Rumors are spreading that Brian Cox is a front runner for one of the leading Dwarf parts in The Hobbit movie.
It seems to have started with gossip hunter Latauro who reports for Aintitcool.com
While the claim comes with a warning that sources aren’t sure if Cox is either already signed up or is simply wanted by GDT, Jackson and company, it would be a logical piece of casting.
In The Lord of the Rings Jackson had John Rhys-Davies play Gimli with the accent of a Scotsman so Cox certainly fits the part. He’s also IMHO a brilliant actor and would be perfect for the part of either Thorin or Balin.
With the script reportedly now finished, casting should be the next step so rumors will be flying around but we should soon be getting some official news over the next few months and I’m hoping this rumor proves to be true.
{ 29 comments… read them below or add one }
He looks a LOT like a dwarf!
that would be fantastic! and what about liam neeson, brendan gleeson or maybe jeremy irons as other dwarfs (i know they’re not scottish), or timothy spall as bombur (would also work as a hobbit).
@gt, I don’t think Liam Neeson fits the look of a dwarf, but the others I can definitely see.
@Jasmin, liam neeson’s looks may not be very dwarfish, but i think he would be the perfect actor for a dwarf (same could be said about jeremy irons). personally, i would be quite disappointed not to see brendan gleeson as a dwarf:)
@gt, Liam Neeson and Jeremy Irons are just too recognizable, they’re too big for anything other than major characters. I do love both them though. Besides, Jeremy Irons is so just good as a bad guy. I hate to see him playing a good guy.
Hope this is true
I don’t think Liam Neeson would be a good dwarf, but he’d definitely be great in the film…maybe as the elf-king in mirkwood or even a replacement of saruman seeing as christopher lee probably won’t be in it (if ian mckellen couldnt do it then personally i think he’d make a great gandalf!)
brian cox looks the part for Thorin though!
@Lee Murrells, totally agree, brian cox HAS to be thorin:). you guys are probably right about neeson.
off topic: are there any suggestions who should play bard or beorn (don’t say ralph moeller:()?
@gt, I’d like to see Russell Crowe play Bard for some reason, dunno bout Beorn though, that will be an interesting one….what about the other dwarves?? Theres a lot of them…
I think Julian Sand’s would make a great Thranduil character, he has the look, the build and slickness of an elf, as for Brian Cox To Play Thorin, if its true, they couldn’t have picked a more perfect person to play him.
@Ana R – Nunes, Julian Sand would be great.
I would be very happy for Brian Cox to play Thorin I reckon he will be able to give the character the stubborness and slight arrogance you would want from a dwarf lord. As for Beorn id like to see that bloke who plays Hellboy in the role but he might be a bit too recogisable as Hellboy for it to happen.
@dawson, you might be surprised what a splash of make-up and some CGI can do.;-)
I like this choice. I think Ray Winstone and Brendan Gleeson should be in there too
@cody: wow, i haven’t thought of ray winstone! he would be awsome as beorn!
@dawson: i know that ron perlman is a skilled actor, and that gdt likes to work with him, but somehow i would’t like to see him in the hobbit. not as beorn and even less as bard.
@gt, Yeh I mentioned Ron Perlman to my friend the other day and he didnt like the idea either,so looks like I might be in the minority on this one.
@dawson, You might be in the minority but pretty sure Perlman will be in the movie.
I certainly hope Brian plays Thorin, though I have never heard of him till now, he looks like a dwarf if I ever did see one.
Also, I like the idea of Jeremy Irons, sounds goods, but I don’t think Liam Neelson should be a dwarf, maybe Bard, but not a dwarf.
But I even heard Stephen Fry could be in it, boy that would be good!
He could be the comedy of the dwarf group, if you catch my drift.
@Simon, Wow, I didn’t think of Liam Neeson as Bard! I really like the idea…what about Kevin mcNally (mr Gibbs in pirates) as another dwarf? I think he would be perfect.
John Rhys-Davies is Welsh, and his accent was Welsh not Scottish. But I do think Cox would be a great Thorin!
Brian Cox would be a great thorin, hope he does decide to do it, someone mentioned liam neeson, while i dont think he should be thorin i think he would do well as Beorn or Bard, they fit his usual profile of a strong experienced loner
@Vega, I think Liam Neeson would be brilliant as Radagast the Brown (if they do include him, which they might/should) – especially referring to him as a strong experienced loner.
Brian Cox would be the perfect Thorin…he has a natural intensity that will be required to play him.
I think John Rhys-Davies would be a great Beorn There would be a couple physical appearences that would need to be changed but seeing as he is a huge man already he would be great
When i saw him as Agamemnon in Troy i thought that he would make a good Hobbit.
I mean Dwarf. Lol
@gt, you’re right, he’d be able to play the part but he still needs to look it. It would be a treat to see brendan gleeson as a dwarf, though. Let’s hope he gets asked and accepts.
He, he, Brendan Gleeson would be great for the comedic parts. I remember watching him in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. He literally steals every scene he is in. Good thinking there.
@Lee Murrells, GDT has already stated they will only be developing the characters of a few of the dwarves by building their relationship with Bilbo. They simply won’t have the time to build out all of them.