I'd say Bard, almost positively. And I'm not sure how I feel about that. While my initial thoughts are that Bard should be Aragorn-esque, I do like the idea of him being more on the "Quiet, unexpected hero" side, which Benedict Cumberbatch looks. Kind of a poet - "Bard" - figure who turns out to be a whole lot more skilled/dangerous than he looks.

Or maybe he's going to be Itaril's Elven male counterpart - her love interest, if you will. Or is that individual already cast?

Or maybe he's going to be Itaril's Elven male counterpart - her love interest, if you will.

This is probably a stupid question, but has the role of Itaril even been confirmed for the movie? Let alone a male counterpart to the character? I mean, I never saw anything about those two roles but I haven't been following real closely either.

I thought Bard was already cast.....
he might be Itaril's lover - my mom thought that automatically

TORN is saying Cumberbatch might play Smaug! Here's the link: http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2011/05 ... ter-smaug/

Was Martin Freeman just joking about being fired?

~Riella

Oh yeahhhh, I kinda forgot about Smaug for a while there well, I'm watching an interview with Benedict Cumberbatch (it's kinda old i think but i just wanted to find something so i could find out what his voice sounds like cuz i've never watched Sherlock) and I think he'll do a good job

I bet Martin Freeman was joking... at least I hope

If Martin Freeman was a crew member instead of an actor, I wouldn't be surprised at all if he were fired. Leaking movie news is a pretty serious offense.... it's breaking a contract. Whether they decide to replace him or not, I don't know. I kind of doubt it at this point since they've been filming for a couple months now. But had it been the beginning of the production, he probably would have been fired.

At any rate, I'm fine with Benedict as the voice of Smaug. (Way better than Bill Nighy imho) I'd still rather have seen him as Bard, but that's ok.

If Martin Freeman was a crew member instead of an actor, I wouldn't be surprised at all if he were fired. Leaking movie news is a pretty serious offense.... it's breaking a contract. Whether they decide to replace him or not, I don't know. I kind of doubt it at this point since they've been filming for a couple months now. But had it been the beginning of the production, he probably would have been fired.

Well, I'm glad they're further into the production then! That would have been pretty sad if he wasn't Bilbo anymore just because fans heard a casting announcement a little early.

I hope he was, indeed, joking.

~Riella

That doesn't sound like a joke, unless the news (quite possible) distorted it. Hm....

I'm was just rereading that Benedict/Smaug article again and realized it says "Early reports suggest Cumberbatch will voice the dragon character Smaug but the actor refused to specify his role" and then he goes on to say no comment and Freeman has his spiel.....

So does this mean that we're just jumping the gun???

Well, like I said, it just a rumor so far. It's something that's possible, but not even close to confirmed.

And if it turns out Martin Freeman wasn't joking... He better play Bilbo.

~Riella

I'm was just rereading that Benedict/Smaug article again and realized it says "Early reports suggest Cumberbatch will voice the dragon character Smaug but the actor refused to specify his role" and then he goes on to say no comment.....

So does this mean that we're just jumping the gun???

Usually when I hear reports like that, what it means is that somebody heard or assumed he was playing Smaug, included that in their report and then others picked it up, but the production won't confirm it one way or another. It all depends on whether or not the original person has correct information or not.

Usually when I hear reports like that, what it means is that somebody heard or assumed he was playing Smaug, included that in their report and then others picked it up, but the production won't confirm it one way or another. It all depends on whether or not the original person has correct information or not.

Wonderful .... But at least we know he'll be in the movie and there's only so many parts left, right?

Edit: So now TORN says that Benedict could be Bard as well

Catching up a wee bit ...

I'm pretty sure Itaril has not been cast. There was that flurry of talk surrounding Saoirse Ronan, but then it all died down, as she isn't able to participate in The Hobbit anyway. I'm actually hoping PJ has listened to the fans and has nixed the idea of that role.

As for Benedict Cumberbatch, I am tickled pink he is going to be in it (I thought he was excellent as Pitt the Younger in Amazing Grace), and I'm with fk: with all my hobbit heart hope he is going to portray Bard. Although I think his deep, rich voice would be great for Smaug as well. Maybe, as John Rhys-Davies did for Gimli and Treebeard, he can play both ... but my first choice is definitely Bard.

Yeah, outlier. I saw that on TORn this morning, and am trying not to get my hopes up tooooooo much.

Okay, a funny story about my dad and Tolkien: at 84, he only just read The Hobbit this past week, and really liked it. He was especially endeared to Bilbo, whom he found charming and very brave. He was quizzing us about which characters were also seen in The LotR, so we had a fun discussion about that. Anyway, one of his key queries was "So, this ring that Bilbo finds ... does it figure in The Lord of the Rings at all"? I tried not to chuckle too hard when I answered him in the affirmative.

He doesn't know the half of it! That's really cool, though, that he read it and liked it so much. Is he going to read LotR now?

Yeah, Lucy, no kidding! He says he is interested (I think he'd especially like dear Samwise's character), but we don't want to inundate him. I'm thinking he will begin The LotR in the next year or so ... especially if we slip it to him for a Christmas present.