Two New Actors Added to The Hobbit
Posted 05.01.11 by Chris
Director Peter Jackson used his Facebook page to announce the addition of two new cast members for The Hobbit.
Dean O'Gorman will play the dwarf Fili, replacing Rob Kazinsky who had to drop out of the movie because of "personal reasons."
Dean's a terrific Kiwi actor, who I am thrilled to be working with. He's recently been in an excellent TV series down here called The Almighty Johnsons, and I should let fans of that show know that our shooting schedule allows Dean to continue with a second series next year. Dean will be joining us next week.
Jackson also announced Lee Pace (pictured) has been cast to play the Elven King Thranduil. Lee played Ned the pie maker in the TV series Pushing Daisies and has a role in the two-part Breaking Dawn.
Casting these Tolkien stories is very difficult, especially the Elven characters, and Lee has always been our first choice for Thranduil. He's going to be great. We loved his performance in a movie called The Fall a few years ago, and have been hoping to work with him since. When we were first discussing who would be right for Thranduil, Lee came into mind almost immediately.
And to make every LOTR jealous, Jackson posted a photo of an old friend from the original trilogy.
The Hobbit was written by Jackson, original director Guillermo del Toro, Fran Walsh, and Philippa Boyens. The cast includes Sir Ian McKellen as the wizard Gandalf, Elijah Wood as Frodo Baggins, Andy Serkis as Smeagol/Gollum, Hugo Weaving as Elrond, Sylvester McCoy as the wizard Radagast, and Mikael Persbrandt as the shape-shifter Beorn, Ryan Gage as Drogo Baggins, father of Frodo.
Next Showing: The Hobbit is scheduled to hit theaters in late 2012 and 2013