The Academy Award-nominated director discusses the rumors flying around the casting for the J.R.R. Tolkien's adaptation project from Hugo Weaving and Ian McKellen to Doug Jones and Viggo Mortensen.
- Oct 15, 2008
AceShowbiz - After opening up about his vision on the creatures of "The Hobbit", dragon Smaug and Wargs, director Guillermo Del Toro speaks out about what he knows of the casting. Talking to MTV, the 44-year-old fesses up that no one has definitely come on board the project though he and his crew have in mind some of the potential actors.
Asked whether Hugo Weaving will be cast as Elrond once again, Del Toro reveals that he has the intention to approach the star as well as other "Lord of the Rings" actors, like Andy Serkis and Ian McKellen. "Oh yeah. We have to approach him - of course," he says. "Hugo Weaving, Andy Serkis, Ian McKellen - they all must be approached to do the movie."
Moving on to the speculation of Doug Jones as the potential candidate for the Elvin King, the man behind "Pan's Labyrinth" hints that Jones may get another part but the King. "I would love to find a part for Doug. It's not necessarily the Elvin King. I think there is a part that will suit him, but it's not the Elvin King," so he claimed.
Additionally, he also addresses the issue of Viggo Mortensen's casting. On the occasion, Del Toro insists that he has not spoken to the Aragon's depicter. Exposing his reason, he further states, "I think that if you create the situation in which the actor has felt invited, that you cannot or do not find him fit for the part, he will feel slighted. Damaging to our relationship and damaging to the project. We are really cautious about not saying any names, because until the pages tell us what to do, we shouldn't."
To be produced by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson who has directed Tolkien's other novel adaptation "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, "Hobbit" will be a two-part movie centering on Bilbo Baggins. The first part, "The Hobbit", tells the story when the character embarks on a journey to reclaim the stolen treasure by the dragon Smaug and eventually comes into possession of the One Ring, while the second "The Hobbit 2" will serve as a bridge between "Hobbit" and "LOTR". "Hobbit" is scheduled for December 1, 2011 release and "Hobbit 2" is set to be released exactly a year later on December 1, 2012.
