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Picture Him. Only Smaller.

By TK | Posted Under Trade News | Comments (69)

penelope_movie_image_james_mcavoy.jpgGuillermo Del Toro, Hellboy 2 notwithstanding, is on something of a hot streak. His next film, J.R.R. Tolkein’s The Hobbit, is likely going to be his biggest challenge. Considering the massive success of Peter Jackson’s (who is producing The Hobbit) Lord of the Rings trilogy (which I adore, and Dustin hates because he has no soul and drowned his inner child long ago), he’s going to have to hit it out of the park. That said, if I had to pick a director to take good care of “The Hobbit” and it’s adaptation to the big screen, it’s hard to argue with Del Toro as the choice.

Anyway, casting rumors now abound, as they are wont to do. Of course, the biggest part is that of young Bilbo Baggins, and apparently there are three actors in the running: James McAvoy (Wanted), Daniel Radcliffe (who was in some movie about wizards. I dunno, it didn’t do very well and few people are interested in it), and David Tennant (BBC TV’s “Dr. Who”).

Honestly, I can’t bitch about any of them. They’re all British, which is a bonus. They’re all decent-to-very-good actors. And given the digital manipulation that takes place in the LotR movies, it doesn’t really matter if they’re too tall or too short or whatever. So there you have it. Trade news that doesn’t make me want to gut someone.

I know. I’m weirded out by that too.

The Hobbit will be a two-part film, to be released in 2011 and 2012. So we’ve got a minimum of two to three years of speculation and complaining ahead of us.









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Comments

mmmmmcavoy

Posted by: gp at July 17, 2009 9:49 AM

mmmmmcavoy

Posted by: gp at July 17, 2009 9:49 AM


seconded.

Posted by: missh at July 17, 2009 9:54 AM

I think I'd prefer McAvoy or Tennant to Radcliffe. I like young Mr. Potter and all, but first of all, I think he's *too* young for Bilbo, and secondly, as I said I like him, but I don't know that he's got those chops. I mean, yeah, it's the Hobbit, not Shakespeare, but Bilbo has certain characteristics, a certain type of goofiness, I think, that I don't see Radcliffe pulling off that I *can* see McAvoy or Tennant doing.

Posted by: Anna von Beaverplatz at July 17, 2009 9:59 AM

wait a tic--Dustin doesn't like the LotR trilogy?

I concur, TK. He must not have a soul.

Posted by: lizzieborden at July 17, 2009 10:00 AM

McAvoy is the obvious choice: he's practically hobbit-like already (I just don't get the sex symbol thing with him).
Radcliffe would just type-cast himself forever into sci-fi which would be a huge mistake.
Tennant doesn't have to worry about type-casting given his resume but he is way too good looking to be a hobbit.

Posted by: PaddyDog at July 17, 2009 10:07 AM

AvB, I agree with you on a preference for McAvoy or Tennant.

Plus, the young Scot has the most gorgeousest eyes since, like, ever.

Posted by: lizzieborden at July 17, 2009 10:07 AM

I'd love to see David Tennant get more work but I don't think he's right for the role. I imagined Bilbo as doughier.

Posted by: Optimus Rhyme at July 17, 2009 10:08 AM

I'd pass on Radcliffe. I really don't think he's got the range.

Give Dustin a break Liz, he's got a soul. He just keeps it in a small, thoroughly cleansed mashed carrot jar in his nightstand. He only lets it out on special occassions when he doesn't have to be all growed up.

Posted by: admin at July 17, 2009 10:08 AM

Actually now that I think of it Eddie Marsan (driving instructor in Happy Go Lucky) would be a perfect Bilbo but obviously doesn't have the commercial appeal so not going to happen.

Posted by: PaddyDog at July 17, 2009 10:10 AM

Yeah, see, I think all of them are too good looking and I agree with Paddy about the doughy-ness of Bilbo. He's a round, squat little thing, isn't he?

Posted by: Anna von Beaverplatz at July 17, 2009 10:13 AM

I do love McAvoy for the part but I'm afraid seeing him as a hobbit might kill my need to rip his clothes off and....

Posted by: Amy at July 17, 2009 10:14 AM

I could actually see Nick Frost in the role, actually.

Though McAvoy does have really pretty eyes...

Posted by: Anna von Beaverplatz at July 17, 2009 10:15 AM

Oops, that was OR. Sorry buddy! I agree with *Optimus* about the doughy-ness.

Posted by: Anna von Beaverplatz at July 17, 2009 10:17 AM

McAvoy, no question.

I find it hard to believe that they would want to cast Harry Potter in another fantasy franchise, hot on the heals of Deathly Hallows-mania. Just doesn't make any sense to me. And if I were him, I wouldn't touch this with a 10 foot cattle prod.

McAvoy is a great actor, not eminently recognizable, and looks the role. He even looks like he could be Elijah Woods' uncle.

Posted by: logar at July 17, 2009 10:17 AM

I imagined Bilbo as doughier.

Same here. Much more Sam Gamgee then Frodo. So I am not excited about any of these choices unless the choose to put on some weight Damon-style for this.

I think Del Toro will do a good, maybe even great, job. I'm already sick of his signature monsters though. They were really cool and interesting in Hellboy, worked perfectly in Pan's Labyrinth, but lost their novelty by Hellboy II. I hope they stick with LOTR style creatures. If Gollum winds up with eyes in his hands, I will burn the theater down.

Posted by: ed newman at July 17, 2009 10:22 AM

There's always makeup and fat suits, though I doubt that Del Toro would turn Tolkien's work into The Norbbit.

Posted by: branded at July 17, 2009 10:25 AM

Someone else altogether really, although I wouldn't mind sitting through 6+ hours of either Tennant or McAvoy. NOT POTTER! I'm sorry but he's not really that good an actor (I haven't seen the new HP yet, so maybe he's got better?). I can't remember what Bilbo looks like since that book was a torturous read and I promptly forgot everything about it on finishing. I had to! Otherwise my mind would have burned up in a metacrisis of epic proportion.

Posted by: Carrie at July 17, 2009 10:25 AM

I don't know why they don't just stick with Ian Holm, and just cgi/makeup away the wrinkles, like was done for the flashbacks in the first movie.

Posted by: cockroach at July 17, 2009 10:26 AM

ooooh, Nick Frost would be a great Bilbo! Let's start a casting rumor that he'll be Bilbo!

He just keeps it in a small, thoroughly cleansed mashed carrot jar in his nightstand. He only lets it out on special occassions when he doesn't have to be all growed up.

Hey! How did you know where I keep my... oh, you were talking about Dustin. My bad. I'm just going to grab... this little jar here... and mosey along. Nothing to see here folks. No souls in jars with little axes etched into them. Nope. None at all.

Posted by: lizzieborden at July 17, 2009 10:27 AM

Call me crazy, but I can also see (with a little meat on his bones) Henry Ian Cusick in there as well.

Posted by: logar at July 17, 2009 10:28 AM

Aren't all hobbits "round, squat little things"? Frankly, I've always found the hobbits to be the worst reflections of Tolkien's conservatism. The little shire people reflected rural, uneducated England and as such they had to have exaggerated "peasant" features and basic interests (similarly the dwarves are unsophisticated and simple), while the higher orders (elves, wizards) are beautiful, tall elegant creatures.

Posted by: PaddyDog at July 17, 2009 10:28 AM

logar, you're crazy.

Posted by: branded at July 17, 2009 10:31 AM

Paddydog:higher orders (elves, wizards) are beautiful, tall elegant creatures.
Hugo Weaving and Ian McKellan are beautiful?

Posted by: cockroach at July 17, 2009 10:33 AM

"The little shire people reflected rural, uneducated England and as such they had to have exaggerated "peasant" features and basic interests (similarly the dwarves are unsophisticated and simple), while the higher orders (elves, wizards) are beautiful, tall elegant creatures.

Obviously, that's because short people are stupid. Just like Randy Newman said.

Posted by: Sean at July 17, 2009 10:35 AM

Cockroach:

Compared with hobbits? Yes.

Posted by: PaddyDog at July 17, 2009 10:35 AM

PaddyDog, you're 100% correct. I'm starting the movement to get Jorge Garcia the role of Bilbo Baggins! Round, squat, befuddled.... Perfect!

Posted by: logar at July 17, 2009 10:36 AM

I have to go with McAvoy on this one. Lord knows I love me some Tennant, but he is too lanky and good-looking to be a hobbit.

Posted by: Kiddo at July 17, 2009 10:36 AM

As much as I love Dan Rad as Harry (and thoroughly enjoyed him in Equus and My Boy Jack) I agree that The Hobbit would be career suicide. Thus far he has chosen roles very far from Harry and the fantasy world. Something he has to do if he is ever gonna be anything other that Harry Potter.

With Tennant honestly I don't know much about him. He did good work with the one scene he was giving in hp 4 though. But he really doesn't look the part in my opinion.

McAvoy however is a great choice. I found little sex appeal in him when he was Mr. Tumnus so I'm not worried about that aspect of it. I think he may only be truly delicious to the hipsters and fangirls (boys) in this neck of the woods. He has a great range and a good amount of commercial appeal after the atrocious Wanted.

Posted by: Avery at July 17, 2009 10:36 AM

Sean:

That's exactly what I'm referring too. They are intended to be stupid and uncurious. Bilbo is such a hero because he was curious enough to venture outside the shire (similarly Frodo), but Tolkien didn't want all hobbits opting to migrate to the big time. He wanted his happy dim-witted rural peasants staying just where they were perpetuating his vision of this innocent rural class while the smart people kept running things. I love the books on a fantasy level, but on a class-ism level, they're pretty patronising.

Posted by: PaddyDog at July 17, 2009 10:42 AM

Cockroach has a point, I would love it if they stuck with Ian Holm. And why do they need somebody so damn young? Bilbo was at least in his fifties when he had most of his adventures, wasn't he?

And David Tennant is WAY too hot to be a hobbit.

Posted by: Anne (in Reno) at July 17, 2009 10:43 AM

PaddyDog: Though I've never really considered that aspect of the saga, I do see your point.

"He has a great range and a good amount of commercial appeal after the atrocious Wanted."

Better watch your tongue there, lest you find yourself smothered in some actress' ample buttocks.

Posted by: Sean at July 17, 2009 10:47 AM

He's a round, squat little thing, isn't he?

Well they eat and drink beer all goddamn day!

And McAvoy already got to be Leto II.

Posted by: Jay at July 17, 2009 10:50 AM

They won't use Ian Holm because he will be 79 by the time filming begins and their insurance to cover starting over if he should ahem, "depart for other shores" during filming, would be huge.

Posted by: PaddyDog at July 17, 2009 10:51 AM

some actress' ample buttocks.

Eh?

Posted by: Jay at July 17, 2009 10:53 AM

simon pegg

Posted by: jasper at July 17, 2009 10:58 AM

"They’re all decent-to-very-good actors."

Radcliffe, a decent actor? Ha ha ha!

Posted by: Agent Scully at July 17, 2009 10:59 AM

There's always makeup and fat suits, though I doubt that Del Toro would turn Tolkien's work into The Norbbit.

Baaaaahaha. I don't really have anything to add to this conversation other than that.

ALthough Ricky Gervais is kind of Hobbit-like. That's a version of the story I'd actually want to see.

Posted by: Geetch at July 17, 2009 11:23 AM

Radcliffe, a decent actor? Ha ha ha!

I have no idea what the Bilbo of "The Hobbit" is like (I'm physically incapable of reading Tolkien's work), but I will say that Radcliffe has fantastic comic timing. He has the dramatic range of a hatstand, but give him even remotely funny lines and he can sell the hell out of them. So if Bilbo's kinda goofy, as AvonB says, then he might be up to it. It's kinda immaterial though, given that his non-Potter choices just scream "Look at me! I'm not Harry Potter, I'm an actual actor! Look at how naked with a horse I am! Do you see? DO YOU SEE?" There's no way in hell he'd do this.

Posted by: Shay at July 17, 2009 11:34 AM

Hugo Weaving and Ian McKellan are beautiful?

Yes.

He wanted his happy dim-witted rural peasants staying just where they were perpetuating his vision of this innocent rural class while the smart people kept running things.

They were pretty keen on not leaving the Shire themselves -- no one was stopping them -- and they were suspicious of anyone from Beyond. Of course, Tolkien controlled the narrative, and if they had left they would have been eaten by trolls or enslaved, so I can see it being read as a self-serving cautionary tale from the ruling class: "Stay in your peat huts and squeeze out more weed, ale, and little hobbits. We'll take care of the big, wide world."

Sometimes the conservatives do get it right after all. Huh.

Posted by: socalledonlycousins at July 17, 2009 11:41 AM

Socalled has set me thinking. If there were a later book, let's say Frodo's great grandson, how freaky (or not) would the hobbits look at that point? Never leave the shire means eventual dilution of the gene pool and Common Founder Effect kicks in which amounts to unintentional in-breeding. Perhaps the hobbits would have started to mutate into taller, less hirsutically-challenged people? Or they could go in the other direction and end up like the creatures under the bed in the Appalachian episode of the X-Files (yes, I know I have an obsession with that episode).

Posted by: PaddyDog at July 17, 2009 11:48 AM

Gandalf would have begun experimenting on them by introducing odd external genes into the pool from dragons and Tom Bombadil's bastard offspring. Within a few hundred years they would have had kickstand penises and enormous hooters, with fire shooting from the men's nipples and beer from the women's.

Posted by: socalledonlycousins at July 17, 2009 11:56 AM

Wow! Hitting the single malt early today? Can I join you?

Posted by: PaddyDog at July 17, 2009 12:04 PM

emmanuel lewis.
little dude waited his whole life for this opp.
well, this, or fantasy island 2010 with jackie mason playing mr. rourke.

Posted by: celery at July 17, 2009 12:12 PM

I must be the only person on this site that doesn't find David Tennant attractive. And his googly eyed mugging as Doctor Who doesn't encourage much confidence in his acting ability either.

Posted by: snapnhiss at July 17, 2009 12:23 PM

His name is The Doctor.

Posted by: Jay at July 17, 2009 12:29 PM

Oooh, can I delurk to second the Ricky Gervais nom? All kidding aside, he can act, he's got the right "look" for the role, and he obviously has the ability to appear vastly put out by the imposition of being dragged on an adventure. MacAvoy has the chops (and my heart), but he's far too young to be Bilbo. Ian Holm would be brilliant, but he might just be too old for the part. I hate it when they CGI away the years. It never looks right, and it's worse when they try to add years & pounds to an actor.
On a slightly different note - they are not even considering recasting Sir Ian as Gandalf, correct? Because if anything is going to get the rage flowing...

Posted by: Tae at July 17, 2009 12:44 PM

Obviously, that's because short people are stupid.
Posted by: Sean at July 17, 2009 10:35 AM

Don't make me kick you in the shins, Sean. Wee, purple bruises I'll leave!

Posted by: Lainey at July 17, 2009 12:44 PM

"Don't make me kick punch you in the shins, Sean. Wee, purple bruises I'll leave!"

There. Fixed that for you, runt.

Posted by: TK at July 17, 2009 12:46 PM

I'd pass on Radcliffe. I really don't think he's got the range.

Actually, after seeing him on Broadway I'd say he has great range. I'm not sure why he plays Harry so quietly.

I do agree with everyone though that Radcliffe would be wise to pass on this role, and I'd guess Del Toro wouldn't want such a well known. Maybe he can find a way to make up Doug Jones again.

Posted by: Cindy at July 17, 2009 12:55 PM

Yes, Bilbo was "middle-aged" by the human scale when he undertook his journey, but the life expectancy for hobbits is longer than that for humans, so it makes sense to cast an actor in his 20s or 30s. Or at least that's my understanding of Middle-Earth.

Radcliffe seems too young, though, without doing a major rewrite on the role. Just because a fifty-year-old hobbit is twentysomething in human years does not mean that he hasn't picked up the maturity that fifty years affords.

I think Tennant and McAvoy would both be good, although I prefer the former, just because Tennant deserves more attention.

Posted by: DarthCorleone at July 17, 2009 12:58 PM

Bah. Bilbo can't be some dapper cute british bimbo. He has to be all schlobby and fat and just completely regular looking. McAvoy would be compeltely wrong. I don't want to get funny feelings about Bilbo Frakkin' Baggins. He's BILBO. The biggest hobbit loser! he's fat! and lazy! and homely! and NOT FUCKING JAMES MACAVOY. WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE?!

And Tennant looks like an orc, so give him that part. Oh, fuck off. You know it's true.

I nominate Martin Freeman. Everyone else can fuck off.

Posted by: figgy at July 17, 2009 1:07 PM

Gah this makes me so angry.

I'm going to start a campaign if Tennant or McAvoy are cast. Just fucking NO. It's so WRONG. WRONG AND SINFUL and WRONG.

The Tolkien fan in me is going all Hulk. Because grr.

Posted by: figgy at July 17, 2009 1:22 PM

I nominate Martin Freeman. Everyone else can fuck off.

I hope you don't mean that to mean that Martin is ugly. I certainly like him better than bad-hair-choices up there. Otherwise I support your nomination.

Posted by: Jay at July 17, 2009 1:34 PM

No, he's adorable, cute and dorky. Like Bilbo should be.

I knew you'd agree. All these other people are clearly out of their minds and don't deserve Tolkien.

Posted by: figgy at July 17, 2009 1:36 PM

I couldn't love Tennant more, but he is not a hobbit, No way, no how. Besides, I don't think he could shake The Doctor identity quickly enough. I would feel like I was watching a really long Doctor Who episode: 'There may be dragons' Wherein the Tardis is in the shop, the sonic screwdriver is on the fritz, and the Doctor's awesome clothes are at the cleaners, forcing him to have an adventure amongst the over sized inhabitants of middle earth.

Posted by: Lindsey with an 'e' at July 17, 2009 2:04 PM

Someone said Nick Frost, I think that would be great.
Or Simon Pegg, I love them both.
Is it obvious I've been watching Spaced on a constant loop?

Tim Bisley is my latest secret boyfriend.

Posted by: myysharona (formerly Sharon) at July 17, 2009 3:00 PM

I would comment more but I'm still too bruised from falling off my chair laughing at TK's comment a couple of hours ago.

Posted by: PaddyDog at July 17, 2009 3:33 PM

I'm fully prepared to believe Radcliffe has all kinds of range, but Bilbo is the wrong role for him. Someone mentioned him playing Harry really subdued, and I think that makes sense. Not to hijack the thread, but Harry's an abused orphan who doesn't have many friends and who has the weight of saving the world on his shoulders. He's used to being quiet thanks to his years of near-imprisonment at the hands of the Dursley's.

McAvoy is by far the best choice, in my opinion. But, PaddyDog, I don't think that hobbits are painted as stupid in the book. They're not intellectuals, but they're not dumb. Let's not forget it's really the hobbits who save the day, not the educated Elves or even Men.

The classism lense is interesting though.

Posted by: Suz at July 17, 2009 3:58 PM

I think McAvoy could do it, but I second (third?) the Martin Freeman nomination. Also, I think Michael Sheen could pull it off brilliantly, but that may just be because I think Michael Sheen can do anything.

Posted by: kyle at July 17, 2009 4:08 PM

Yeah, it's not going to be Daniel Radcliffe, and I can't say that I have a problem with that, because I don't think he's much of an actor at all. McAvoy, on the other hand, is awesome. Did you see Atonement? Fucking AWESOME.

Posted by: Christian H. at July 17, 2009 4:56 PM

I nominate Martin Freeman. Everyone else can fuck off.

OOOOOOOOh. I will totally fourth that, figgy. Good call.

And I do hope they bring back Sir Ian as Gandalf, that's a good point. I am a big fan of his Gandalf, that was some genius casting the first time around.

Posted by: Anne (in Reno) at July 17, 2009 5:38 PM

Plus I highly doubt that Radcliffe would EVER do it. The kid was already in a major franchise. Being in two just dooms you into boring people. Look at Christopher Lee after LOTR and Star Wars. Bad, bad move.

And knowing Jackson he'd never cast James McAvoy. It makes no sense at all. Just because he was good enough for Narnia don't mean he'll fit into Middle Earth.

And the Tennant suggestion is a joke. Not even remotely plausible.

My guess is they'll go with an unknown, though I still vote for Freeman.

Posted by: figgy at July 17, 2009 5:53 PM

Figgy, have you seen Christopher Lee's filmography? It's longer than Ron Jeremy's dick, or perhaps Rowles' list of bangable males. Don't go knocking him just because he wasn't widely know before the major blockbusters.

Posted by: Suz at July 17, 2009 6:10 PM

Ugh, I meant to say "widely known." Sorry.

Posted by: Suz at July 17, 2009 7:15 PM

I know he's had a very busy career, but being in two big franchises at once will just make you look bad, I think. Made him look bad to me, anyway. It's a stupid move and no one should do it. And for Radcliffe to go from Harry Potter to another fantasy franchise would be moronic to say the least.

Posted by: figgy at July 17, 2009 8:04 PM

I don't necessarily agree with your reading of classism in Tolkien, but it's been a few years since I read any of it. However, I do seem to recall that the hobbits were respectful keepers of the earth, and as his Christian perspective seemed very much one about stewardship of God's planet, that may be somewhat more of a positive take than fat, simple peasants. But hell, what do I know? It's been at least 7 years.

Posted by: Ariel at July 17, 2009 10:45 PM

Also, McAvoy is hottttttttttt.

Posted by: Ariel at July 17, 2009 10:46 PM

The Martin Freeman suggestion is a good one, and I don't know if this is redundant, but someone has already done a mock up poster featuring him.

http://www.herr-der-ringe-film.de/v2/media/galerie/sonstiges10/HobbitFakePoster.jpg

Posted by: igor at July 18, 2009 7:47 AM

Bilbo was 50 and fat and a confirmed bachelor. Read "no sex appeal." I just don't see any of these three in the role. Then again, Frodo was also supposed to be 50, and look who they cast.

I love Tennant, but cannot see that tall, painfully skinny man as a short fat hobbit. Radcliff can't act. (I just saw Potter 6: Broomstick In My Pants, and Rupert Grint and Tom Felton outacted Radcliff by a mile.) MacAvoy, maybe, but still too young, in my book.

Posted by: BWeaves at July 20, 2009 8:49 AM