Saoirse Ronan May Go to New Zealand But Not For The Hobbit
Posted 05.07.11 by Ryan
Actress Saoirse Ronan (The Lovely Bones) was first rumored for a part in The Hobbit in January. A month later, Ronan admitted that "nothing has actually been confirmed yet" though she said "I’d love to get a role."
Production on the two-part prequel to the The Lord of the Rings trilogy began in March, but Ronan told The Belfast Telegraph that she won't be appearing in The Hobbit.
It's probably not going to work out with The Hobbit unfortunately because I would have been working for about a year on it and there were other projects that I was very interested in, but [director] Pete [Jackson] and [his producer wife] Fran [Walsh] have been very good about it and very understanding. I'll have to just go back down to New Zealand for a holiday and hang out with the hobbits.
Ronan was recently cast in the lead role of The Host, the adaptation of the novel by Twilight author Stephanie Meyer, which is likely one of those "other projects" Ronan was talking about. The Irish actress was reportedly set to play woodland elf Itaril in The Hobbit. Ronan's replacement in the movie is unknown.