Tobey Maguire and wife Jennifer
Meyer-Maguire arrive at the 67th
Annual Golden Globe Awards.
(AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Today Britain's The Sun newspaper reported that American actor Tobey Maguire, recently released from any commitment to a fourth Spider-Man film, has accepted the role of young Bilbo Baggins in the two upcoming The Hobbit film adaptations.
However, TheOneRing.net, a blog with close ties to producers WingNut films and distributors New Line Cinema, posted today that the news is false. TORn does not name a specific source or provide details.
According to News.com.au, The Hobbit producer Peter Jackson and director Guillermo del Toro have been pursuing the 34-year-old actor for months. Maguire is best known for his starring role in the first three Spider-Man adaptations; he was nominated for a 2009 Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama for Brothers.
Apart from this alleged Maguire announcement, there has been no official casting news from WingNut. It is however known that Sir Ian McKellan, Hugo Weaving and Andy Serkis will be reprising their roles from The Lord of the Rings; and that Sir Ian Holm will not be returning as Bilbo, except perhaps in a cameo or as narrator. Christopher Lee has publicly expressed interest in returning as Saruman, but will not film outside of England for health reasons.
The Hobbit is expected to begin shooting in New Zealand this summer, with expected release dates of December 2011 and December 2012.
Comments
Guillermo del Toro himself stopped by TheOneRing.net's Forum and has posted that the rumor is not true.
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