Sadly Ian Holm Officially States He is NOT Playing Bilbo Again

[Tulin]

Just clicked on TORn and I read this partway down the front page. I knew he was getting on but, by the time they start shooting next year, Holm would be almost EIGHTY!!!!

He has stated the physical demands of the role and the relocation to NZ would be too much for somebody of his age.

I have to admit, this makes me VERY sad. I LOVED Holm's portrayal of Bilbo in LOTR. There are two scenes I regularly tear up at when watching the first film and that is his hug with Gandalf(it is NOT McKellen and Holm hugging - it IS Gandalf and Bilbo)and the scene where he re-meets up with Frodo at Rivendell.

I guess I just wanted continuity between the films. This is not like the PT and the OT where there is a reason why Obi Wan is played by two different actors(although, even there, Lucas fucked up because how did Obi Wan age 45 years in about 20? And don't give me that "He's living on a desert planet" bullshit). In the LOTR, Bilbo was NOT meant to have aged, because of the ring. Now Gandalf's line is going to get a huge laugh out of future viewers who hear him say, "You haven't aged a day" and not only will he have aged but he looks completely DIFFERENT.

That is going to suck majorly.

Anyway, TORN has some suggestions for actors who could play Bilbo and, since it is now inevitable, my vote would go DEFINITELY to Martin Freeman from "The(real)Office". He has the exact whimsical little face that would suit a hobbit and the quizzical nature and innocence.

I think he would be GREAT.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

how did Obi Wan age 45 years in about 20?

By living alone in a hut in the desert. And too much masturbation.

 

[T'Baio]

(although, even there, Lucas fucked up because how did Obi Wan age 45 years in about 20? And don't give me that "He's living on a desert planet" bullshit).

Actually, even in Lucas' original drafts in the early 70's, he describes Obi Wan as being aged beyond his years from being in the extreme climate.

 

[Tulin]

You are BEGGIN' for a slappin', aint ya?

 

[T'Baio]

Well, he did! It's not my fault you're wrong.

 

[S. Gomez]

You can argue all you like about how "he's supposed to be 50 years younger" and I could counter-argue how "the Ring kept him from aging" until eternity itself crumbles into dust. It won't change the extreme let-down this news has given me.

Oh well. Here's hoping that The Hobbit will be a great film in its own right, as well as the second "bridge" film. I think they can pull it off.

 

[Daneel]

Honestly... I don't mind. In fact, I think it may be for the best. I too loved Holm's portrayal of Bilbo, but I really think he's too old for the part now (especially considering that Bilbo in The Hobbit is supposed to be about the same age that Frodo is during the main events of LOTR).

I'm not worried. I have faith that Guillermo and PJ will find a suitable actor for the part.

Oh, and as for the Obi-Wan thing: Alec Guinness was 62 when he filmed Star Wars, which is about right, assuming that Obi-Wan is in his early 40s in ROTS. So there.

 

[SomniumRabidum]

It definitely sucks that we'll miss out on seeing another great Holm performance. But as Daneel just mentioned, his age kinda makes it unreasonable for him to portray Bilbo in The Hobbit.

 

[Timelord79 (he/him)]

I don't know what the problem is.
Clearly the only thing Jackson has to do about it, is to superimpose the face of the new actor over Bilbo's old face with CGI in every scene in LotR.
It were not THAT many scenes, right?










RUNS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Aragorn]

So Chris Pine as Bilbo?

 

[Skywalker]

This really isn't a surprise for me. I never expected Holm to reprise his role as Bilbo.

 

[Norrin Radd]

Too old. No surprise.

 

[Bishbot]

It is a slight disappointment, but not exactly surprising (I was hoping to see him used as the narrator or something).

But the line "you haven't aged a day." doesn't have to refer to "The Hobbit", does it? The film makes it clear that Bilbo and Gandalf are "very old friends" so he is presumably just referring to the last time he saw him, which is probably long after the events of "The Hobbit". That would just indicate that Bilbo is aging unnaturally slowly, but that he looks the same as he always did.

 

[Kelso]

They did put forth an effort to make Holm look younger when he found the ring.


Simon Pegg should play Bilbo.

 

[stonester1]

Simon Pegg would be good.

Also, Chris Tennent would be good.

 

[DWF]

Good maybe Sylvester McCoy can play the role now since he was up for ti originally.

 

[Tulin]

They did put forth an effort to make Holm look younger when he found the ring.


Simon Pegg should play Bilbo.

No - Pegg is starting to feel a little overexposed.

 

[The Mirrorball Man]

too much masturbation.

There is no such thing.

James McAvoy would be the perfect Bilbo.

 

[Captaindemotion]

Also, Chris Tennent would be good.

The guy from the Pet Shop Boys? He acts too?

I'm assuming you mean David Tennant (who took his surname from said 80s 'singer'). In which case I agree, he would be very good. I also like the suggestions of Martin Freeman and James McEvoy.

I can't say I'm surprised or disappointed that Holm isn't returning. Sure, he's a great actor and gave a lovely performance as Bilbo in LOTR, but he's just way too old to play the young or even middle-aged Bilbo now. By the time the movie starts shooting, it will have been almost a decade since LOTR. The youthful makeup he had in LOTR worked fine for a few short flashbacks (shot in a dark cave, IIRC) but for a whole movie? Let's be realistic, folks. Not to mention the demands it would place on a man of that age.

 

[stonester1]

I got Chris Eccleston and David Tennant mixed up.