Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins in "The Hobbit." (Warner Bros.)
How good is Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins? Oscar-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson says there is “simply nobody else” who could star in ”The Hobbit” epic that will be told over two films, the first reaching theaters in December 2012 and the second in December 2013.
“He is fantastic and there is simply nobody else for the job,” Jackson said during a recent break from the production in New Zealand and a whirlwind trip to Southern California. “We couldn’t find anyone who was better than him. He is simply fantastic.”
The 39-year-old Freeman, known to moviegoers for roles in “Love Actually” and “The Hitchiker’s Guide to the Galaxy,” was one of several actors who auditioned for the chance to portray Baggins, the beloved character whose odyssey gives Jackson a chance to return to Middle-earth after his massive “Lord of the Rings” success. (In that trilogy, the older Bilbo was played by Ian Holm, who will appear in some scenes in the new films.) There was considerable fan debate about the best Hobbit for the job, but Jackson said to his mind there was, in the final analysis, very little competition.
Peter Jackson (Weta)
I spoke to Jackson during a quick, shared car ride to the San Diego Convention Center in July during Comic-Con, where I interviewed him on stage with Steven Spielberg about their collaboration on the upcoming film “Tintin.” However, in the black SUV I wanted to hear about ”The Hobbit.” Jackson said the hiring of Freeman came with a somewhat nettlesome scheduling conflict; the actor was already locked in to spending part of July and August at work on his BBC series “Sherlock,” but in the end that made the San Diego trip possible.
“We’ve been shooting a bit of the second ‘Hobbit’ movie because Martin, who is our Bilbo, is in England doing the next series of ‘Sherlock,’ which was always part of it. He had committed to that show before he signed up for ‘The Hobbit.’ And that’s one of the reasons we took a little break. We haven’t got much we can do without Martin because he is in so much of the film. So we took a hiatus, which let me come over here to do Comic-Con. So he’s been shooting ‘Sherlock’ and he’s got a few weeks to go, so there’s some stuff we can do for the second movie until he gets back. And when he gets back after two or three weeks we can carry on with the first one.”
Peter Jackson (Weta)
Jackson added: “I can’t imagine anyone else doing Bilbo, which is one of the reasons, really, we signed him up even with having the ‘Sherlock’ break — normally on a movie you wouldn’t want to do that with the schedule,” Jackson said. “But we literally couldn’t figure out any other actor and we auditioned, you know. There is no other actor.”
Asked to elaborate on Freeman’s affinity for the role, Jackson chuckled.
“He’s Bilbo-esque,” the filmmaker said. “You might not always want to say that about you, right? But seriously he has the essential features of this little English gent, this country gent who is slightly old-fashioned and has to go around in the world and try to cope with it. That’s not exactly who Martin is as a person, but as an actor he does that so well. The fish out of water with a sense of courage but also a wonderful sense of humor. The things that happen to him and the way he reacts to them — things he’s never seen in his life before as a stuffy little Hobbit — his response to it all is part of the charm. And he does have a great openness in his face.”
– Geoff Boucher
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When I heard "The Hobbit" was finally going to be made, Martin Freeman was the guy I first thought of. Having seen him in "Hitchhiker's Guide", it was obvious he was perfect for the role. Arthur Dent spends his entire life in outer space being confused, befuddled, and out of depth – conditions which practically define Bilbo Baggins for at least the first half of Tolkien's wonderful tale. I was ecstatic when I heard that Jackson thought the same way. With Martin at the head of the film, it's sure to be wonderful!
I love Martin Freeman's work and I might actually see this movie just because he is in it.
PJ's comment about the openness of his face is extremely accurate. It's very evident in his work on Sherlock; you can read everything on his face without him saying a word. Martin is a fantastic actor and really looking forward to The Hobbit because of him.
He was lovely in the original Office. I think alot of the success of the Office is due to the strength of the love story that kind of took over what started as the David Brent show.
I'm excited to see how Martin Freeman does. I know a little of his other work, mostly "Hitchhiker's Guide" and a bit of "Sherlock," and based on that I'm quite hopeful. One thing is certain, though, and that's the ability of Peter Jackson to successfully cast these films. I have absolutely no doubt, after watching the original Lord of the Rings trilogy, that there was anything less than total genius on display in the casting of every role, from the largest to smallest. Of course, Jackson didn't do all the casting himself, but he knows the right people to do the job, and if they're able to work their magic again, I'm sure "The Hobbit" films will be pitch-perfect from that point-of-view. There's no film I'm more excited for in 2012 than the first "Hobbit" installment. And I can't wait to get a sense of Martin Freeman's take on Bilbo; if it's as iconic as Elijah Wood was for the original trilogy, it will be a great triumphant 'adventure' indeed.
British actors are much more talented. But some of the talented actros such as Daniela Denby Ashe does not get any role in Hollywood. Daniela Denby Ashe is the most charming actress. I hope directors like Peter Jackson will recognize her talent
I CANT WAIT FOR THE HOBBIT TO COME OUT!! The book was amazing….im only 11 years old.
me neither.
Dude Martin Freeman looks like the younger version of Bilbo from LOTR….he is perfect! Such a great actor…loved him in Sherlock season 1!
i simply cant wait i dont care if it comes out on a school night im going to the midnight showing
In my opinion Martin Freeman is perfect for the role. I reread the Hobbit a few week ago and by coincidence watched the three Sherlock episodes right after and the whole time I am just thinking to myself "omg – he IS Bilbo, he IS Bilbo, he IS Bilbo". I am counting the days, also due to the dwarfs looking so fantastically awesome!
I had chills when I heard his voice on the first Hobbit Production Blog. I thought it was Ian Holm at first, but Jackson posted on FB: no, that was really really really Martin Freeman on the clip. I realized in that moment that they'd casted *so* perfectly that this was going to be a great movie.
And I just think it's fabulous to see that Orc guy playing one of the dwarves this time. I don't know his name, but he's the one who said that Aragorn "took a little tumble off the cliff." It's so cool to see what he can do now!
Those of you outside the UK, try and catch the original 'The Office' to see Martin's breakthrough. Great stuff, as above, by the end of the series he was the prime story…
That is such a great show, we always watched 4 episodes in a row, because they were just so wicked funny!
He is good. I wish I could say the same about the DWARVES. Thorin a goatee'd thirty-something?? Some of them have no beards at all….You are breaking my heart PJ…
I first read The Hobbit 43 years ago and have read it every year since. Excited about the movie coming out.
I've seen everything Martin Freeman has done, not one thing of which I watched because of him, he just happended to be in it. The Office, Sherlock Holmes, Hitchikers Guide to the galaxy, Edgar Wright (Hot Fuzz), the Sinclair Spectrum (MicroMen) and of course the Tolkien novels all play important parts in my life, so it seems we are fated to walk together. His best acting is in Sherlock which is encouraging; less of his trademark frown combined with a quick look into space and some vocalised internal dialog, as ever present in his over work as Jack Black's eyebrow acting. Here's hoping he leaves it out of the hobbit, as its oh so distracting.
It's PERFECTLY FINE when you put in large friendly letters, "FAN MADE" but you can make a vast amount of enememies by writing "official". really though, nuff said.
I just watch trailer on http://www.freemoviesonlinelist.com
Martin Freeman has always been the perfect man for the job. The only reason I thought he might not get it was because I wanted him to so much. I can't imaine any other Bilbo- other than Ian Holm oviously.
I'm so glad he could do this as well as Sherlock. We Sherlock fangirls are quite… rabid. Tolkien comes first for me though.
Speaking of Sherlock, I was thrilled to hear about the lovely Benedict Cumberbatch picking up a role in the hobbit too. The cast looks fantastic. It's a shame Rob Kazinsky had to pull out.
The only thing that worries me is Dame Edna as Azog. xD But I have faith in Peter, Fran and Pippa.
Freeman did a good job at playing Arthur Dent in Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. He seems to be a good choice for Bilbo.