Casting: The Hobbit

[Stéphanie Christieans]

After breaking news that Guillermo del Toro is set to direct The Hobbit along with a second film inspired by the work of J.R.R. Tolkien, comes the anticipation for any further information.

Further information:
In a dedicated effort to maintain continuity with the other films, del Toro will not only relocate to New Zealand for the next four years of his life, but is also in talks with many of the previous films' cast about reprising their famous roles.

Sir Ian McKellen & Andy Serkis have already jumped on-board and del Toro will report any further casting as it is confirmed.

Pre-production is scheduled to begin this summer.

Source: IGN

[Filling the Void Reviews]

I'm glad del Toro's directing and not Peter Jackson. I think Jackson's a hack, who's drastically overrated.

I'm not much of a Tolkien fan either, but I think with del Toro's awesome directing, this movie will probably kick ass.

[dalmatianjaws]

This is very, very, very, VERY good news.  I'm a little worried about Ian Holm playing 60 years younger, I hope they recast (as awesome as he is) and don't try that photoshoppy crap from X3. Although, they DID use him for that short bit in the prologue, but still, it felt out of place even then.

I love Peter Jackson's cinematography and old-school style, but his silliness often creeps in at the wrong places (ie, turning Gimli into comic relief and making Legolas take down a giant elephant and fifty soldiers on his own). After seeing The Devil's Backbone, Pan's Labyrinth, and del Toro-produced The Orphanage (not to mention the highly underrated Hellboy) I have complete faith in out mexican genius. And, since he's moving to New Zealand, you KNOW he has the same zeal and fanatacism that help Jackson helm the first three so well.

I can't believe I'm this old and STILL so geeked-out excited about a movie. Can't wait.