Rumors are flying around the web of the impending announcement that Bilbo Baggins is to be played by James McAvoy.
Bang Media is saying an insider leaked the news to them. They quote the leak as saying:
“A number of names have privately been doing the rounds, including Daniel Radcliffe and Jack Black but James is the one the film’s bosses really want. They’re expected to have talks with him soon so hopefully it could be confirmed in the not too distant future.”
Del Toro seems to confirm at least part of the rumor with this comment in the latest Empire Magazine due out tomorrow:
“We are writing based on Ian Holm’s performance but other than that, we have ideas of who could play him. I can tell you that it’s down to a few names that we all agree upon. And that our first choice …completely, magically, we said the same name. All of us!”
Would McAvoy be the one they all had in mind? Did they all watch The Chronicles Of Narnia and think “It’s our Bilbo!”
Personally I’m still hoping for Colin Firth who was suggested in the comments here by Steelsheen and since it was suggested, I haven’t been able to picture anyone else in the role!
Don’t quite right off Sir Ian Holm yet either as I expect him to be announced at the very least as the narrator.
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Sorry, somehow I can’t see Firth as Bilbo either…
James McAvoy would be a great second choice, no doubt about it. Having said that, I still think Sir Ian Holm is #1 for the role. If you remember back to when Gandalf see’s Bilbo for the first time in ages, since the adventures taking place in the Hobbit where Bilbo acquires the ring, he say’s, “You haven’t aged a day.” It is this line that leads me to believe that Ian Holm could still play the part. A few make up / prosthetic adjustments and bam, you have Bilbo as we all see him. I mean, come on … I just finished watching 12 hours of lotR and struggle to see any other person cast in the role of Bilbo. On that note, I can’t see any other people cast in any other role for that matter. The casting was done fantastically in the trilogy, which must make the job of casting the Hobbit all that much more difficult. I can’t wait until 2012, that feels like an age! Good Luck Del Toro, you have your hands full with this one! Your ace in the hole must be that Peter Jackson is still keeping his hand in the jewelry box, so to speak. PJ had the vision to put the first three together, without him I think the overall brand / feel would be lost or at least diminished. I guess that is why the lotR trilogy won 17 academy awards?
Here’s to a mind blowing Hobbit!!!!
I could see Firth. With the right make-up he could look a lot like Holmes did at the beginning of LoTR. He is the right age. Love McAvoy but WAY too young!
they should just get ian holm to play him again he was spot on even if he is old i see bilbo looking oldish anyway
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