Cast Speculation

[Voronwë the Faithful]

Apparently, James McAvoy has stated that he is not going to be in The Hobbit.

http://www.collider.com/entertainment/n ... 186/tcid/1

[Voronwë the Faithful]

Turning back to the discussion about Hobbit ages, I thought of one example that supports solictr's position. In the LOTR it is said that Lobelia was 100 years old when she finally got a hold of Bag End, and she had to wait 77 years longer than she had expected. But she was already married to Otho at the time when Bilbo unexpectedly reappeared, twarting the S-B's. So she had to have been married by the time she was 23 or so, and perhaps earlier. While it is true that most Hobbit women married in their 30s, this would suggest that at least some matured as early as humans.

[solicitr]

Good point, Vor.

I would also raise Merry and Pippin (and Fatty Bolger, for that matter): they all appear to be free agents, coming and going as they please without, apparently, much of a parental leash.

[Frelga]

Possibly they have different ages of majority for different reasons, as we do for driving, voting, drinking? Or perhaps Bilbo waited for the latest possible milestone at which Frodo was considered an adult, so as to give more validity to Frodo's taking possession of Back End?

Interesting, too, that Tolkien says that Lobelia was "never popular in her life" and yet she married at a fairly young age for a hobbit. (Clearly, it is completely normal that Frodo isn't married at 33). I wonder what happened? A shotgun wedding, you think? Maybe that explains her bitterness?

Speculation...

[Voronwë the Faithful]

Good theory, Frelga, except for the fact that Lotho wasn't born for another twenty-plus years after Otho and Lobelia were married (and he was there only child).

[Primula Baggins]

There can be a scandal without a baby.

But no, I don't think that's how Tolkien would have thought. Perhaps it was a semi-arranged marriage.

[Frelga]

Maybe she had to give up the first baby to cover the shame of giving birth so soon after the wedding. Maybe THAT'S why she's so bitter?

Now I need to go look in appendices for any hobbit who was born at a suitable date to be Lobelia's illicit offspring.

[ArathornJax]

Frodo's mother who was born in 2918 because they recorded Lobelia's birth year down wrong to cover up this sin. If Lobelia was born in 2900 she would have been 18 when Primula was born (and it was with Gorbadoc Brandybuck and thus the hush hush nature of the entire event). This explains her hatred of the Brandybucks since Gorbadoc would not leave his wife and marry her. Thus Lobelia is really Frodo's grandmother . . .

I think I heard the professor rolling in his grave.

[Jnyusa]

I think this would make a wonderful internet rumor.

[Primula Baggins]

I'm all for it. Can we tie it in to Drogo and Primula's mysterious "boating accident"?

[Voronwë the Faithful]

I think we have discovered the plot of Film 2!

[Mrs.Underhill]

While it is true that most Hobbit women married in their 30s, this would suggest that at least some matured as early as humans.

Again it all goes bust at the evidence of Hobbit women cheerfully giving births in their 60s-70s.
While Human girls can wed and become mothers at 14-16 in rural communities, and that's an equivalent of Hobbit's early twenties. And so Lobelia's early marriage can be explained easily via this comparison, as sexual maturity comes few years earlier than legal community in Human societies as well (let's not forget Barmizva/Batmizva at 13!)
But there's absolutely no comparison/explanation for routine bearing of children in someone's 60s.

[Alatar]

A possibility for Bilbo?

Toby Jones has recently come to prominence in Capote, Infamous, W and now Frost/Nixon. I was watching an interview with Jonathon Ross and all I could see was Bilbo Baggins. He's also a believable "young" Ian Holm.

Here's a pic:


and an interview after Capote where you can hear him out of character.
http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=XUUx5YmfXSc

[Voronwë the Faithful]

Certainly a possibility. And GdT made it clear that he felt that Bilbo needed to be cast first (other than Gandalf and Gollum, who are already set in stone), so that the proper relationship with the other characters, primarily Thorin, could be set. Still, we won't likely here anything about casting for some months, until the screenplays are finished.

[kams]

A possibility for Bilbo?

Toby Jones has recently come to prominence in Capote, Infamous, W and now Frost/Nixon. I was watching an interview with Jonathon Ross and all I could see was Bilbo Baggins. He's also a believable "young" Ian Holm.

Here's a pic:


and an interview after Capote where you can hear him out of character.
http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=XUUx5YmfXSc

The pic did not come out, but the YouTube link worked.

What a face! He would be a most memorable Bilbo Baggins. I like him already.

[Holbytla]

He looks more like my idea of Sam. Ian Holm had that style of acting that just spoke Bilbo. It was present even in the 5th Element.
I haven't seen Toby act, so I can't judge.

[Alatar]

V, I know we won't hear about casting for a while. Thats why its called speculation

Still, we do know that one name came up that both Del Toro and Jackson both liked, so it has to be a reasonably well known actor, known to both of them. Martin Freeman and James McAvoy were obvious suggestions, but I wonder if Toby Jones isn't more likely.

[Voronwë the Faithful]

I like the Toby Jones possibility better than either of the other two.

[sauronsfinger]

Stephen Graham would make a terrific Bilbo. Right age - right look - great actor.

[Rowanberry]

I don't know Stephen Graham, but I could definitely see Toby Jones as Bilbo. Actually, there's something similar to Alan Lee's portrayal of Bilbo in him; just take a look at some of these illustrations.