Tobey Maguire will not fill the shoes of The Hobbit
Still, earlier today the British tabloid The Sun reported that Maguire was going to star in the film and now both TheOneRing.net and Ain't It Cool News have confirmed that Maguire has not been cast as Bilbo Baggins.
TheOneRing.net received word from director Guillermo del Toro himself on the site's message boards, with this simple message:
Not true.
G
G
AICN reached out to both executive producer Peter Jackson and del Toro on the matter, and in addition to receiving a response similar to del Toro's message-board post ("It's not true, gordito- G") the site received the following email from Jackson.
No truth at all, although we're all big fans of Toby. We are currently auditioning for Bilbo, and a month or two away from any announcements.
Cheers
Peter J
Cheers
Peter J
We'll be sure to keep you posted on any more news on The Hobbit's development as soon as we have more information.
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey comes to theaters December 14th, 2012 and stars Cate Blanchett, Saoirse Ronan, Orlando Bloom, Elijah Wood, Martin Freeman, David Tennant, Ian McKellen, Christopher Lee. The film is directed by Peter Jackson.
Comments (44)
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spynet315
I guess they could use Weta's substantial abilities to digitally make Ian Holm look younger like they did with Professor X in the later x-men films. But it would be pretty weird because that stuff is still noticeable.
2 years agoby @spynet315Flag
ParkWilliams
I suggest an actor who resembles Ian Holm simply to reinforce the idea that the ring has kept him from aging to a believable degree. If someone too young plays the part, he will inevitably be compared to Ian Holm's appearance in LotR and therefore criticized. They need a happy medium to keep the character inside the realm of believability.
2 years agoby @azadorFlag
ParkWilliams
50 would certainly be pushing it, but I still say the Hobbits looked a slight bit too young. It's a very minor complaint seeing as how amazing the characters were.
2 years agoby @azadorFlag
Josh
Spynet said it best, "The time at which a young hobbit "comes of age" is 33, as compared to the human 21 years."
So an Elijah Wood who looks 25 would accurately reflect an almost 40 year-old hobbit.
I'm just saying, they're not going to cast an actor in his 50s for this part, and they rightfully shouldn't.
2 years agoby @shuabertFlag
ParkWilliams
@ Josh: Wood may have been 30 at the time, but he looks about 25. He played the part well, but I always imagined Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin looking a little older than they did in the movie.
2 years agoby @azadorFlag
ParkWilliams
Gerard Butler could pull off an excellent Bard.
2 years agoby @azadorFlag
spynet315
well, I like Jake Gyllenhaal, but he doesn't have a natural British accent, and you can usually tell when an actor fakes it, and he is way too young, and I don't think he really fits. As for Sam Worthington, he just sucks, lol. But seriously, Worthington is a much better fit for "badass" action hero type of character, not very Bilbo-ish. He could maybe play Bard the guardsman?
2 years agoby @spynet315Flag
Johnnyblaze09
Yeah.. and that's why I thought of Sam Worthington and Jake Gyllenhaal for that matter down there. They're just so fit to this role. (for me)
2 years agoby @johnnyblaze09Flag
spynet315
If you wanna get technical, Hobbits do have slightly longer lifespans than normal humans. Hobbits live to be about 90-100 years old normally, without the help of modern medicine, while humans can only live up to that in extreme cases... The time at which a young hobbit "comes of age" is 33, as compared to the human 21 years. Thus a 70 year old hobbit would only be middle-aged. Therefore, while a hobbit may be older in years, they would appear younger to human eyes because they would appear to age slower. Freeman is almost 40, so he's not "young, and, like Bilbo was when he set out for Lonely Mountain, Freeman is (approximately) middle aged... Spynet, out!
2 years agoby @spynet315Flag
The Narrator: The Better Man
Martin Freeman is still too young guys. Bilbo is in his 50's. CGI won't make up for that nor will makeup. Cast someone at least in that age range.
2 years agoby @narratorFlag
spynet315
Just an fyi, Martin Freeman did audition for a part in Jackson's The Lovely Bones, so Jackson does know of his existence... I'm just saying.
2 years agoby @spynet315Flag
Josh
Bilbo may have been in his 40s during the story, but considering hobbits age differently from humans it's not unreasonable to think that a 30 year old Elijah Wood was accurate in age to represent a 50 year old Frodo. I think an actor around 30 (e.g.., McAvoy and Maguire being the two most frequently thrown around names) is the perfect age to represent Bilbo.
2 years agoby @shuabertFlag
ParkWilliams
Kudos on the whole "no young actors" bit. I even had issues with Elijah Wood as Frodo at first because of his age. To do the character justice I would suggest an unknown anywhere between 35 and 50 who at least resembles Ian Holm a little bit.
2 years agoby @azadorFlag
Cripple
haha good one spynet. Honestly Freeman wouldn't be a bad choice. But I trust they will pick Bilbo perfectly.
2 years agoby @crippleFlag
Narzion
sacha baron cohen to play bilbo........just kidding
2 years agoby @narzionFlag
ZanyZap
Sam Worthington cannot star in every single effing movie! HE IS NOT A GOD!!! STFU!!! just saying... ;P
I like Martin Freeman. Good call.
2 years agoby @zanyzapFlag
Mutant
As long it's not a real important actor I'll be fine. who ever it comes down to should be near the age of 50 and not even in their 30s at all.
2 years agoby @zenderFlag
spynet315
Sam Worthington is one of the worst actors ever, but they put him in every single movie that comes out, just like Christian Bale. If you really want to sp*ce up The Hobbit, you need to cast Gerard Butler, but he has to play it as if Bilbo were a spartan. "THIS...IS...THE SHIRE!!!"
2 years agoby @spynet315Flag
Johnnyblaze09
Me to Danny DeVito for older Bilbo, Sam Worthington and or Jake Gyllenhaal for a bit younger Bilbos.
2 years agoby @johnnyblaze09Flag
spynet315
Lol, Joe Pesci. That would be awesome "Hey, i found a freaking ring, over here." ... may as well cast Tony Shalhoub as long as we're going down that route.
2 years agoby @spynet315Flag
Masta_Chiefed
Joe Pesci Pre Gone Fishin' Days... And then maybe that guy Martin Freeman.
2 years agoby @masta-chiefedFlag
The Kwisatz Haderach
Martin Freeman would be a good Bilbo.
2 years agoby @the-kwisatz-haderachFlag
Radimus-83
I like it spynet315. Martin Freeman would be a good casting.
2 years agoby @radimus-83Flag
spynet315
Martin Freeman would be perfect for Bilbo, imo.
2 years agoby @spynet315Flag
The Kwisatz Haderach
and Tobey would suck as Biblbo
2 years agoby @the-kwisatz-haderachFlag
The Kwisatz Haderach
I dont understand all the young actors being considered for Biblbo, maybe Im wrong but I thought Biblbo was a little older, mid 30 - late 40's in book.
2 years agoby @the-kwisatz-haderachFlag
mosorwvlad
What do you think of Russell Crowe ?? HA HA
2 years agoby @mosorwvladFlag
Goku_ssj2
It will be someone unknown
2 years agoby @goku-ssj2Flag
Narzion
i would like to see Tobey as Bilbo
2 years agoby @narzionFlag
Narzion
Hayden Christensen to play Bilbo-that is the best joke on movieweb ever Warhawk613
2 years agoby @narzionFlag