ESB) and you'll agree that a re-shoot of the Bilbo flashback scenes from FOTR with McAvoy is a good idea too. The eventual 5 film "War of the Ring" box set will demand it.
I know it isn't a popular opinion, but I believe that the best continuity and the most logical person to play Bilbo is Elijah Wood.
The look is similar enough that a little bit of makeup would be convincing, and after all, Frodo is Bilbo's close relative. And it would pull all the Frodo fans.
I think the only thing that should stop this choice would be Wood's refusal to do it. Which may have already happened, of course.
robbie for beorn would work well...
i'm not just jumping on the bandwagon, as soon as i saw freeman in hitchhikers i was sold.
yeah!
Ian Holm should play bilbo. With the ring he did not age.
a lot of people have been suggesting actors who i certainly have no objection to watching on screen, such as tobey macguire or hayden christensen, but hobbits are supposed to be comfortable looking, and NOT fit!!!!
james macavoy is clearly the only younger actor who could possibly carry it off, as he looks a similar age to elijah wood in the LOTR films, and has what i think is quite a hobbit-like face!!!
in a totally non offensive way, the person who suggested daniel radcliffe is clearly out of their mind!!! for a start, he IS harry potter, so people will never see him as one of the other great characters of the 20th/21st century bilbo baggins; secondly, in what way, shape or form does he look at ALL like a hobbit?; and thirdly, just NO!!!
wow that came out as far more of a rant than i intended! sorry!!!!
thanks for reading my random little message
xxx
ps i say ian holm! (apart from the fact that he might not survive the filming! [its a bit like the usa elections isnt it? mccain is too old and obama's not old enough! {allegedly}])
xxx