Ian McKellen (Gandalf) and Frodo wannabe Elijah Wood have agreed to reprise their respective roles in Peter Jackson’s upcoming two-pic adaptation of Tolkien’s The Hobbit.
A number of other star cast members from LOTR are expected to return in the long-awaited prequel, including Cate Blanchett as the graceful Elven Queen Galadriel and Andy Serkis who played the infamous Gollum.
No word yet on the status of Orlando Bloom, who was reportedly offered a tidy sum by Jackson to don his Elven archer gear and designer footwear for yet another dangerous quest.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem as if the lovely Liv Tyler will be in the prequel, as Arwen was first introduced in LOTR, not The Hobbit.
Still, Tyler says that if offered a role in the film, she’d agree in a heartbeat.
“I mean, that was a magical experience and it was just a once in a lifetime, amazing [thing]. Because it was so like … We knew and we didn’t know that it was sort of something that had never been done before, and there was this feeling that was really gung-ho.
“Like, ‘O.K., let’s go off together!’ And we just rolled our sleeves up. It really was this amazing, crazy, special thing.”
And athough Bilbo was originally played by Ian Holm in the original LOTR trilogy, Martin Freeman will portray the most unusual Hobbit in the prequel.
As all true fans of Middle Earth know, The Hobbit introduces Gandalf the Grey (Mithrandir), Gollum and Bilbo Baggins (aka Bilba Labingi).
Set in a magical time “Between the Dawn of Færie and the Dominion of Men,” the tale follows Bilbo’s quest to claim a share of the kingly treasure guarded by Smaug the fearsome dragon.
Shooting of The Hobbit is slated to kick off on February 14 in sunny New Zealand.
(Via Hollywood Reporter and IGN)
