The official casting call is out for the lead roles in The Hobbit with details going to the major agencies regarding the parts of Bilbo, Thorin Oekensheild, Fili and Kili, Bard, Primula Brandybuck, Gloin, Drogo, Itaril, Radagast The Brown and the voice of Smaug.
Did you spot the odd one out?
Here’s the details released about the part of Itaril:
ITARIL – female, A woodland Elf, this character is one the Silvan Elves. The Silvan Elves are seen as more earthy and practical. Shorter than other elves, she is still quick and lithe and physically adept, being able to fight with both sword and bow. Showing promise as a fighter at a young age, ITARIL was chosen to train to become part of the Woodland King’s Guard. This is the only life she has ever expected to live, until she meets and secretly falls in love with a young ELF LORD. This role will require a wig and contact lenses to be worn. Some prosthetic make-up may also be required. LEAD. AGE: 17-27.
A little artistic license to introduce a strong female character perhaps?
Noticeable parts missing from the call include Gandalf, Gollum and Elrond which backs up what we already knew in that those parts are already spoken for.
If those are missing because they are spoken for then by the same token the fact that Bilbo is included in the list puts an end to all the rumors that the part has already been taken. Here’s what they are looking for in the main lead role:
BILBO – A well to do, respectable Hobbit. Although he doesn’t realize it himself, Bilbo has a good deal of courage; he can be practical and resilient. He has a good sense of humour, and is able to appreciate the ridiculous. He is very quick on the uptake and is well read having been encouraged to read widely by his mother. The most distinguishing characteristic about Bilbo is his humanity; he is empathetic with a big heart and generous spirit. LEAD. AGE: 25-35.
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{ 74 comments… read them below or add one }
What about the lycanthrope Beorn. They overlooked him in the cartoon. I hope that’s not the case here.
@Milo,I agree. I’ll be very dissapointed if Beorn is left out. I would love to see him taking out goblins 4 and 5 at a time in the Battle of the Five Armies.
@Milo, I agree as well about Beorn. Hopefully they just didn’t put him there because they don’t consider him a lead role (although that would be odd). However Beorn is not technically a lycanthrope as he does not turn into a wolf (Greek lukos – wolf; anthropos – man). The word you’re looking for is therianthrope (Greek therion – wild animal; anthropos – man). The language would have mattered to Tolkien.
@Bakar, Thanks for the language lesson, but actually Tolkien describes Beorn as a “skin-changer” so let’s just agree he shouldn’t be overlooked.
There’s no way they would leave out Beorn, is there?
Well, they left Tom Bombadil out of LOTR, let’s hope Beorn survives the cut.
@Salim, Beorn is a major key character in the story. Tom Bombadil wasn’t a great deal important in LOTR in regards to the main storyline which is why they left him out. I don’t think they are considering cutting out Beorn.
Whoooa, Whooa, Whoa, Tom saved all the hobbits lives from the wraiths of the Barraow-downs! I think that’s a significant enough contribution to the storyline.
@Salim, I love Tom Bombadil and Goldberry dearly, but Bombadil was such a strange character. I don’t think he would have had the mass appeal directors look for in movie characters.
@sarumanofmanycolors, In the LOTR commentaries, Tom Bombadil was excluded in whole or in part because he was unaffected by the One Ring. This undercut the menace and power of the ring. For the same reason, Faramir was changed so he would be tempted more by the One Ring.
Latest update at theonering.net:
“Update: After touching base with more of our contacts, we’ve been notified that this is not a valid list of lead roles and, in fact, some of the roles listed in the links are not relevant. Stay tuned here for more casting information as we get it, and rest assured we will follow every new story to confirm whether or not it is legit.”
So, perhaps the “list” was a rumour. Or, maybe it’s true and they just want to keep us guessing
.
I’d love to see Natalie Dormer (aka Anne Boleyn in the Tudors) being Itaril… She already has such deep eyes and abeautiful though not conventional face… She’s about 28 but she seems younger IMO…
Anyway I’d love her to play any part in this project, she’s a wonderful actress!
@Vi, she is an elf!!!
@Loboerrante, I don’t get your reply but I do think she’d be perfect as an elf!^^
@Vi, I would love for no one to play Itari, as this character does not exist in the book
Bilbo: 25-35. This worries me a bit. I hope they are not looking for another Frodo type character i.e. very young. Bilbo needs to be the quintessential middle aged English man -rotund and mature – not Elijah wood.
@Raife, i agree, i was dissapointed that the hobbits in LOTR movies were so young, bilbo should be a little on the round side and have a friendly face, i will be very dissapointed if they hire some lithe pretty boy add some wigs and prosthetics and call him a hobbit, hobbits are fat! lol
@BBB, I agree they may have been a little young, but at the same time, hobbits age differently than people, so 33 for a hobbit(when they come of age) is roughly 25 for a human. I agree they were a bit young, and I hope whoever they get is closer to 35 than 25, but the age seems fair to me. just sayin
What about Legolas? And Aragorn?
Legolas can make the cut in the film being a prince of the wood elves, but Aragorn isn’t in the book at all dude.
@sarumanofmanycolors, Aragorn was around at the time The Hobbit took place. I heard they were going to use Tolkiens histories, not included in The Hobbit but part of the world none-the-less
Itaril? Love? Elf Lord?
These people honestly don’t know how to keep romance out of anything. Next thing you know, they are going to insert a scene at the Battle of Five Armies, with the Elf Lord being slain and Itaril crying over his dead body whilst the battle is being fought in the background in slow motion……
@Digit23, More like, it will be Itaril who dies. I have a feeling that the young elf lord will be Legolas.
@SonyaH., ah, see… that’s another thing I’m afraid of — giving Legolas a love story. It’s not that I’m some jealous Orlando Bloom fangirl, or a jealous Legolas fangirl… but I AM a LOTR fangirl, and Legolas never had a partner in the books. Tolkien himself even mentioned it. I just don’t want them to mess with anything.
That, and I simply am uninterested in any new characters at all. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!
Even though I’m female and I love seeing strong female characters in books and film, I am not interested in the writers creating one for “The Hobbit”. This was the FIRST book I ever read… I grew up with it and I would prefer that they keep it as close to the original as possible (hey, a girl can dream). I liked that they expanded Arwen’s role in LOTR, and of course I’ve always liked Eowyn… but they were characters who already existed in the book. I feel that there is no place for “Itaril” or a love story (oh, please no!) in this movie.
Just my two cents. =)
I’m not loveing the new character rumor either. Unecessary.
I really like LOTR but I was very dissapointed that they made so many HUGE changes in the story, espercially since they were mostly made so they could put an emotional scene in. If they put a non-existent character in a lovestory as weel as removing Beorn, then they should name the film something else – maybe Dungeons ad Dragons 2….
Beorn is the best character of the whole hobbit! I hope they don’t use Hugh jack man for that role or Liev Schreiber. They need someone will give the role the size and attitude of the character. I tell you who could do it Mickey Rourke. If they cloned him with a Hair Dark Bear, a German Warrior and an American Indian.
@Christoff, lol imagine one of those two as Beorn! that would be pretty ridiculous!
David McCallum as Gollum would be lovely =)
@Simon, Andy Serkis is already coming back as Gollum.
@Garanid, thumbs up to Andy!!
There already is a D&D Movie 2 – It had a small release; however, it is better than the first.
Ok then D&D 3 then…
Anybody excited about Radaghast besides me? I think he would be a very cool character in the movie.
@sarumanofmanycolors, Radaghast is my second favorite Wizard! lol I was always wishing to see him talk with the think if he was around I might want him to be my grandfather or something lol
This is highly irritating. I look very much like an elf, but am quite short aswell, so would be perfect for Itaril.
I won’t be 17 until after they’ve filmed it though. Maybe they could make an exception? *wishful thinking*
@Emppii, I’ve been told I look like an elf as well, I’m 5′ 7″ and going on 19. I would LOVE to play an EXTRA in LOTR, let alone a lead role! but sadly, I am not a New Zealand inhabitant
hmmm… maybe I could just move to New Zealand now! lol
Actually, a lot of people are saying there’s a distinct chance that it may be delayed until 2012…which would be perfect for me, because i’ll be 17 in the first month of 2012.
I think for the young wood elf (girl) should have a lower age cut off. since how the elf needs to be smaller than others, a younger girl should be able to audition for the part. im 14 and VERY interested in playing that part! i would give up everything. anyone see what im saying?
@Morgann, I am sorry but 14 is way too young. There’s little chance of lowering the age limit that much.
@Morgann, I agree with Garanid. honestly, I think 16 is a bit young for the part if they have it. Elves are not supposed to look young or old, but ageless. either of the extremes would throw off the appearance. Maybe a young elven girl at the banquet would work!
I recon Cillian Murphy (Batman begins – Scarecrow and Sunshine – Capa) would make a great Bilbo
how about John Hannah ?
Does anyone know if this character has been cast yet? Anyone know of a mailing address for sending headshots and resumes for those actors wishing to apply for an audition?
I like this ITARIL, character, I’m for strong female role, this is different world now, and boy movie wouldn’t appeal to me. I don’t care for replica of the book. I also would so like to see Bridget Regan as Itaril. She is very good.
Lilith, I’d have to disagree. We have too many of those strong female characters in movies that are supposed to be in a very distant time period.
I actually wouldn’t mind if Legolas had a lover. As long as she was an elf.
@Bonnie,
Legolas’s lover would be another man elf….
food for thought…
imdb.com has Erryn Arkin listed as the rumored Bilbo Baggins
I think whatever they do with this movie jackson and del toro will make it great since the hobbit wen it was written was meant for children. I’m sure they will try to make it appeal to adults. And I just know it will be amazin. And I can’t wait!!
the hobbit was my bedtime story as a kid and the first book i myself read, i hope they remain as true to the storyline as they possibly can! it’s such a classic story and any new characters would not be my favorite thing, especially if they decide to give legolas a love story?!? i have no preferences as to the cast just don’t change the story, it’s a beloved book for a reason!
has anyone else thought of Hugh Laurie as Thorin? Jack Black as Bilbo? and Clive Owen as Bard?
If Beorn isn’t in the film I think I know a character that could easily replace that role… Legolas. An archer that can take down Smaug! Eh?
@Jackson, I think you might be confusing Beorn with Bard. Beorn’s the one that turns into a bear. Bard is the one that kills Smaug, and thereby stakes his claim as the next king of Dale (as well as confirming his ancestry as a direct descendant of Girion, the last King of Dale).
Jackson… You’re confusing Beorn with Bard.
what about Robert Sheehan for a part?
the movie “lord of the rings was very different from the book some things were better explained in the movie. some things were left out, some thing were added. the same will happen to the hobbit. read the books and see the movie. they are two different things. read the bourne identity and see the movie. two different things. one is not like the other.
read the life of lawrence of arabia,then see the movie.
any way, the hobbit was written for a younger reader.
he made the dwarfs seem almost silly and spoiled.
i don’t know where i’m going with this, but thanks for reading.
eagerly waiting for the hobbit movie how ever they change it.
Just throwing it out there… gerard butler as beorn. Any thoughts?
What about casting Brian Blessed as Thorin? His beard makes him the ideal casting for the role.
no way Liv Tyler would be perfect for the part of Itaril
Ray Winstone would make a amazing Thorin!
Guys
Just’ve seen a Sir Ian (Gandalf) interview here in Australia and he said he didn’t got any contract to play Gandalf yet.
Is there something going on?
I’m fearful, considering all the “cute-sie” crap they added to the LOTR movies which wasn’t part of the books, that The Hobbit being written to appeal to a younger audience anyway is going to end up feeling more like an episode of The Wiggles with exceptional special effects. Why not just cast Schwarzaneggar as Smaug, Angelina Jolie as the invented elf girl and Benicio Del Toro complete with Bogarted cigar to play Bilbo. While you’re at it you might as well dedicate a good 5 minutes of the movie to a trumped up love story between Bilbo and the made up elf. Don’t get me wrong… I’m excited and can’t wait but I look forward to it with a degree of weariness.
Does someone know if either they have already filled these roles or if this list is a rumour? If it isn’t then can someone tell me how I go about slipping my name and resume into the hands of these casting directors?
Thank you!
Bombadil was left out cause he sang all the time and sounded stupid…
He was one of those characters that looks great in a book but would be laughable on the screen. Only mega-geeks would whine that he wasn’t in the movie.
I love the trilogy and I didn’t even bat an eye when I didn’t hear him coming over the hill singing a stupid elf song. If Jackson would have included everything and everyone the Hobbits ran into on their journey every movie would have been 9 hours long…
As a published fantasy writer myself, My ideas are as long as they stay true to Tolkens dream, then others can live his dream too. As for romance, why shouldn’t there be, after all elves have red blood gushing through their veins just as humans do. Oh and by the way, I have an 18 year old son, tall and thin, elfy like, up for grabs.
Hey, I like Bombadil. Don’t be a hater
@Andrea, I totally agree.
@Andrea, totally right. New characters=bad. Gothmog orc general in rotk film?? His existence defeats the point of the way the Orc army is – unusually – not commanded by an Orc, but by the Witch King, and, as I’m sure you remember, this is mentioned explicitly twice in the books. One of my main gripes with the films.
@Andrea, true, there were no Orc commanders mentioned in the battle of the Pelennor fields, but when sam was following Frodo through the tunnels in the books, there were two Orc commanders that he was listening to, so it’s only fair to assume that if Souron has two Orc commanders, he’ll have more, especially in a huge battle like that. I don’t think Gothmog was actually in charge of the entire Army, just the battalion responsible for Grond and some other siege weapons. At least that was my thought when I watched the movies.
@Bakar, Gothmog wasn’t made up for the movie, Lt. Gothmog was a real character in the book, but just wasn’t talked about much. Never even said what race he was. There really was hardly any made up characters for the movie, even minor nobody characters were usually people from the book.
@sarumanofmanycolors, They were saved by many things. Like digit says, Tom wasn’t a main character in the storyline. Just becuase he saves them doesn’t mean it should be in the story.
Actually he says that Tom wasn’t important the the storyline. My point is if you have four dead hobbits, you have no more story to tell. So I think Tom Bombadil played a pivotal role, not to mention he is a powerful, stange, enigmatic, and unique character.
@Milo, fair enough
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