The first names in the cast of Peter Jackson's The Hobbit have been announced. Martin Freeman will play Bilbo Baggins, the hobbit whose adventures and discovery of the One Ring led to The Lord of the Rings. He replaces Sir Ian Holm.
"Despite the various rumors and speculation surround this role, there has only ever been one Bilbo Baggins for us," Peter Jackson told Deadline.com. "There are a few times in your career when you come across an actor who you know was born to play a role, but that was the case as soon as I met Martin. He is intelligent, funny, surprising and brave ― exactly like Bilbo and I feel incredibly proud to be able to announce that he is our Hobbit."
The casting was announced by New Line Cinema COO/president Toby Emmerich, Warner Bros COO/president Alan Horn, MGM co-CEO Steve Cooper, and Jackson.
Jackson has also cast several significant dwarf characters. Richard Armitage will be Thorin Oakenshield, leader of the Company of Dwarves; Aidan Turner and Rob Kazinsky will play Kili and Fili respectively, members of the Company of Dwarves. Also, Graham McTavish is Dwalin; John Callen is Oin; Stephen Hunter will be Bombur; Mark Hadlow will be Dori; and Peter Hambleton is Gloin.
The Hobbit, based on JRR Tolkien's work of the same name, will be shot in two back-to-back installments. The project will begin shooting in February for release in December 2012 and December 2013.
The first part of the film may also feature Cate Blanchett as Galadriel, Hugo Weaving as Elrond, Ian McKellen as Gandalf, Andy Serkis making his return as Gollum and former Doctor Who star Sylvester McCoy as Radagast, according to the Daily Mail.
