Image Credit: Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images
It looks like the part of me that’s been hoping to see Lee Pace back on TV soon might be waiting quite a while. This weekend, Peter Jackson announced via Facebook that the Pushing Daisies alum had been cast as Elven King Thranduil in The Hobbit. ”Casting these Tolkien stories is very difficult, especially the Elven characters, and Lee has always been our first choice for Thranduil,” Jackson wrote. “We loved his performance in a movie called The Fall a few years ago, and have been hoping to work with him since.”
The news comes on the heels of Pace’s Broadway debut in The Normal Heart last week and his completion on the Breaking Dawn movies, where he plays Edward’s vampire BFF Garrett.
It’s great to see Pace booking jobs in both film and theater, but am I selfish for wanting an amazing TV gig to come along for him? Probably. And in recognition of this, I’ll just say that I’m looking forward to seeing his work on both of these franchises. That said, whenever you’re ready to come home to TV, Lee, we’ll be waiting.
On Twitter: @EWSandraG
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Lee Pace comeback! After the one-two cancellation punch of Wonderfalls/Pushing Daisies…Lee Pace needs a big break. And The Hobbit seems like THE BIGGEST of breaks. I love this man.
I agree — he was fabulous in Wonderfalls and Pushing Daisies! Especially the latter. I miss that show so much…
The Fall was very cool – liked Lee better in that then in Pushing Daisies. Glad to hear he got this part!
FYI he is on Broadway now in the incredible play THE NORMAL HEART with Jim Parsons (“Big Bang Theory”) and Luke Macfarlane (“Brothers & SIsters”)
LOTR wasn`t much of a break for anyone except Bloom but his “star” faded completely since because he can`t act and has zero charisma. Wood, Astin, Boyd disappeared, Monaghan pops up on genre TV, Karl Urban got more boost from Star Trek than LOTR where he was just a cameo, actors and actress who played his father and aunt totally disappeared as did the guy who played Sean Bean`s brother. Others who had careers before LOTR continued to do so but nobody became a huge boxoffice star a la Ford after Star Wars.
okay, maybe I meant “mainstream big budget success” versus big break. at least it won’t get cancelled!
it will lead to bigger roles. Its based upon the actors to perform. Oh and you’re forgetting viggo mortensen and kate blanchett.
Lee Pace is much hotter with the beard and longer hair. I didn’t even recognize him.
Totally agree. He’s among the elite group of celebrities sporting a beard and pulling it off.
(Insert Jake Gyllenhaal joke here)
He’s looking quite Ryan Goslingesque.
You a right so I`m calling wrong role here. He should have been Bard the Bowman. They`ll have him clean shaven for Elf King, boooooo.
He’s excellent in The Normal Heart!! Hoping he gets a Tony nomination tomorrow.
Yay! I love Lee Pace. He was fantastic on “Pushing Daisies” and in “The Fall.” I am glad he is playing Garret in Twilight, but I have a feeling it will be a two-second role (there are a million new characters in the last book!). It’s great news that he will be in “The Hobbit.” Question: Isn’t King Thranduil the father of Legolas? Just wondering. Thanks!
Yes he is Legolas’ father! Hotness must run in the family.
LOVE HIM! Thanks for the news.
YAY!! someone give this talented actor a show -he is very much missed on the small screen!
Yay! I’m glad I’ll be seeing some more of him. I didn’t know him until I watched Pushing Daisies where I fell head over heels for him. Very talented and beautiful.
You should watch a movie called Soldier’s Girl – an amazing and surprising performance.
i saw him in soldier’s girl and became an immediate fan of us. such an amazing role. i met calpernia (the woman he portrays) once and she said he is a great guy.
This news made me squeal with excitement! So happy for his new role. I don’t care if its TV, Twilight or theater – I’m just happy to see Lee building up that career of his. Because he’s AWESOME!
OMG! First they kill Osama then this? My cup runneth over, so glad to see our dear Lee Pace cast in The Hobbit!!
Riiiight…those things are in the same catagory.
Yippee! Fantastic casting! I love this man! He was amazing in Pushing Daisies and the Fall!
Be still my heart…
Can’t wait, I love me some Lee Pace!
I miss Pushing Daisies. Oh well, at least with The Hobbit I’ll get a nice dose of Lee Pace.
Great news! Wow, so glad Lee Pace is having so much success. He was so great on “Pushing Daises”. And I hope he gets a Tony nomination tomorrow. And being in “The Hobbit” is just cool!
THE PIEMAKER!
Such an amazing actor! Loved him in Pushing Daisies, and was blown away by his performances in “Soldier’s Girl” and “The Fall”. He’s probably the only actor who could keep me from falling into a LOTR induced coma, as all of the other Tolkien films did to me. I agree with the small screen comments – get this guy a show!