Peter Jackson On Those Bilbo Rumours Exclusive: No plans on casting yet
It's being rumoured here and here that the casting of Bilbo Baggins for The Hobbit may be announced at Comic-Con next week. Daniel Radcliffe, James McAvoy and David Tennant are all rumoured to be in the running for the role - but according to what Peter Jackson told us when we spoke to him recently, the fans shouldn't be holding their breath for a 'Con announcement.
"No, we won’t be announcing Bilbo for a little while," he said when we asked about a Comic-Con announcement. "We’re starting to think about casting, but we’re knee-deep in the script right now. And when we do go to actors, they’re probably going to ask to see a script, so we’re powering ahead with getting the first draft done.”
We also asked him what he's planning to do next after The Lovely Bones, but he's not yet sure. "I haven’t yet decided what I’ll be directing after that. At the moment we’re concentrating on writing a couple of little movies with Guillermo [Del Toro]. A couple of small films! (Laughs) And that’s going to take us another few months of writing to do.
"But we are developing a couple of projects which are potentially films that I’d direct for next year. Temeraire is still on the cards. But those are really taking a second place at the moment..."
Temeraire, of course, is his mooted adaptation of Naomi Novik's fantasy-lit saga, in which French and English forces wage the Napoleonic wars with enormous battle-dragons. A heady blend of sea battles and bloody big monsters, we reckon it would be a perfect fit for the Lord Of The Rings director.
For more from Peter Jackson — on District 9, his thoughts on Temeraire and why he and Del Toro are currently obsessed with pixellated zombie Nazis — pick up the next issue of Empire, on sale July 30.
I had heard somewhere that michael sheen was a rumoured mr. baggins and think that would be fab! I can just imagine his little hobbit belly and hairy hobbit feet and he genuinely looks like a baggins. He is also a brilliant actor and should seriously be considered.
I think mcavoy and tennant are great but they shouldn't be baggins'; maybe a took or brandybuck!!!!!
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I just read the first Temeraire book last week. Damned good fun. Excellent summer reading. Essentially it's Sharpe with dragons (or maybe Hornblower, given the naval beginnings). The tone is more adventurous and less faux-literary than "Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell" by Susanna Clarke (another book that introduces fantasy elements into historical fiction).
A Jackson-directed (or produced) Temeraire film would definitely be great to see. ... Read More
I'd be happy to see James McAvoy cast as Bilbo.
Although I'm a fan of David Tennant - I've been a Dr Who fan for as long as I can remember - I agree with those others who have said that he just hasn't got the right look for the part.
How about Jamie Bamber? ... Read More
One does hope it's true as I'd love to see Neil Tennant having a go- a bit past his best perhaps but I'm sure his interpretation would be definitive. ... Read More
L: onyx79
If they wanted to keep the charm and looks of the LOTR characters, they should at the very least pick someone that looks like a younger version of Sir Ian Holm. No disrespect to the talented actor that is Mr Tennant, but I really believe he will not be suited to fill Bilbo's shoes as far as look is concerned.t Mr Jackson and Mr Del Toro will make an outstanding casting choice when the time is rightuote]
as McAvoy is it then yeah, they've made the correct choice. ... Read More
If they wanted to keep the charm and looks of the LOTR characters, they should at the very least pick someone that looks like a younger version of Sir Ian Holm. No disrespect to the talented actor that is Mr Tennant, but I really believe he will not be suited to fill Bilbo's shoes as far as look is concerned. I trust Mr Jackson and Mr Del Toro will make an outstanding casting choice when the time is right. ... Read More
