Rumor Patrol: Did Martin Freeman Pass on Bilbo?

Just a few hours ago, we mentioned that The Daily Star is slightly more reputable than its British tabloid brother, The Sun. As if on cue, here's a casting rumor from The Sun, picked up by The One Ring. If it's The One Ring, of course, we know that means Middle Earth, and that probably means casting for The Hobbit. In this case - as opposed to, say, Eddie Murphy as The Riddler or Cher as Catwoman - this is one rumor that makes a lot of sense. How about Martin Freeman (the original Office and the forgettable Hitchhiker's Guide movie) as Bilbo Baggins? I kind of like that, actually. Unfortunately, the rumor is that Freeman can't take the gig because of his work on Sherlock. Not the movie, no. Freeman plays Dr. Watson in the new BBC series about the master detective, who is played by Benedict Cumberbatch, possessor of both a great British name and a great British face (you'll know him as soon as you see him). The series, incidentally, is contemporary, not Victorian. Anyway, because of the shooting schedule for the series, Freeman is apparently unavailable for The Hobbit, something for which I don't think I knew he was even on the dartboard. “It was one of the most difficult decisions of his career. MGM, who are making the film, only got a formal offer over in the last couple of weeks," said..."a source." "It was too late for Martin because he had already signed up for another series of Sherlock. It was agonising but he had no other choice.” Again, it's The Sun, and although The One Ring is a great source for Hobbit news, those guys are kind of obligated to run with something like this. I wouldn't have except for the fact that it's a terrific Hobbit rumor. I like the choice. If there's anything to it, I guess the best that can be said about it is that it shows some progress on the casting front as well as when it might go into production. Could be nothing, though. But maybe there can be more Hobbit delays and Freeman could take the role, after all. It's a big commitment - about 18 months - but you always hope for the best actors for something like this, and I would be really interested in what Freeman could do with it.

Comments

[Bez]

I liked reading the fact that one can apparently have a great British face. It's very true, especially about old Eggs.