There were times, during the darker moments of The Hobbit development that many of us started to think it might never happen. Helping us through those long nights of the soul was the belief that one day, maybe just one day, we’ll get to see an image of the eventual cast gathered together. Well, that day is this day. While none of them are in costume, it’s just good to see the likes of Martin Freeman, Aidan Turner, James Nesbitt, Richard Armitage (lurking in the back like a naughty school child), Graham McTavish, Jed Brophy and the rest hanging out together during the first official press conference for the cast. You can watch a snippet of the conference itself at the Stuff site. Notable by his absence: Peter Jackson, who is under orders to stay at home to recuperate following surgery to repair a perforated ulcer. Naturally, the actors (particularly Freeman) took the opportunity to gently rib their director, with the Man Who Will Be Bilbo describing Jackson as “rich as Croesus.” Someone’s getting 4:30am calls to work when they start, we fear. 
Talking of the shoot, it’ll all gear up starting March 21 at Jackson’s Stone Street studios and location shooting around New Zealand… | 
