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David Tennant Linked To Bilbo Baggins Again

Published on: 22nd January, 2010

David Tennant Linked To Bilbo Baggins Again | read this item

Another day in Middle Earth, another Hobbit movie rumor. This latest one sees David Tennant yet again being linked with the part of Bilbo Baggins.

Follow the logic that’s giving rise to the rumor and see where you end up…

David Tennant made the news early yesterday for withdrawing his services from one of the leading roles in the movie Burke and Hare.

It then came to light that he was being replaced by Andy Serkis.

Simon Pegg then posts the following twitter:

“David Tennant had to drop out of B&H (Burke and Hare) but by sheer glorious serendipity a legend of Middle Earth and Skull Island has come aboard. Welcome AS (Andy Serkis)”

A bit vague I know but you can see why the rumor is probably going to gather pace through tomorrow and the weekend.

I was hanging fire with the story but then it came to light that Simon Pegg fairly quickly deleted the post from his Twitter account.

This fanned the flames rather than put out the burning embers. Was Pegg trying to be cryptic but not cryptic enough for Tennant’s liking?

TotalFilm were quick off the mark to raise the point that Tennant is at a point in his career that makes his walking away from a big movie like Burke and Hare at such a late stage a strange decision.

The point being that you really don’t want to be upsetting people in Hollywood unless of course you are walking away because you have been offered a far bigger part.

The first rumor about Tennant getting the Bilbo Baggins role surfaced back in July when it was announced he was quitting Dr. Who and also attending Comic-Con, as was Peter Jackson. An announcement was expected at the expo and then promptly failed to materialise.

Lets see how long this latest one runs for. I must admit I give more weight to this rumor than the earlier Tobey Maguire - Bilbo Baggins story. David Tennant being English British and a bit more Hobbit looking, it seems more feasible.

If its true then Simon Pegg is not going to be very popular down in New Zealand.

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Readers Comments

G.K says:

January 22, 2010 at 5:54 am

I sure hope this is rubbish. I like David Tennant but he is far too quirky to play Bilbo. He also doesnt have the bone structure at all. He’s way too skinny! If this rumor get’s shot down like the rest, then I am banking on Martin Freeman. Anyone else and I will be sorely dissapointed in this movie. With all the other rumors going down in flames, Martin Freeman is absolutely perfect! FREEMAN FTW!

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Garanid Reply:
January 23rd, 2010 at 6:35 am
Martin Freeman? I’d have to disagree with you there, mate.

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Glenn Reply:
January 24th, 2010 at 3:00 am
@Garanid, Umm… seriously, leave the dalak at home.

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bleh Reply:
January 31st, 2010 at 2:13 pm
@G.K, i think that although david tennant is possibly the best actor ever, he wouldnt be able to play the part as well as others. tbh why dont they get the guy who did it in tlotr to do it again..

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SonyaH. says:

January 22, 2010 at 7:36 am

I approve. I’ve seen Tennant work and he’s freaking brilliant. Funny, nice accent, hobbit like. Yes. Much better han McGuire.

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wm says:

January 22, 2010 at 8:26 am

David Tennant is not English. He’s Scottish. Please learn the difference.

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The Hobbit Reply:
January 22nd, 2010 at 2:01 pm
@wm, Being a Manx Celt I’m fully aware of the differences thanks very much. I meant he can play English as in he soon dropped the accent for the Dr. Who part.

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steve kent says:

January 22, 2010 at 10:02 am

David Tennant would be a far better choice for Bilbo than Tobey. He is a great actor and looks half way to hobbit already - stop hiding those big hairy feet, David!

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Gandalfs Beard says:

January 22, 2010 at 11:04 am

When the Tennant rumour originally broke, I thought he had the Accent and the Chops to pull the role off, but not similar looking enough to Holm for purposes of continuity.

However, I am such a big fan of his Dr Who (he and Eccleston are probably my faves next to Tom Baker), that I could get over that pretty quick. He can certainly spin from Zany Humour to Drama on a dime.

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Smeagol's Precioussss says:

January 22, 2010 at 11:37 am

What about Simon Pegg as Bilbo? He know’s Jackson from Hot-Fuzz and it hobbity…

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lady dame says:

January 22, 2010 at 3:46 pm

I love David Tennant & have read the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings more times then I can count! I would enjoy seeing Tennant play Bilbo, I think he is a talented actor and would do a wonderful job in the role!

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Julius says:

January 22, 2010 at 4:27 pm

I think that he should totaly be suitable for “The Hobbit” movie, he “can be” bilbo if using a mask (what John Rhys-Davies used to play Gimli) and he will fit for a hobbit because he is thin and when they shrink him down a bit, he going to look beauteful!
Not as Tobey Maguire (spiderman). I dont like him he do not fit in the hobbit movie, its like but Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter) as him, me not like.Thanks!

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SonyaH. Reply:
January 30th, 2010 at 6:22 pm
@Julius, I totally agree. They’ll have him in prostetics for the ears and feet anyways, what’s a few extra? One on the nose to get it right, and we may have our selfves a well to do young hobbit.

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Eldorion says:

January 22, 2010 at 5:29 pm

How many times has this rumour come up, and how many times has it been dismissed? My feeling is that since Tenant hasn’t been confirmed yet and PJ said in response to the Tobey Maguire rumour that they were still a month or two away from a decision, this rumour is just that - a rumour, and nothing more.

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kyle potts says:

January 22, 2010 at 5:35 pm

David Tennant is not English he is Scottish.

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Julius says:

January 22, 2010 at 11:31 pm

I think its Soo nice to see Andy Serkis in middle earth, that means a better gollum for ex!

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JM says:

January 23, 2010 at 8:32 pm

Tennant is farrr too skinny, and farrrrr too young to play Bilbo. However, in saying that, so was Wood - in both cases, but I can’t read Lord of the Rings now without seeing him as Frodo. It worked.

With a pinch of artistic license, I think Tennant would make a superb Bilbo.

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Devon says:

January 30, 2010 at 9:27 pm

This might sound dumb, but I know exactly who will play Bilbo Baggins. And this person is not at all in the age range of the actors you’re all considering. In fact, this man is nearly 80 years old. And I’m sure most of you have heard of him and would easily recognize him.

Bilbo Baggins will played by none other than the amazing Ian Holm, the actor who originated the part in Lord of the Rings. My source at WETA Digital, who will remain unnamed, confirmed this. But if you check out the Q&A Peter Jackson and James Cameron at did at CC International, you can begin to connect the dots.

Jackson and Cameron both use WETA Digital in their films. It was WETA, along with AS, who created the amazing digital character of Gollum back in 2002 for TTT. And it was when Cameron saw this, he knew he could finally make Avatar. Anyway these are men who like to push the boundaries of digital effects and film making techniques and they seem to keep in contact.

If you read the interview (links at bottom), Cameron continuously praises Jackson and his film trilogy. Towards the end, he begins to talk a great deal about the digital technology they both employ in their movies. And one of the points he makes that he really tries to push home is how with this new tech, we can actually de-age actors.

He gives the example of Clint Eastwood playing Dirty Harry again and looking exactly like he did in the 70s, but it is his performance and his voice driving the character.

Is this just a coincidence that this is one of the big things on James Cameron’s mind whilst chatting with the Hobbit producer? Don’t you think James would have the inside track on his favorite effects shops next project? Was Cameron so excited by this possibility that he couldn’t keep it to himself? Maybe he already knows the first time we can see this technique in practice.

Read the interview mentioned above by clicking here

Listen to it by clicking here

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EmilyL says:

February 2, 2010 at 12:54 am

Wow, are you sure? I thought he was supposed to look younger but perhaps not. I just remembered in the movie he looked about the same age as later. But seriously, Spiderman=Bilbo? I do not think so…

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Paul B says:

March 3, 2010 at 9:35 pm

I think this could be avery clver ploy and Simon Pegg is getting the part, he is easily as good an actor as Tennant, if not better.

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mike says:

March 7, 2010 at 9:03 pm

This guy as Bilbo would be a disaster, I’ve tried to watch Dr. Who on netflix and this guy was the goofiest, worst actor. I couldn’t watch more than 4 minutes of any given episode because of him. At least Tobey can keep it low-key and subtle, and let the environment make the movie, this guy could play golum maybe(not as well as Andy anyway), not Bilbo.

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Kala Reply:
March 11th, 2010 at 7:05 pm
@mike, if you’ve only seen 4 minutes of a Doctor Who episode then you definitely haven’t seen David’s full acting ability. 4 minutes isn’t enough to judge ANY actor. He’s been in other roles before (not just Doctor Who) and he can play a very serious character. For you to say he would be a “disaster” as Bilbo is a bit harsh, considering you don’t even know his acting ability.

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g says:

March 14, 2010 at 10:38 pm

plz not david tennant plzzzzzz he stopped me watching dr who, total overactor u may as well get jim carey to play bilbo….ian holm wood be best choice but too old i fear……

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