David Tennant Tipped For Bilbo Baggins Role
Published on: 17th July, 2009
David Tennant Tipped For Bilbo Baggins RoleRelated News
The UK’s Telegraph newspaper is tipping David Tennant for the part of Bilbo Baggins.
They’ve done a bit of digging and put 2 and 2 together. Whether they have their sums right, we’ll have to wait and see.
They’ve based their hunch on the fact that Peter Jackson is expected to be at the Comic-Con expo is San Diego next week so an announcement seems likely to be made. Del Toro recently said they expected to name Bilbo Baggins within ‘the next few weeks’
The logic follows that if they do make the announcement at the Comic-Con, the lucky actor would probably be there as well and it seems Tennant is indeed pencilled in to make his first visit.
Geoff Boucher of the Los Angeles Times told The telegraph: “David Tennant just happens to be making his very first trip to the San Diego expo to promote “Doctor Who,” a television series that he will soon be leaving behind. “Peter Jackson, the producer of the two-film “Hobbit” series that begins its theatre run in 2011, is also slated to appear this year, and, well you can see the dot-connecting possibilities. …
Tennant is currently filming a St Trinians follow up and he makes his finale as the Time lord at Christmas so he’s free at the time filming is due to start on The Hobbit.
Now, if you could have your pick of virtually any actor in the world to play the part of bilbo baggins, would David Tennant be you choice?
Update: Empire have just spoken to Peter Jackson about this rumor and he tells them they are still working on the script so an announcement won’t be made at Comic-Con.
He tells them that any actor they approach would want to see a script before making a decision (really?) so they need to get the script finished first.
GDT though said earlier this month that he expected to tell us the Bilbo Baggins actor was close to being named.
Either GDT is jumping the gun or PJ is throwing a smoke screen. At least it’s all good publicity for the Comic-Con 
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Never seen anything he’s in. He definitely could pass for a young Ian Holm though.
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Having seen David in several dramas he has proved to be a highly versatile actor with the skill of making the part his own without destroying the character. This has been shown to great affect in Doctor Who in which he is seen by many as the finest Doctor in a long list of fine actors. More recently he has been acclaimed by critics and public alike for his masterful performance as Hamlet at the RSC in Stratford.
I can’t think of a finer choice given what I think he can bring to the role.
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brent Reply:
August 13th, 2009 at 5:48 am
@David, if you do get the part i think you will do fine masterful performance ? : )
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David Reply:
August 17th, 2009 at 8:11 am
@brent, I am not David Tennant but I have seen several of his performances.
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A Reply:
August 24th, 2009 at 8:09 am
I like David Tennant but, I don’t think he fits Bilbo Baggins’s role at all he is too tall and skinny for it.I agree James McAvoy would be a great choice.
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James McAvoy thats the only person I could see playing Bilbo…Tennant mmmm not “Hobbity” looking enough for me if that makes sense eg: Wood WAS Frodo in my mind and maybe Tennant’s not famous enough to get bums on seats unless you’re a Dr Who fan.
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james mcavoy all the wayplz del toro
david tennant as nibz said isnt hobbity looking
james has the perfect face and structure for a hobbit
tenant is also seen as a jokey kind of character and i cant see him being taken seriously by many people
james can play tht serious role
plz james all the way
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David Tennant would be an amazing Bilbo Baggins!! I adore his interpretation of Dr. Who and am disappointed he will cease to be the Dr soon. But he’s rather versatile and would certainly do well in the part of the beloved hobbit.
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too tall. wasnt he in harry potter, or am i thinking of some one else.
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Nick Reply:
July 18th, 2009 at 4:22 pm
@chris, He was in Harry Potter
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Grym Reply:
July 26th, 2009 at 10:35 pm
@chris, All the hobbits in the first 3 movies were normal sized. They shrunk them down with computer magic in post production.
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James McAvoy would have been my first choice. But I love Tennant as Dr Who. And even though he doesn’t look like Ian Holm, I think he could make the role of a younger Bilbo his own. He is a brilliant actor. He convincingly moves from Hilarity to Pathos seamlessly as the Doctor, which is the sort of touch one needs to play Bilbo.
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When I got this post through in my mail box I had mixed thoughts. I love David, and am a big DR Who fan, and think he would be very capable of taking on this big role. Thinking about his ‘look’ though, I can see doubts, with him being so tall, would this proove harder to mask? I dunno. I was also under the impression that who ever they chose would be ‘less-well known’ therefore being able to take on the role without being compared to previous ‘high profile’ characters, they may already be famous for. Again I duno. I love david and if he is chosen then all the best to him, Im sure he will be fab. James McAvoy seems very popular with many fans for taking the role of Bilbo too, and I agree he is a very talented actor - Love his character in the film ‘Inside I’m Dancing’ simply brilliant! - All I can say is I Can’t wait to know! Who ever they choose has to right for this part without doubt.
P.S. To ^^ Chris - Yes David was in Harry Potter for a brief part.
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david tennant would be a great pick. i would love to see him take the part of bilbo. i think he will bring alot of realism to the character. hes a graet actor and will probably excell as bilbo.
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I agree that he is too tall and skinny to be Bilbo. He’s not the kind of person I had in mind, and it will take a lot to bring it off, if indeed he is cast as Bilbo.
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I’m not sure why several of you have listed Tennant’s height a problem for him being considered for the Bilbo role. The director will be using forced perspective shots to “shrink” the actor to the scale needed. Much as he has to do with John Rhys-Davies for him to play the diminutive Gimli character - Davies is 6′1″
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I preferred the idea of Rowan Atkinson as Bilbo. I know he looks nothing like Sir Ian Holms, but due to much bungling, comedic nature of the character in the book, he would be perfect. This one should not be so dark and brooding as LOTR. It’s Bilbo’s age of innocense.
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i reckon sam neil would be a good bilbo baggins, dunno why though….
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[...] Lord of the Rings film trilogy, except perhaps as narrator. For more info: Via The Telegraph via The Hobbit Movie via Tampa Book Examiner; also David Tennant on Wikipedia. Share this [...]
David Tennet would be an excellent choice. a very fine actor. As for looking like Ian Holmes, who cares? Ian Holmes played Bilbo in the movies but my picture of Bilbo came long before when reading the story. As for being too tall, that’s a silly concern. Plus, he could always plump up the way Sean Astin did for his role.
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Think they should go for an unknown although tennent is pretty much unknown everywhere apart from the uk the same way that bloom and viggo were not major A list celebs! Whoever it is I hope they don’t just try and cash in on the franchise!
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So the only thing that they are basing this off of is the fact that David Tennant was going to be at Comic Con when Peter Jackson was? So in that same respect Seth Green could have been picked for the role, since he was there, too…
That said, I love Tennant as The Doctor, being a long time fan of the show he is one of the best. I think he would do well as Bilbo, seeing as his ability to go from serious to humorous in a second flat is second to none.
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I’m kind of confused though. Because GDT said he wanted to, towards the end of the second hobbit movie gradually work his way towards PJ style of filming, so the movies all seem to fit together. But they already showed a clip in Fellowship of the Ring of Bilbo (Ian Holm) finding the ring. And Bilbo in the story line was supposed to be fifty years old when he went off on his adventure, so I almost wish they’d just ask him to do the role.
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But, on the other hand, if not Ian Holm, I’d want James McAvoy, because he just has that sort of hobbity-ness to him. And Bilbo is sort of a serious, but so serious he’s funny, character and I think James could do it very well.
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God…If you are listening….Please….Please Don’t let them Ruin this Movie by picking David Tennant for Bilbo… I really don’t see why people think he is a great actor.. He has a grand total of ONE facial expression (Wide eyed/knit brow) A Much Better choice would be Martin Freeman.
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SolveHeard are you crazy, Martin Freeman? Have you actually seen David Tennant in anything but Doctor Who? He’s brilliant, would be perfect for the role. You need to do some homework!!
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David Tennant would be completely miscast as Bilbo Baggins. Every time you’d look at him all you’re going to think is Dr. Who. If you could actually picture Tennant standing in Hobbit form beside Ian McKellan’s Gandalf it would just come off like a really bad comedy sketch.
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David Reply:
August 17th, 2009 at 8:13 am
@Stephen, I saw David in Hamlet at Stratford and can assure you that at no time did you think of Doctor Who
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Lynda77 I must be crazy because I want an actor who at least has a slight resemblance to Ian Holm Right? e_e David, as a hobbit, looks like Elijah wood and Billy Boyd had a baby.
Martin Freeman, to me, Looks more like Ian. see for yourself if this link works.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v293/Iambbb/Bilbocomp.png if you can’t click it..copy and paste.
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David Reply:
August 17th, 2009 at 8:17 am
@SoIveHeard, Interesting idea. Martin does have that slightly quirky side to his personality that comes through too.
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[...] Rowan Atkinson — well, no, they haven’t chosen anyone yet although the money’s on David Tennant — as the new Bilbo Baggins, taking over for Ian Holm, who played the character in The Lord of [...]
ahhhh I really hope that he gets this, it would make my year. Personally I don’t like the idea of james mcavoy… David is actually an amazing actor as well, certainly not a one trick pony. Martin freeman is an interesting option and he certainly looks hobbity
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David Tennant would honestly be a great addition to the Tolkien family of actors. Honestly i hope its him. he has been known to create some interesting characters from cassanova to detective cambell to the tenth doctor.
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Bilbo is supposed to be a slightly pompous, humorous character who becomes heroic by accident. It would be fatal to cast a very young, pretty guy like Wood - they got away with it in Frodo, but not Bilbo. David Tennant could carry it off (he was great in Shakespeare - I saw him twice last year). He’s funny and can really act. I totally agree about James McAvoy as well. But how about John Simm (Life on Mars)? He is a great actor, the right age, build and a vague resemblance to Ian Holm - and he can also do comedy.
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John Simm… yeah…why not?:) I would see that happen
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[...] effects track is provided. It gives me faith that they can bring my favorite Bilbo instead of this Doctory fellow or the choice Gandalf hinted at (though I must argue that Tom Baker is my [...]
I think it would be rather cool if David was in the film. It would definatly be a watch for me. I’m a big Who fan, and I don’t see why not.
Hope he DOES get it. It all does seem very coincidental…
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I agree with Nibz James McAvoy is perfect choice. Part calls for nice looking face a person with sweetness and inpatience. Tennant is just too harsh and mean. Besides I hate Dr Who extremely stupid show with terrible acting.
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Tennant wouldnt be my first choice but nor would he be my last,Id rather have McAvoy or even Martin Freeman ahead of Tennant but I think he could prob pull it off plus anything is better than that Tom Cruise rumour.
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hmm, i hope david doesnt get the role, im not saying hes a bad actor or anything but hes no bilbo baggins. however i dont think you need someone that looks like ian holm per say, anyone else thought about Michael Sheen?
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NOOOO, not David Tennant, I mean they messed up with picking E.W. for frodo, I mean who could have been worse than Elisa Wood, I mean seriously, he was terrible and didn’t look anything like frodo, and now they are going to ruin, Bilbo.
Great! F-ing GREAT! Thanks for ruining yet another movie for me.
This ruins my day.
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David Tennant or James MCavoy, two great actors that would fit in Bilbos shoes no doubt about it, spoilt for choice who ever gets the part they will light up the the screen cant wait to find out when the actor is going to be anounced very soon.
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I have read now on many forums about the possible casting of David Tennant in the role of Bilbo, in the forthcoming film version of The Hobbit.
As a fellow Scotsman, and someone who has watched and appreciated his contribution to the continuing success of popular mainstream British television in recent years, I can understand the rise in speculation surrounding this casting whether it is based on fact or not.
However I sincerely hope this speculation is unfounded, as casting him in this role would be an unmitigated disaster. Although his particular style is well suited to many of his roles, his acting is not exactly what you would call “under-stated” and in my opinion this is exactly what is required for the role of Bilbo, – And I’m not just referring to Tennant’s Doctor Who, but the many other roles I’ve seen him in on screen, and once on stage, where the rolling eyes and facial tics, seems to inevitably creep in. The increasingly tired manic oddness and the attempted hammy irony that permeates every interpretation of his, would be solely at odds with the quiet determination, bravery and naivety of Bilbo.
Seeing Tennant being interviewed numerous times, he comes across as a thoroughly decent bloke, with a lot of likability, and I’m in no doubt he will continue to grow in popularity with television audiences by cultivating and adapting his now trademark style. However hopefully I am not alone in hoping and praying he is given a wide berth from this project by the casting directors, and an actor with the correct skill and subtlety is given the opportunity to bring us the Bilbo that so many million fans deserve.
F H
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