Now that Guillermo del Toro has been officially unveiled as the director of The Hobbit, fans are now asking, “Which Lord of the Rings actors will return, good Sir?”
Fair enough question.
In regards to Gandalf the Grey (i.e. Sir Ian McKellan), he tells Empire Online:
“I spoke to Guillermo in the very room that Peter Jackson offered me the part and he confirmed that I would be reprising the role. Obviously, it’s not a part that you turn down, I loved playing Gandalf.”
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As to Andy Serkis returning as Gollum, del Toro says to MTV News:
“We can be pretty sure that we’re getting back Andy, Ian, [composer] Howard Shore and [conceptual designer] John Howe.”
And what about the lead character Bilbo Baggins previously played by Sir Ian Holm in The Lord of the Rings trilogy? As del Toro explains:
“He will be involved in some manner, I’m sure. But at his age … it’s too early to tell. We are just in the early stages. It’s too early to make commitments of that sort. We prefer to let the screenplay and the way the character comes to life guide us in the casting. I have many people in mind. Anything [else] I say will be used against me in a court of law.”
Maybe I’m being a horse’s ass… (I know - a real shock, ladies and gentlemen) but that sounds like del Toro’s cute little P.C. way of saying, “Holm’s not involved.”
Hmmm, this film-nerd smells some re-casting in the air.
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10 Comments
Personally, I don’t think Ian Holm should return for the role since the character is supposed to be roughly 60 years younger than the version he played more than 8 years ago (granted the ring would slow his age to a degree). I think the film demands his role to be recast.
Personally, I don’t think Ian Holm should return for the role since the character is supposed to be roughly 60 years younger than the version he played more than 8 years ago (granted the ring would slow his age to a degree). I think the film demands his role to be recast.
I guess they can use Ian Holm in a proper way - a frame story that tells The Hobbit as a flashback.
But apart from that… using only his voice with another actor or making him digitally or by make-up younger. Who knows, maybe that could work too.
ZAR.
Apart form the age, there is also the issue that Bilbo will be the star of this one, so they need a star.
I think Holm is great, but I can’t see him being that for the movie, especially in terms of appealling to younger fans.
I hope they don’t go for someone really young again though. As said, Bilbo was a middle-aged hobbit and set in his ways. They need someone who at least looks like an adult.
Holm is WAY too old for the part. They’ll need to find a younger look-alike.
Vic
I read something about Martin Freeman being a possibility (but that’s probably like 23rd hand info). I know I enjoyed his performances in both Love Actually and Hitchikers Guide.
You know what, I don’t hate that idea.
hmmm, that could work.
These could be older/younger versions of each other, huh?
http://www.imdb.com/media/rm3527907584/nm0293509
http://www.imdb.com/media/rm2881985280/nm0000453
Obviously, the Arthur Dent character is a bit under-confident compared to Bilbo, but Martin looks to have that kind of range to me.
I think having played Dent would be excellent to move on to Bilbo. Both are men close to middle age who are comfortable in their quiet lives and totally unaware of the wider, wilder existence around them.
He would likely need to fill out a bit, but he has a homely look for it.
Actually, what I’m sure they will do will have Ian Holm reprise the role in some fashion such as “retelling his old story” in the writing of the Hobbit, something like that, just as he did at the beginning of LoTR.
But yes, within the actual storyline they’ll likely have to cast somebody new. Hopefully it’ll be somebody reminiscent and just as good at acting as Holm.
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