Tennant, 38, is a Scottish actor best known for starring as The Doctor in the current incarnation of the BBC show Doctor Who. McAvoy, 30, is also Scottish and has displayed impressive range by tackling everything from Mr. Tumnus, the gentle faun in The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, to the ultraviolent assassin Wesley Gibson in last year's Wanted. And 19-year-old Radcliffe — well, you know him.
These are all surprisingly young choices for a character that's supposed to be 50 years old. (Although that's in hobbit years. So maybe 50 is the equivalent of 30 in human years? Any Tolkien experts want to clarify?) Tennant has an advantage in being the oldest of the three candidates, but he's also the tallest at 6'1". Obviously, trick photography and digital manipulation could shrink his stature to hobbit size, but Del Toro may save himself a lot of grief by simply choosing a shorter star. Radcliffe is listed as 5'6" — having met the actor, that may even be an inch too generous — so he's closer to the right height. But although Radcliffe turns 20 later this July, he's still too young in my mind. More problematic is the concern that many moviegoers won't be able to shake off the idea that Radcliffe is, and always will be, Harry Potter.
That leaves us with McAvoy, who's 5'7", older than Radcliffe, and a splendid actor to boot (he deserved an Oscar nomination for holding his own against Forest Whitaker in The Last King of Scotland). But what do you think, PopWatchers? Put on your casting hats and tell us who should be selected for the role of Bilbo Baggins:
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I would love James McAvoy, but I also think Martin Freeman would be great. Plus, he is more “hobbitty” looking than all three of the other suggestions.
I gotta say David Tennant kinda looks like the guy who played Bilbo in LOTR.
I think casting an unknown is the best way to go. It’s already an established franchise, no need for a big star.
It’s worth bearing in mind that in the Lord of the Rings books, Frodo was also 50 when he set out, so it always felt a little strange to me seeing Elijah Wood earnest his way through the film. None of them fit the bill as the more plump, awkward Bilbo of the books, but if they’re looking for movie star types Tennant works better acting style wise. Daniel Radcliffe just isn’t a very good actor, is far too grave for Bilbo, and can’t get away with carrying another major franchise so soon. I adore James McAvoy but, realistically, putting my geek cap on, he’s more elf than hobbit. Still, I can’t say I would have chosen any of these guys. My choice would be the wonderful Russell Tovey, who plays the reluctant werewolf in the BBC’s ‘Being Human’. He can pull off just the right combination of lost and absurd.
MARTIN FREEMAN.
You either know him as Tim on the British “Office”, or as Arthur Dent in the Hitchhiker’s Guide film.
We’ve been saying it since the beginning. He’s completely perfect. He read for a role in “The Lovely Bones,” so PJ knows of his existence. None of these other guys look right… and I don’t think Radcliffe needs another franchise…
Anybody but Harry Potter, I don’t want to have to break my vow and watch something with Harry in it!!
I agree with David M… Martin Freeman would be a great choice for young Bilbo. Not to mention he kinda looks like Ian Holm…
But I’m also a huge James McAvoy fan. If he gets cast, I’ll be thrilled! =D
Martin Freeman is a great idea.
Better start that Martin Freeman petition. That is a great suggestion.
Just Google Imaged Martin Freeman. Everyone’s right– he looks perfect: not only “hobbity,” but also convincingly like a young Ian Holm. Get Guillermo and Peter on the phone and make the arrangements!
I do think he might be too gangly, but David Tennant is SUCH a fantastic actor, I think he could anchor the films really well.
James McAvoy is hot!
Frodo isn’t fifty when he sets out. I believe he’s 33.
Yes, I believe 50 in hobbit years is not the same as it would be in human years. If I remember right, hobbits don’t “come of age” until 33. Whether they are full grown physically before that time, I’m not sure. But I’m with you, Ellen, it was a little odd that the 18-or-19-year-old Elijah Wood was playing 50-year-old Frodo. Regardless, I do NOT want to see Daniel Radcliffe as Bilbo. I don’t even care for him as Harry Potter, and I love those books as much as I love LOTR. Anyone but Daniel Radcliffe! I’d rather they just taped Sir Ian Holm’s wrinkles back again like they did at the beginning of FOTR and had him play the part.
I guess Ian Holm is out? How about Tobey Jones or Paul Giamatti?
The whole idea (and a revolutionary idea it was, too) was that Bilbo was NOT young and thin and handsome…so I *really* wish they wouldn’t cast someone like Tennant (fab though he might be.)
Ian Holm would be brilliant, but I’m not holding my breath.
My initial thought was that Daniel Radcliffe would be too young and too slender but depending on the script, it could work. No to the David Tennant, but Martin Freeman would work well, especially since he’s pretty unknown.
I don’t think Daniel Radcliffe will attach himself to yet another iconic role that obsessive fans won’t let him escape from. In the past few years when he’s between filming Potter movies, he seems to be deliberately choosing projects that are as far removed from Harry Potter as possible, so I don’t think he’d accept the role of Bilbo.
That leaves it between Tennant and McAvoy. But how about Tobey McGuire, if he can manage the British accent? After all, Elijah Wood has joked that people confuse him and Tobey McGuire all the time, and Frodo was Bilbo’s relative.
After seeing the new Half Blood Prince. I totally believe Dan can pull off being Bilbo. His acting has improved tremendously. Frodo was 50 in Lord of the Rings and Elijah was 17. He’ll also be free when filming begins.
I’m waiting for Wanted 2 from McAvoy.
i luv david tennant and the Doctor…but…not sure he’s really hobbit material. i’d love to eat my words though! he did mention in an article earlier this year that he had been offered a part in a sci-fi movie, but couldn’t say which. does tolkien count as sci-fi???
Tennant as a Hobbit would be great, but I don’t see why they don’t just keep Ian Holm.
Love James McAvoy, but this Martin Freeman dude looks spot on!!! Rumors always circulate about big casting decisions; I’ll bet none of these three guys will end up with the part. Perhaps an unknown? We shall see…
I’ve always seen David Tennant as rather elf-like…but I would love to see him as a hobbit. Especially as his Doctor tenure is ending.
From what I remember, as someone said above, a 33-year-old Hobbit is just coming of age. Plus, I think they can live to be way above 100. Thus, I wouldn’t have a problem with a 30-year-old human portraying a 50-year-old hobbit.
My problem is that I picture Hobbits as less “pretty” than a typical Hollywood actor. From what I remember (and thus picture in my mind) Hobbits were homebodies who liked their comforts and thus were overweight and soft. Plus, they were short, like 4 feet tall. This means that I don’t picture any of the three listed as Bilbo and would prefer that they cast an unknown or relatively-unknown actor.
I love David Tennant, but he’s just too tall and lanky. Radcliff is a little young. I’d rather see an unknown cast in the role of Bilbo.
Remember that Hobbits have ‘tweens, not ‘teens. As was said before, a 33 yo hobbit would equate to about 21, therefore a 20 yo playing Bilbo is not a stretch. Besides that, they have to have someone hot to get multiple viewings from the girls.
McAvoy might be a good choice, but *please* not Tennant!
I agree though, that a less known actor would be preferable.
Those who think it should be Ian Holm need a reality check.
Michael Sheen
Out of the options, James McAvoy’s my favorite. In fact, he was my favorite until I saw the comment on here for Michael Sheen. That would be the most brilliant pick! He’s an incredible actor and I think he really has the right look for a hobbit, while maintaining the necessary sexiness required of LotR actors.
I’ve read the books a couple of times, and Hobbits at 50 are ‘young’ in comparisons to humans of that age. At Bilbo’s birthday party in LOTR: FOTR, he was celebrating his 111th birthday, which was ‘old’ but not ancient. So all 3 actors would be fine, age wise. I think Frodo was also in his 40’s/50’s when LOTR begins. I’m more interested in there being an actors who looks like Ian Holm, because they’ll have to ‘redo’ the scene where Bilbo ‘finds’ and steals the ring from Gollum, which was shown as a flashback in LOTR–Ian Holm with some makeup work and a brown wig. Of the three, I think McAvoy looks the closests, and I also think he’s capable of pulling off Bilbo’s adventurous yet reserved nature. Radcliffe seems like he’d be a mirror to Frodo, which is a little too much IMO, and Tennant could carry off the drama, but he’s not quite what I picture a Hobbit as!!
I voted McAvoy. But then I was reading comments and if I could switch my vote I would. Martin Freeman seems to fit the bill nicely.