This is officially the weirdest casting choice for this movie for me, and makes me question what they have in store for the character of Dain. For those who aren't familiar with Billy Connolly, he's a comedian. To me, it'd be like casting Robin Williams in the role of Dain. I like Billy Connolly a lot, don't get me wrong, but as Dain? Bizarre.

Billy Connolly is also very good at serious roles. Have you seen him in A Series of Unfortunate Events? I wouldn't exactly call that a serious movie, but his character was very heartwarming and intelligent. And he nailed it.

~Riella

I have seen him in A Series of Unfortunate Events. It's not helping me picture him as Dain.
I took a look at the comments on TORn's facebook page and I see I'm in the very, very, very minority on this one.

The only movies I've seen him in is TimeLine and The Last Samurai, I didn't even know he was a comedian .
I think he will look great as Dain!

I'm similar, Mountie, in that I don't recognize Billy Connolly's name at all. And I even saw A Series of Unfortunate Events, but because he was not a familiar name, he didn't stay with me. Oooh, he was in the Last Samarai too? *looks him up on IMDB*

For those who aren't familiar with Billy Connolly, he's a comedian. To me, it'd be like casting Robin Williams in the role of Dain.

Ai-yi-yi! Well, this should prove (or not ) his capabilities as a versatile actor, then. For a truly capable actor should be able to step into most any role and make it believable. Here's hoping!

Mountie, as a companion to what Arwenel wrote, look at the chapters "A Thief in the Night", where Dain Ironfoot is mentioned as coming to the Dwarves' aid; "The Clouds Burst", where he and his "five hundred grim dwarves" show up' and "The Return Journey" when he assumes his position as the rightful King Under the Mountain. He sounds like one amazing warrior dwarf and I do hope Connolly portrays him well. What I don't want is some comic Dain. Let's not have another Gimli, please, PJ!

Btw, only *cough* ten months this coming Tuesday until the first film releases! At least, now that we're in 2012, we can actually say we'll be seeing it this year!!! For we are in year of ... The Hobbit.

Dain Ironfoot was in the book, right? I'm afraid if he was, I don't remember him at all.

In the book, he's mentioned a few times (like some other people have mentioned), but he doesn't do much, so it's not surprising that you don't remember him. He turns up with his army, and they join the battle, which I expect will give him a far more prominent role in the movie than in the book, just because he will be so much more visible in the movie

Then he becomes the next King under the Mountain, which wasn't a very visual thing in the book either, but again will be more visible in the movie.

I couldn't find his full name in the book, though, he is only referred to as Dain of the Iron Hills. Perhaps he got his name after the book was written.

Just if anyone is interested...
This is from the front page news at theonering.net:
http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2012/02/11/53511-locations-locations-locations/

ceppault has made a map for The Hobbit (possibly all LotR?) like he has done for Prince Caspian and Voyage of the Dawn Treader movies.

Just if anyone is interested ...

This map claims to have found the real-world equivalent locations for Middle-Earth.

Eh. The good parts are very good. Some obvious oddities, though.

I'd say it's a good choice if you stay east of the Misty Mountains. Gondor is mostly underwater in the vicinity of Italy; Prince Faramir's territory would be underwater in Greece for that Greco-Roman precedent; and Romania really does have a mountain chain that looks like Sauron's three-sided natural fortress. Moreover, the Danube River always was a good stand-in for the Anduin except for the minor change in pronunciation and the major change in the river's direction. And I don't think anyone would have a problem with putting the Grey Havens in green Ireland.

However, the lands west of the Misty Mountains were mostly put in the wrong place to accommodate the map. Tolkien made plain that Bree, Weathertop and Rivendell were due east of The Shire, and that the Numenorean settlement north of Bree was at Lake Evendim, Fornost Erain, "Norbury of the Kings." I'm not sure why the map-maker didn't just put the lost lands in the right place and acknowledge that they are now underwater.

Something else, though ... to make the map work, the continent had to be rotated. In the process of rotating it into the position we know, it would have split the Mediterranean Sea to the wider gap we know now. I wonder how familiar Tolkien was with plate tectonic theory, because its adherents say that Europe was indeed rotated a long time ago, and that North America was attached to the ancient European landmass. This is why they assert that European rocks are now found on Staten Island, New York. Then again, plate tectonic theory wouldn't have had any room for the continent of Beleriand, so it's just a curiosity.

Overall, the map has its weaknesses but it's a decent effort.

Rivendell is just about here.

Myself, I live just east of Moria. Dimrell, perhaps?

I know I'm joining the discussion a bit late, but I love what I've seen of Billy Connolly's work in the past and look forward to seeing him in The Hobbit. I will admit though, "Dain" didn't immediately come to mind as the perfect middle earth character for him, but I'm sure he's quite capable of the role.

I love his Billy Bones in Muppet Treasure Island, and his Uncle Monty in A Series of Unfortunate Events. I also saw Gulliver's Travels eventually, and he plays the King in that. I think Gulliver's Travels was well cast, but I think the adaptation took way too many liberties.

Speaking of which, I wonder if they'll tell more of Dain's story in The Hobbit? They have to fill two movies somehow...

Just if anyone is interested ...

This map claims to have found the real-world equivalent locations for Middle-Earth.

Eh. The good parts are very good. Some obvious oddities, though.

I'd say it's a good choice if you stay east of the Misty Mountains. Gondor is mostly underwater in the vicinity of Italy; Prince Faramir's territory would be underwater in Greece for that Greco-Roman precedent; and Romania really does have a mountain chain that looks like Sauron's three-sided natural fortress. Moreover, the Danube River always was a good stand-in for the Anduin except for the minor change in pronunciation and the major change in the river's direction. And I don't think anyone would have a problem with putting the Grey Havens in green Ireland.

However, the lands west of the Misty Mountains were mostly put in the wrong place to accommodate the map. Tolkien made plain that Bree, Weathertop and Rivendell were due east of The Shire, and that the Numenorean settlement north of Bree was at Lake Evendim, Fornost Erain, "Norbury of the Kings." I'm not sure why the map-maker didn't just put the lost lands in the right place and acknowledge that they are now underwater.

Something else, though ... to make the map work, the continent had to be rotated. In the process of rotating it into the position we know, it would have split the Mediterranean Sea to the wider gap we know now. I wonder how familiar Tolkien was with plate tectonic theory, because its adherents say that Europe was indeed rotated a long time ago, and that North America was attached to the ancient European landmass. This is why they assert that European rocks are now found on Staten Island, New York. Then again, plate tectonic theory wouldn't have had any room for the continent of Beleriand, so it's just a curiosity.

Overall, the mpa has its weaknesses but it's a decent effort.

I always considered Mordor to be the Ottoman Empire. Byzantium is Osgiliath. the Bosporus the Anduin. The west-coast of Turkey, once populated with Greek City-states is Ithilien.
Anor is the old Frankish Empire under Charlemagne, wich was also divided in three under his grandchildren.
Arnor and Gondor as one empire under Elendil and his sons is symbol for the Roman Empire
Gondor is the Byzantine Empire. Umbar the current Levant, wich was once Christian, but now Muslim and no longer under the rule of the Crusader-states.

Is anyone else besides me drooling over the Lord of the Rings legos that are coming out?

Late reply. Yesssss I'm so excited for the LOTR Legos!!!!!

Some new info from The Toy Fair about the Lego sets:

-The Battle of Helm’s Deep and Attach at Weatherop sets mark the first time LEGO has created an articulated horse!
-These sets will start hitting stores in June 2012
-Hobbit sets/info will start hitting in the Fall with expected release of Nov/Dec 2012
-Shelob Attacks is the first spider LEGO to feature a web function.

And did anyone else see the article on TheOneRing.net about Bilbo's Contract?
Someone went through and managed to see some of the words written on the Contract! I Love it! I'm so hoping they make a Replic of Bilbo's Contract to buy!!!!
http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2012/02 ... tember-13/

Peter Jackson has a new Hobbit production video out.

~Riella

Yay!!! The scene with the

I can't get over how beautiful New Zealand is.

YES, another Hobbit blog video, every time I see one of them it gets me all excited and wishing time would pass faster.
The locations are incredible! Echoing what others have said, New Zealand is so beautiful!
I Can't Wait!!

P.S.
I believe I got a short glimpse of Billy Connolly as Dain in the very end of the video, not totally sure though.

I know, 7chronicles, I was amazed at the work and dedication of that person who somehow managed to decipher some of the words on Bilbo's contract. Wow! (Who has that much time ... and good eyesight? )

Ditto fantasia's comment on the new production video. I was pausing so many times, simply to take in that stunning NZ scenery over and over again (as well as

Honestly, those dwarves look like they're having one fantastic time, albeit it a ton of work, no doubt. What a privilege for each person involved in such a production, whether cast or crew!

And, I must say again, it's awesome to see PJ back in the helm. I'm curious how Del Toro's vision would have played out, but PJ just belongs there. And, really, I'm glad to see that he's put a bit of weight back on. He didn't seem himself when he was thinner.

My favourite production video is still the one where PJ was 'lost', and ended with a surprise cameo of Christopher Lee, which made me laugh aloud. (I forget what number that was ... earlier on, anyway.)