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Friday
17Jul2009

Who Should Play Bilbo Baggins in 'The Hobbit'?

DateFriday, July 17, 2009 at 12:27PM
Three names have risen to the top of the pile of rumors concerning The Hobbit. The question, of course, is who will play Bilbo Baggins? Back in June, Guillermo Del Toro hinted that we were a few weeks away from learning his identity. Naturally, one would think Comic Con might be an ideal place to unveil the new Bilbo, especially since Hobbit producer and Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson is famously visiting the Con for the first time.

Jackson recently insisted there won't be an announcement next week, but the question will certainly come up. Recently, the Los Angeles Times asked its readers who among the rumored Bilbos is the best.

Right now - and appropriately, in my estimation - James McAvoy tops the poll with about 38% of the vote. David Tennant from Doctor Who has 30% of the vote, and amazingly enough, Ralph Nader still manages 2.5%. OK, not really. The other two candidates are Daniel Radcliffe and Jack Black. Now, it should be stressed that there's no information that any of them are involved in the The Hobbit; this is just Angelina-as-Catwoman stuff.

McAvoy was rumored about a year ago, after Wanted opened quite well and his film Atonement was nominated for a few Oscars. He's the best choice in my mind. I wouldn't mind Tennant giving it a run, either, but McAvoy makes way too much sense to me, maybe because it seemed like such a good fit a year ago.

I think we can discount Radcliffe, just because that's almost too much good fortune for one actor before he's 21, and Jack Black, although he has a history with Peter Jackson, is too old and too much like Jack Black for that role.

There is the very real possibility that none of these four guys will play the part. All we know from Del Toro is that there is apparently plenty of interest on both sides, but that the two sides haven't (or hadn't) specifically talked to each other, but only through intermediaries.

AuthorColin Boyd | | in , , , , , | Print ArticlePrint Article | | Comment11 Comments |

Reader Comments (11)

mcavoy.

end of story.

just let me know i'm right.

Friday, July 17, 2009 | Unregistered Commenterquin browne

Yeh, McAvoy is the ideal choice and therefore it may never happen.

Remember that Bilbo has no real character in the book. It's all about what happens around him.

Never mind. I'm sure del Toro will do a better job at Tolkien than Jackson, if he lets him, that is.

Friday, July 17, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterLengthy Johnson

Hmm. I was excited by the McAvoy idea at first, but I'm actually leaning towards Tennant now. He feels a bit quirkier to me (and older - not sure if that's reflected in reality but that's how I perceive him) and remember that Bilbo is a bit of an odd duck.

Radcliffe? Way too young. If LOTR came out now, maybe he'd have a shot at Frodo. Bilbo's not all THAT young when The Hobbit takes place, I don't think...

Jack Black = All wrong. Please no.

Friday, July 17, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterEva

What about Elijah Wood? Or would that be too confusing? Just make him up to look a little different, like they did with the two hugh jackmans in The Prestige.

Friday, July 17, 2009 | Unregistered Commenteranybody

Or maybe Ben Whishaw?

Friday, July 17, 2009 | Unregistered Commenteranybody

James McAvoy hands down. He not only has the acting chops to pull off the role, and become solely the character, but also he fits the best as a hobbit. Is there really a choice? I think he wins by a mile.

Saturday, July 18, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterVirginia

While I love McAvoy most, I think Radcliffe will look perfect as a hobbit. But do people forget 'Harry Potter Image' when they see him?

Saturday, July 18, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterJune

definitely james mcavoy. for sure. it can NOT be daniel radcliffe. he's freakin harry potter!

Thursday, July 23, 2009 | Unregistered Commentersarah

Everyone seems to be forgetting that when Bilbo set off for his quest he was 50 years old, not a teenager or young man and his looks had not yet been preserved as he had not yet the ring in his possession. I think that the best thing to do would be to cast an older but physically able unknown. Jackson knows Tolkiens material inside out so there will hardly be a problem with looks, and this way nobody will have any pre-conceived notion of whether or not they like the actor as there will be no previous performances to compare him too.

Monday, August 24, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterIJM

Hobbits live longer, so their fifties are not the same age as our fifties. James McAvoy is the next Bilbo hands down for me. I really do hope it's him, with his acting skills, he can pull it off in an older role with no problem. Why are people even talking about Daniel Radcliffe??? I agree with Sarah, he is Harry Potter and a teenager still!!!! keeping my fingers crossed for McAvoy!!

Wednesday, August 26, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterMishka

I would really like to see Sean william scot to be Bilbo :D
no just kidding, But the guy From Wanted, and Narnia, Mr Thumnas, He's really good, He kind os reminds me of bilbo, In narnia,..
I think would be the best Bilbo :D
But I know that Pj and Gullimero, are going to find someone thats not famouse, but fits the role Perfectly !
just like he did in The Lord of the Rings :D

Wednesday, September 16, 2009 | Unregistered Commenterwaag

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