Filmstalker: Del Toro and Jackson know who their Bilbo is

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Del Toro and Jackson know who their Bilbo is

Over the weekend we heard what Peter Jackson, and Guillermo Del Toro had to say on The Hobbit and it's sequel. And now Guillermo Del Toro is teasing us even more, by saying that they have agreed who their first choice is to play Bilbo.

Trouble is he's not being very forthcoming about who it is. Isn't it a little early in the day to be teasing us?

Empire spoke to Guillermo Del Toro after the web chat, and asked him about the casting of Bilbo in The Hobbit:

We are writing based on [Ian Holm's performance], but other than that, we have ideas [of who could play him]. I can tell you that it's down to a few names that we all agree upon. And that our first choice...completely, magically, we said the same name. All of us!

Arrgh. Given that we probably won't get any definite casting information for about a year, that's just plain cruel. Anybody fancy taking a guess who it is?

Written by Louise McGregor on May 27, 2008 | Permalink

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Comments

I'd like to see Ian Holm stick with it. Those familiar with the books will know that the one ring pretty much stops aging so that Bilbo (who was in his 50's at the time of the Hobbit) should in theory look the same in the Hobbit as he does in LOTR.

Posted by: LardAss | May 28, 2008 1:20 PM

I have voiced my opinion several times that they should really go for Simon Russell Beale to play Bilbo Baggins. I really couldn't think of anybody else.

Posted by: Simone | May 28, 2008 1:50 PM

I suppose the problem is, that Ian Holm will look older when it's filmed than at the start of LOTR. If only they'd filmed them to other way round! I wonder what wizardry they could work though, no pun intended.

Good choice Simone, only problem is we've got a year to wait to find out if they agree!

Posted by: Louise | May 28, 2008 8:59 PM

You're right Louise. I wonder who it is though if it isn't Simon Russell Beale. Hmmmm...

By the way, have you seen his work before?

Posted by: Simone | May 29, 2008 1:04 AM

Hi Simone,

Only really remember him from Blackadder Back & Forth. But that was a long time ago now. Anything more recent I should be checking out in particular?

Posted by: Louise | May 29, 2008 12:54 PM

I haven't seen any Blackadder episodes you know? Should I bother? He's also in Jane Austen's Persuasion and Anthony Powell's A Dance to the Music of Time. He's doing more stage work than tv really but I think his acting career started at the Traverse in Edinburgh. Louise, can you tell I am an insanely besotted?

Posted by: Simone | May 29, 2008 3:24 PM

Typo. I meant insanely besotted. Ignore the an before. :P

Posted by: Simone | May 29, 2008 3:26 PM

I did notice you had a small liking for him...He was only in the one special episode I think. Blackadder rocks though.

Posted by: Louise | May 29, 2008 4:09 PM

Oh believe me it's more than small liking Louise!

I just added that episode to my rental queue and I'll let you know what I think! ;)

Posted by: Simone | May 29, 2008 4:19 PM