Martin Freeman Will Play Bilbo Baggins in 'The Hobbit'

Peter Jackson confirmed that Martin Freeman will play Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit. Casting for the film has been progressing now that the two-part adaptation has been given the greenlight, with Peter Jackson fully settled in the directorial role. Jackson tapped Richard Armitage as Thorin Oakenshield, leader of the dwarves. The other dwarves were also cast, with Aidan Turner as Kili, Rob Kazinsky as Fili, Graham McTavish as Dwalin, Mark Hadlow as Dori, John Callen as Oin, Stephen Hunter as Bombur, and Peter Hambleton as Gloin. Ian McKellen and Andy Serkis return from the Lord of the Rings trilogy to reprise theirs roles as Gandalf and Gollum, respectively.

Martin Freeman is best known as Tim Canterbury in The Office, Arthur Dent in the film adaptation of Douglas Adams' The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, and Dr. John Watson in Sherlock.

It will be great to see who else Peter Jackson can bring in to join the ensemble cast, and if he brings back any other Lord of the Ring veterans.

Peter Jackson to Direct 'The Hobbit' After All

MGM has been hard pressed to find a director for the two installments of The Hobbit ever since Guillermo del Toro decided to drop out. After del Toro left, other directors considering the movies were David Dobkin (Wedding Crashers), David Yates (Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince), and Brett Ratner (Rush Hour). However, none of them signed a contract.

That leaves Peter Jackson, who said he would direct the prequel films if MGM couldn't find anyone else. He is currently negotiating a deal with them. Hopefully he won't run into the same problems that del Toro faced. Part of the reason del Toro left the project was that the cash-strapped studio kept delaying the starting date. However, sets are already being built in New Zealand, and Sir Ian Mckellen has tried to assure fans that shooting would begin by the end of the year.