Jackson: Freeman “Bilbo-esque”

‘Hobbit’ director Peter Jackson recently praised British actor Martin Freeman, who will be portraying the story’s main character, Bilbo Baggins, in The LA Times, stating that Freeman “is fantastic and there is simply nobody else for the job. We couldn’t find anyone who was better than him. He’s simply fantastic.”

Jackson also explained the reason behind the month long production break was to allow Freeman, who had already signed on to another Sherlock Holmes series, to fulfill his previous commitment to the BBC. Jackson, well aware of Freeman’s prior commitment, cast him as The Hobbit’s lead anyway. 

“I can’t imagine anyone else doing Bilbo, which is one of the reasons, really, we signed him up even with having the Sherlock break – normally on a movie you wouldn’t want to do that with the schedule, but we literally couldn’t figure out any other actor we auditioned, you know. There is no other actor.” 

So what did Jackson see in Freeman that stood out from all the other ‘Hobbit’ hopefuls?

“He’s Bilbo-esque,” Jackson said. “You might not always want to say that about you, right? But seriously he has the essential features of this little English gent, this country gent who is slightly old-fashioned and has to go around in the world and try to cope with it. That’s not exactly who Martin is as a person, but as an actor he does that so well. The fish out of water with a sense of courage but also a wonderful sense of humor. The things that happen to him and the way he reacts to them — things he’s never seen in his life before as a stuffy little Hobbit — his response to it all is part of the charm. And he does have a great openness in his face.”

Fans can see Martin Freeman’s portrayal of the hobbit Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, the first installment of the two-part adaptation, which opens on December 14, 2012. The second part, The Hobbit: There and Back Again, is scheduled for release on December 13, 2013.

Bilbo Baggins: A Character Synopsis

(R to L: Martin Freeman as younger Bilbo Baggins and Ian Holm as older Bilbo Baggins

Bilbo Baggins-

Bilbo Baggins is Uncle to Frodo Baggins (destroyer of The One Ring in The Lord of the Rings) and the resident of Bag End, located in the Shire. It is from Bilbo’s perspective that J. R. R. Tolkien's The Hobbit was written. Bilbo is content with his solitary life having no spouse or children of his own. One morning Gandalf the wizard pays the Hobbit a visit and deliberately entangles Bilbo into a very unexpected adventure. From that moment on his life is thrown out of routine as fate sends Bilbo, Gandalf, and 13 Dwarves on a journey across Middle-earth to reclaim a lost treasure, guarded by the dragon Smaug.

Martin Freeman-

Martin Freeman, playing Bilbo Baggins in Peter Jackson's The Hobbit films, was born on September 8th, 1971 in Aldershot, England. He is well known for his roles in Love Actually (John), The Office (Tim), Sean of the Dead (Declan), Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy (Arthur Dent), Sherlock (Watson), and more. This past year Freeman won the BAFTA TV Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Watson in the TV series Sherlock. Freeman is due back in New Zealand come October 2011 when filming for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and The Hobbit: There and Back Again continues after a brief hiatus to allow Freeman to film Sherlock’s second season.

Ian Holm-
Ian Holm Cuthbert was born on September 12, 1931 in Goodmayes, England. It was seeing the play 'Les Miserables' that first inspired his interest in acting and in 1950 he graduated from the Royal Shakespeare Company. He has won 16 acting awards, nominated for 13, and was knighted for his acting career back in 1998. Some of his best known films include Chariots of Fire (Sam Mussabini), Hamlet (Polonius), Frankenstein (Baron Frankenstein), The Madness of King George (Dr. Willis), The Fifth Element (Father Vito Cornelius), The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (Bilbo Baggins), and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (Bilbo Baggins).

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is scheduled for release on December 14, 2012, and The Hobbit: There and Back Again on December 13, 2013.

Two New 'Hobbit' Photos

From the June 30 issue of Empire Magazine come two new stills from 'The Hobbit' film, which feature Martin Freeman as Bilbo, and Sir Ian McKellen as Gandalf. The issue also includes an exclusive report from the New Zealand set.

“I’m exactly the same filmmaker as I was ten years ago,” Jackson says. “I’m trying to nail the same thing that I did before. I’m just telling the story.”

Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins

Sir Ian McKellen as a younger-looking Gandalf

Adds Jackson with a laugh: "[The dwarves] don’t know what to make of Gandalf, they think Bilbo is a wuss, and Elrond a prissy headmaster type."

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is scheduled for release on December 14, 2012, and The Hobbit: There and Back Again on December 13, 2013.

First ‘Hobbit’ Cover Courtesy of EMPIRE

Photo Source: Empire Magazine

Following Entertainment Weekly’s photos of Martin Freeman and Sir Ian McKellen from the set of ‘The Hobbit,’ Empire Magazine has just released their first ‘Hobbit’ cover, featuring Bilbo Baggins and Gandalf, whom Empire describes as "A resplendent 'younger' Gandalf the Grey (look closely for subtle differences in costume from his 60-year older Rings self)."

"The tone is actually the part of it I'm enjoying the most," Jackson says of filming. "[The Dwarves] have a healthy disregard for the icons of Middle-Earth."

You can read the full story in the August issue of Empire, which will hit news stands on June 30th. 

Freeman has Perfect Hobbit Gait, McKellen’s Gandalf ‘Iconic'

 In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, Peter Jackson, director of the highly anticipated two-part film adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit, expressed his approval over the casting of Martin Freeman, who will play the story’s titular character, the hobbit Bilbo Baggins. 

”He fits the ears, and he’s got some very nice feet,” Jackson said of Freeman. “I think he’s got the biggest hobbit feet we’ve had so far. They’re a little bit hard to walk in, but he’s managed to figure out the perfect hobbit gait.”

Freeman, star of The Office, has also appeared in such films as Hot Fuzz, Love Actually, and The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. 

Jackson also shared his excitement over working once again with Sir Ian McKellen, who will reprise his role as the wizard Gandalf, a character whose look Jackson says has become “iconic” in the ten years following The Lord of the Rings films. 

“So what's weird for me on The Hobbit is that I'll be sitting on the set talking to Ian and - if I look away at the crew and look back - I don't see Ian McKellen, I see Gandalf beside me.”

Other returning characters from The Lord of the Rings include Frodo, Galadriel, Gollum, and Legolas. 

“We're working with much of the same crew as Lord of the Rings and obviously some of the actors like Ian McKellen, Cate Blanchett, Hugo Weaving, and Andy Serkis are back so it's like a reunion. Plus we've got all the new boys.”

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is slated for release on December 14, 2012, with The Hobbit: There and Back Again arriving in theaters on December 13, 2013.

BREAKING: First Look of Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins!

These pictures were just released by Entertainment Weekly, hot off the press! What do you think, Hobbit fans? Does Martin Freeman capture your image of Bilbo Baggins? Let’s play “Caption it!” with the top image! Leave your thought of what’s going through Bilbo’s head on our comment section below.

Benedict Cumberbatch Confirmed Voice of Smaug and Luke Evans Cast as Bard in ‘The Hobbit’

Luke Evans

Benedict Cumberbatch

Two Hobbit casting rumors were laid to rest today as it was announced by Deadline New York that Luke Evans was cast as Bard the Grim and Benedict Cumberbatch is to be the voice of Smaug the dragon. It was just last month Martin Freeman (cast as Bilbo Baggins) let it slip that his Sherlock co-star, Benedict Cumberbatch, had been cast but keep his exact role under raps sending all kinds of rumors flying. With Luke Evans filling the role of Bard we might not be seeing much of him until the seconded instalment, The Hobbit: There and Back Again (in theaters on December 13th, 1213), as Bard the Grim has a bigger role towards the end of the story.

Middle-earth News wants to know what you think of this latest news. Are you excited about The Hobbit’s new cast members?

Martin Freeman Leaks Benedict Cumberbatch’s Involvement in ‘The Hobbit’

Benedict Cumberbatch

Thanks to Martin Freeman, who goes by Bilbo Baggins in Middle-earth, we now know his his co-star Benedict Cumberbatch (from the UK show Sherlock) has landed a part in The Hobbit. The news was leaked during the Bafta Awards this past Sunday by non other than Freeman himself who later commented about his inability to keep secrets saying, “I knew I was a sort of a big mouth but I didn't realise to what extent I was a big mouth, and I've just ruined everything...I might not actually go back to a job - they might have just sacked me." When asked what his exact roll would be in the film, Cumberbatch’s only response was, “I can't say at the moment, thank you very much." Seems he is more apt to keep the information secret and safe.

The “Hobbit Paparazzi” Strikes Again

Even before the cast of The Hobbit began arriving in New Zealand, photos of a supposed hobbit set and “barrel testing” graced our computer screens. Yesterday TheOneRing.net released a set of “exclusive” images including Andy Serkis- complete with his Gollum body suit. Today they've manged to top that, with a new set possibly showing Martin Freeman in is Bilbo get-up.

I’ve been very unopinionated on my blog. I make it a point to bring you the news, without any prejudice, but these particular reoccurring stories have gotten under my skin. Don’t get me wrong, I am all for The Hobbit and will be one of those crazy fans who memorizes every behind the scenes moment ( “It’s a splinter?!”). However, when December 2012 finally rolls around, I don’t want to go into the theater knowing all the secret bits. I want it to be fresh, like one of Gollum’s fish. Something I can sink my teeth into.

So, what’s your opinion? I’d love to hear it! Send an e-mail ( middleearthnews@gmail.com ), comment on my blog (below), chat over Twitter, or Facebook.

Hobbit Cast Press Conference

Source: Ross Setford, Associated Press/New Zealand Press Association

One hobbit and thirteen dwarves spoke and posed for cameras Friday, at a press conference held at Park Road Post production facility in Wellington, NZ. The happy crew seemed up-beat and excited for filming to begin on March 21st. Martin Freeman, playing the character of Bilbo Baggins, dismissed and joked about the recent “curse of The Hobbit” rumors that have been circulating saying, “'There are some bits of bad luck associated with it, but we're all very optimistic. We’re ready to go – just as soon as 2015 comes around.” He also talked a little about his roll as Bilbo, “'Obviously I have been looking up what he was doing ... I genuinely, without being … either big headed or falsely modest … think I am quite a good match for him.”

Sir Peter Jackson, who is still recovering from his recent surgery, released this statement: “I’d love to be with you all this morning, but I’m currently under a medical form of house arrest, to prevent me from overdoing it until fully recovered from my recent operation. I’ll be jumping back into it very soon, and to be honest the guys that you’ll be talking to this morning make me laugh so hard, right now I’d be in danger of popping a few stitches.”

The complete press conference , just shy of 40 minutes in length, has been posted by 3news.co.nz and can be viewed here.

The Hobbit, Part 1 premieres in theaters in December 2012.