THE HOBBIT NEWS

Lee Pace & Dean O'Gorman Latest to Join Peter Jackson's 'The Hobbit'

by Ethan Anderton
May 1, 2011
Source: Facebook, TheOneRing.net

Recently we learned that Ian Holm would reprise his role as older Bilbo Baggins in the highly anticipated adaptation of The Hobbit from director Peter Jackson. Well, it sounds like some casting for the project is still underway as the filmmaker has again updated his own Facebook page with news of two more talents joining the cast. First up, Lee Pace, from The Fall and the sadly canceled TV series "Pushing Daisies", has landed the role of Elven King Thranduil, while a New Zealand actor named Dean O'Gorman will be playing the dwarf Fili, a role first given to Rob Kazinsky, who recently left the project for personal reasons.

On the two new casting additions this weekend, here is what Peter Jackson had to say (via Facebook):

Dean O'Gorman will be playing Fili. Dean's a terrific Kiwi actor, who I am thrilled to be working with. He's recently been in an excellent TV series down here called 'The Almighty Johnsons', and I should let fans of that show know that our shooting schedule allows Dean to continue with a second series next year. Dean will be joining us next week.

I'm also pleased to announce that Lee Pace will be playing the Elven King Thranduil. Casting these Tolkien stories is very difficult, especially the Elven characters, and Lee has always been our first choice for Thranduil. He's going to be great. We loved his performance in a movie called 'The Fall' a few years ago, and have been hoping to work with him since. When we were first discussing who would be right for Thranduil, Lee came into mind almost immediately.

I've yet to see Tarsem's The Fall, but I love Pace's work in "Pushing Daisies," not to mention Infamous, the other movie about Truman Capote that was pretty good as well. As for O'Gorman, we can trust Jackson to find great talent from New Zealand so his addition should be a good one. On top of these two bits, TheOneRing.net seems to have learned from the New Zealand website Stuff that Hugo Weaving has been confirmed to reprise his role as Elrond in The Hobbit as well. Totally expected, but nonetheless great to hear. As the days go by, this keeps sounds better and better. Can't wait! Find all of our Hobbit updates here.

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