James McAvoy Denies 'Hobbit' Rumors

To quote the great Slim Pickens from Blazing Saddles, "Well, I am dee-pressed." James McAvoy, who was thought to be among the top names in the running for the role of Bilbo Baggins in the Peter Jackson-Guillermo del Toro Hobbit due in a couple of years, has told Collider that he has not been cast or anything close to it.  At the London junket for Wanted, McAvoy acknowledged the bountiful Bilbo Baggins buzz, saying, "It's not true by the way, it's all internet rumoring and nothing else I'm afraid. Sorry." Now, that may or may not mean he's completely out of the picture. Sure, McAvoy's star is clearly on the rise but what compelling reason would he have for not at least entertaining the offer for a little while, if not taking it outright? We know it's only going to be two films and we know, based on a recent internet chat with the filmmakers, that they'll be filmed concurrently. So unless he just doesn't like the material, I can't see what better offers McAvoy would have at the moment. I still think he'd be my top choice and I doubt we've heard the very last of this, just the latest.