Which actors would be best for the parts?

[Hobbit-queen]

What keeps coming back to mind is, Who's going to play young Bilbo? Yes, there is the question on the dwarves parts as well but Bilbo's part is undoubtably the most important in this book because it mostly revolves around him. I'm pretty sure that Ian McKlellan is going to play Gandalf and Andy Serkis will play Gollum. So, who do you think would best fill the parts?

[Mooky87]

As for the Dwarves, I have no idea who would be good, but I really do hope that Ian Holm plays Bilbo again in The Hobbit. He is the Bilbo we all know and he could do the part as he just needs to look the same as in the beginning of FOTR. Remember Gandalf says that he "hasn't aged a day"? I do hope they use Ian Holm.

[Astran]

yes, ian is the perfect actor for Bilbo... he practically is a hobbit..

[Corvis]

I think that Ian would be to old to play Bilbo in the Hobbit. I remeber Bilbo being in his mid fifties and being able to do very physical stuff like running away from goblins, spiders, and dragons. I think he's too old to play the young Bilbo in the movie.

[Mooky87]

But isn't that what stunt men are for? No offense meant.

[Astran]

you have no idea what they can do with a man.. They can easily make him look younger.. and besides.. in lotr he looks like he didnt age a day, since he found the ring.. and that was in the hobbit

[Corvis]

But isn't that what stunt men are for? No offense meant.

If they do use a stunt man then PJ would have to use him a lot throughout the movie, which I think would get pretty noticeable after a while.

And to Astran, I agree with you completely about the the things make-up and effects can do to a person's age but that still doesn't make his ability to run around all day. I think Ian would get too tired too continue after a while. What they should do is find a young actor who looks a lot like Ian to play the role of Bilbo.

[Eledhwen]

Short article here (http://www.mail.com/Article.aspx?articlepath=APNews/General Entertainment/20080328/People_Ian_McKellen_20080328.xml&cat=entertainment&subcat=&pageid=1)

Ian McKellen, who played Gandalf the Wizard in the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, is hoping to reprise the role in another tale from Middle Earth.

A fan asked McKellen on the actor's official Web site if he would play the role of Gandalf in "The Hobbit," which is being produced by Peter Jackson, director of the "Rings" trilogy.

"Yes, I will, if Peter Jackson and I have anything to do with it, he being the producer and me being, on the whole, a very lucky actor," McKellen, 68, said in a reply dated Wednesday.

Jackson reached a deal with New Line Cinema late last year to make two films of J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Hobbit," a planned prequel to the blockbuster "Rings" trilogy. Jackson will serve as executive producer for the "The Hobbit" movies.

Another fan asked: "Have you been approached yet by Peter Jackson or anyone else" to play the ancient Wizard?"

McKellen replied: "Encouragingly, Peter and (partner) Fran Walsh have told me they couldn't imagine `The Hobbit' without their original Gandalf."


http://www.mckellen.com/

[Mike]

Peter and (partner) Fran Walsh have told me they couldn't imagine `The Hobbit' without their original Gandalf

They must be getting Orson Bean then. Or Christopher Squire, whichever came first.

[Eledhwen]

They must be getting Orson Bean then. Or Christopher Squire, whichever came first.:D Arf Arf!!

For those who don't get it: Read this (http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/alabaster/A655508).

[Thorin]

As for the Dwarves, I have no idea who would be good, but I really do hope that Ian Holm plays Bilbo again in The Hobbit. He is the Bilbo we all know and he could do the part as he just needs to look the same as in the beginning of FOTR. Remember Gandalf says that he "hasn't aged a day"? I do hope they use Ian Holm.

You're going under the false assumption that Gandalf meant 'You haven't aged a day since you found the ring." This is not true as Gandalf had been in the Shire a few times since then. Gandalf was obviously speaking of the last time he saw Bilbo that it seemed he hadn't aged a day, not from 50 years before when Bilbo found the ring.

Ian Holm was made out to look like an old hobbit. It would make no sense to keep him as he was in LoTR for the Hobbit when it was obviously a younger hobbit.

[Nóm]

A good way to keep continuity without using Iam Holm would be to take Elijah wood and give him some make up, slightly changing his facial characteristics and body shape to play Bilbo.

I am not in favor of this because I didn't think he was an excellent fit for Frodo, and he would be even worse as Bilbo, assuming he plays him anything like he did Frodo. But if he could act it different? Who knows, maybe people would like the role?

It is hard to see anyone as Bilbo. As my favorite person in the story, and as the main character, it has to be a careful choice. If Ian Holm could do it, that would be the safest bet.

[Barliman Butterbur]

Again: you can make young actors look old, but you can't make old actors look young. Therefore, Ian Holm will NOT reprise his role as Bilbo. "You haven't aged a day" refers to the time Bilbo first found the ring, and not the time Gandalf first met him. Can we put this thing to rest now??? :rolleyes:

Barley

[baragund]

Hmmm... Can anybody think of a decent actor who looks like a young Ian Holm? If you want to know what a young (or at least younger) Ian Holm looks like, check out the first Alien movie. He plays the part of the android-science officer and I'm guessing he was in his 30s at the time.

[Firawyn]

Again: you can make young actors look old, but you can't make old actors look young. Therefore, Ian Holm will NOT reprise his role as Bilbo. "You haven't aged a day" refers to the time Bilbo first found the ring, and not the time Gandalf first met him. Can we put this thing to rest now??? :rolleyes:

Barley

Oh Barley...:rolleyes:

I'd try out Ray Winstone for Bilbo.

See Picture from IMdb here. (http://imdb.com/media/rm3903297792/nm0935653)

[Eledhwen]

It's not just looks that count; Ian Holme made a wonderfully fussy character with the air of a distracted English eccentric. I wouldn't want anything less from his replacement.

I am not in favor of [Elijah Wood playing Bilbo] because I didn't think he was an excellent fit for Frodo, and he would be even worse as BilboI believe Elijah Wood has been earmarked to reappear as Frodo in the in-between film they want to make, of the time between The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings; Though how they will cobble together a decent visually attractive storyline for that period, I can't fathom.

[Firawyn]

I agree that looks are not everything, that he's have to be fussy and such.

However, Ray Winstone played the voice of Mr. Beaver in the latest Narnia movie - if that's not fussy, I don't know what is! :D

[Nóm]

It's not just looks that count; Ian Holme made a wonderfully fussy character with the air of a distracted English eccentric. I wouldn't want anything less from his replacement.

For sure!

I believe Elijah Wood has been earmarked to reappear as Frodo in the in-between film they want to make...

But if he is made up to look a little different in his features and age, he could still do both. It would cause a strong family resemblance. I wouldn't want it done this way though, and I'm not sure if many viewers would.

[e.Blackstar]

I want Sir Ben Kingsley put in somewhere. Maybe as a dwarf?

http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2007/03_03/kingsleyREX0304_468x705.jpg

(As for Ray Winstone...he seems too tough. Maybe I just have him pegged from his turn as Henry VIII, but I can't make him a hobbit...)

[Eledhwen]

I want Sir Ben Kingsley put in somewhere. Maybe as a dwarf?

http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2007/03_03/kingsleyREX0304_468x705.jpgHe'd make a great Thorin!

[Miss Insanity]

This is a possible cast list I put together. Let me know what you guys think...

Bilbo - Martin Freeman

Gandalf - Sir Ian McKellen

Thorin - Lance Henriksen

Smaug (voice) - Max Von Sydow

Gollum (voice) - Andy Serkis

Beorn - Michael Clark Duncan

Bard - Hugh Jackman

Elrond - Hugo Weaving

Thranduil - David Bowie

[Eledhwen]

I think David Bowie's now a bit old to play Thranduil who, unlike Elrond, is pure Elf. Maybe Orlando Bloom could play the part with dark hair - he's filled out a bit since LotR.

[Runyadur]

I think Martin Freeman would make a great Bilbo, he really looks hobbity!
He even bears some resemblance to Sir Ian :)

[Firawyn]

Oh! Martin Freeman. Perfect.

Really, that's a great choice. I hope the casting crew is looking at this thread. :D

[Snaga]

Oh god nooooooo.... not him! He lives just round the corner from me. It would be too much. Anyway, after the hatchet job done on Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy that he participated, I think he should just slink away in shame and never show his face again.

BTW - Wonks saw Andy Serkis at an ATM recently.:cool:

[chrysophalax]

One of the best suggestions I've seen lately was that of Brian Blessed as Beorn. How perfect would that be?

[Ghorim]

I do hereby nominate Mr. James Cosmo (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0181920/) to play one of the dwarves. Best known to many as the one-armed old dude in Braveheart, Cosmo's got that gritty brogue thing down to a science. Looks rather dwarvish, as well.

Not quite Thorin material, but he'd make a very nice Gloin or Balin, in my book.

Who, then, is "Thorin material?" I'm still figuring that one out...

I'd also gladly step in as one of the ancillary members of Thorin & Company, say an Ori or Bifur. All I'd need is one good line. "And just when a wizard would have been most useful!"

Edit: And Richard Griffiths (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0341743/) is a slam-dunk as Bombur.