The Sun newspaper, a major tabloid here in the UK is today running a story that claims Tobey Maguire of Spiderman fame is to play the Bilbo Baggins role in The Hobbit.
The rumours have been doing the rounds for about a month but by and large were written off because of the upcoming fourth Spiderman movie which would have seen Maguire tied up and unavailable for The Hobbit.
The story says he has turned down the chance of playing the webbed wonder again and has already signed up for The Hobbit. He is said to have been unhappy in the direction the fourth movie was heading.
Without revealing their sources the paper claims both Producer Peter Jackson and Director Guillermo Del Toro have been chasing Maguire for months.
They quote their source as saying “Everyone is over the moon. Tobey is not only one of the most recognisable faces in Hollywood, he is also one of the best actors.”
Tobey Maguire was recently asked about the rumor and claimed he had not been approached but also added the teaser “I love Guillermo del Toro and Peter Jackson and I certainly wouldn’t take myself out of the conversation.”
With the start of filming fast approaching an announcement (or at least a decision) should be imminent so perhaps this particular rumor should not be instantly dismissed. Having said that the paper has a history of sensationalism.
It was the Sun newspaper who broke the (unconfirmed) story that the UK’s X Factor twin act Jedward had been asked to audition for the roles of Fili and Kili.
Update: A few hours ago AMC Entertainment blogger John Campea tweeted that someone very close to production has leaked the same news to him.
His tweet said, “I have been personally told by a source very close to Guillermo del Toro that it’s true… Tobey Maguire IS The Hobbit.”
Final Update: Aintitcool.com managed to get a reply to an email they sent Peter Jackson asking if there was anything in this latest rumor.
“No truth at all, although we’re all big fans of Toby. We are currently auditioning for Bilbo, and a month or two away from any announcements.”
So there you go, yet another rumor killed in its tracks although I suppose PJ is hardly going to reply that yes actually there is some truth in it but the deal isn’t finalized so we’d like to keep it hush hush if that’s ok.
Ah well, one of these days real soon…………
Some other sites covering the Tobey Maguire rumor
- What’s Next For ‘Spider-Man’ Star Tobey Maguire?
- Tobey Maguire’s Lead Role in ‘The Hobbit’ (inquisitr.com)
- Is Tobey Maguire ‘The Hobbit’s Bilbo Baggins? (cinematical.com)
- Tobey Maguire Re-Rumored As Bilbo Baggins (cinemablend.com)
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{ 24 comments… read them below or add one }
Why not ask Ian Holm? His just the man, and we need him in this film.
Ian Holm unfortunately is not up to the strain of a 2 movie shoot in the mountains of new Zealand. He will be a very hard act to follow.
@Saruson, Yeah… Ian holm is now 80 years old… Bilbo is 30 in the story!
maguire certainly looks hobbit enough but i would hate to see him as Bilbo, he looks to goofy for the role.
@Brego, goofy is the exact word to describe it. heheh
You cant believe anything in the sun (or any other tabloid).
1.PJ has more taste than Jedward *shivers*,
2.GDT has pretty much blackmailed himself with spiderman.
3.The shouts of favouritism would plague the hobbit movies.
4.HE JUST ISENT A HOBBIT!!!!
i could imagine playing a hobbit, but not bilbo – maybe frodo whos not in it…its becuz he looks like elijah wood methinks.
but as aule said, tabloids are virtually fictional…
The sun is not a source to be trusted at all, they have a habit of churnin out rumours as fact just to get the exclusive “We told you first” thing,and if it doesnt happen they never mention it again.
But if it turns out to be true I would feel a little dissapointed at the choice.
cant put my finger on it but he just doesnt seem to be what i would picture Bilbo to be. I like idea of Mc Avoy,Ian Holme,Martin Freeman but unfortunatley not Spidey boy.
The Sun has always been rubbish for “news”. They are best known for naked “page 3′ girls. And that’s the best thing about this “news”paper
.
I’ve heard the Toby wasn’t up for the fourth Spiderman for years. Maybe that was still a rumor back then. If they do choose ‘ol Toby, lets hope he can pull it off. He does seem to have some potential.
Guillermo del Toro himself just denied the rumour…
http://newboards.theonering.net/forum/gforum/perl/gforum.cgi?post=233486;sb=post_time;so=DESC;forum_view=forum_view_expanded;
– Jack M.
I just read at Empire Online that this is a rubbish rumor. They supposedly mailed both PJ and GDT and both said ‘no’.
I wouldn’t expect any news until after a month at least.
I love Tobey in all the movies I’ve seen him in – he’s an amazing actor, but he is not Bilbo. Bilbo needs to be crotchety, cranky, stuffy and very British.
Can’t agree more. It’s going to be difficult enough trying to accept anyone besides Ian Holm as Bilbo; but if they stick spidey in the roll, I don’t know… my brain won’t be able to adjust.
Any idea if a confirmation will be released? Most websites seem to be taking the word of “The Sun” and running with the story, I’m not the biggest fan of toby, I was hoping for someone less in the spotlight, more of how elijah was (and the rest of the hobbits for that matter).
Whoever plays the part has to be British. I just can’t imagine Bilbo any other way.
noooooooooo not spiderman he do NOT BELONG in middle earth!!!
this is great news, indeed! he must be in the movie – even if tobey maguire would not play bilbo he should absolutely play a hobbit – and furthermore he is one of my favorite actors and he looks like frodo – so he is from the family!
Tobey maguire is a good actor. But he is not bibo baggins of the shire. He has to be english and chubby. They cannot make biblo another frodo cause bilbo is not frodo. Far from it.
Oh no, please…not spiderman…
Bilbo has to be played by an…I don’t know, but not by such an actor as Tobey Maguire…
Arn’t there any unknown actors? Unknown GOOD actors, who can play the part? It’s difficult to watch a movie if you have an imagination because of the book…and then somenone plays Bilbo, who is known as Spiderman…hello???
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sry for bad english. ^^
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his voice is his enemy, it still cracks. too bad they dont let holm play the character again, i know he is older now but still has a great voice. i guess you could give it to chief o’brien he is a good actor. that’s colm meaney for all you non star trek fans
Not Tobey Maguire…he’s terrible. He’s such a creapy spider-man.
get the old bilbo from lotr!
colm meaney should be bilbo his curlysh hair is hobbit like mine
tobey maguire have straight hair
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