Casting starts falling into place for The Hobbit, with Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage and Aidan Turner among those confirmed for Middle Earth…
Things are most certainly moving in the land of The Hobbit, with the two movies set to go before the cameras early next year. Peter Jackson is definitely directing both of them, and a lot of the casting rumours can now be put to bed, because a whole host of roles have been filled in.
The big one is Bilbo Baggins which, as the rumour mill had been strongly suggesting, has gone to Martin Freeman. Freeman will fit his schedule around that for the BBC's Sherlock, with three more adventures of that to be filmed next year as well.
Richard Armitage, best known to us for his work in Spooks and Robin Hood, has taken the role of Thorin Oakenshield in the film, while Being Human's Aidan Turner is set to play dwarf Kili.
Next? EastEnders actor Rob Kazinsky has nabbed the part of Fili, while Graham McTavish (24) has signed up to play Dwalin.
The rest of the dwarfs? Well, John Callen (Power Rangers) is Oin, Stephen Hunter is Bombur, Mark Hadlow (King Kong) is Dori, and finally, Peter Hambleton is Gloin.
Jackson said of the casting of Martin Freeman, incidentally, that "Despite the various rumors and speculation surrounding this role, there has only ever been one Bilbo Baggins for us. There are a few times in your career when you come across an actor who you know was born to play a role, but that was the case as soon as I met Martin. He is intelligent, funny, surprising and brave - exactly like Bilbo and I feel incredibly proud to be able to announce that he is our Hobbit."
We'll have lots more on The Hobbit as we get it...