UPDATE: Rumor du jour: Did Martin Freeman turn down the role of Bilbo Baggins? | Movie News
UPDATE: According to Entertainment Weekly, the race for Freeman as Bilbo Baggins hasn't ended yet. Sources close to the HOBBIT production are saying that New Line and MGM have come back to Freeman with a schedule that would allow him to do the film as well as SHERLOCK. They also note that all parties are currently in negotiations. EW is a tad more reliable than The Sun. We will just have to wait until something more official hits.
Again, this is a rumor. So don't go freaking out and burn down the Shire just yet.
The Sun is reporting that Martin Freeman has turned down the role of Bilbo Baggins for Peter Jackson's THE HOBBIT.
Why would he go and do (or not do) something like that? Especially when it's rumored that the part came with a seven figure salary. According to an "inside source", Freeman has a prior commitment to the BBC series SHERLOCK.
The source said that, “It was one of the most difficult decisions of his career. MGM, who are making the film, only got a formal offer over in the last couple of weeks. It was too late for Martin because he had already signed up for another series of Sherlock. It was agonizing but he had no other choice.”
From what I remember, Freeman was one of the actors that you guys chose in a Bilbo "Cast This" article. Freeman does currently have a commitment to SHERLOCK and it would take a great deal of time to film THE HOBBIT. However, if they wanted him bad enough and he wanted to do it bad enough, perhaps an arrangement could be made. I say this partially due to the fact that Freeman is my top choice for Bilbo. But could Freeman carry a film like this? I think the guy is great in everything from THE OFFICE (UK version) to THE GOOD NIGHT.
What are your thoughts on this rumor?
Source: The Sun , TheOneRing
Extra Tidbit: While I do enjoy John Krasinski on THE OFFICE as Jim, Freeman's portrayal of Tim was often too realistically heartbreaking.
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6:02PM on 09/08/2010 Add as a friend | MFC profile
6:24AM on 09/08/2010 Add as a friend | MFC profile
Hey, Moffat, here's another cool idea for you: After "reimagining" 'Jekyll' and 'Sherlock' in modern times with mobile phones and text messaging, how about "reimagining" 'The Invisible Man' or 'Frankenstein' - but in modern times, so they can have mobile phones and text messaging!...
Hey, Moffat, here's another cool idea for you: After "reimagining" 'Jekyll' and 'Sherlock' in modern times with mobile phones and text messaging, how about "reimagining" 'The Invisible Man' or 'Frankenstein' - but in modern times, so they can have mobile phones and text messaging! It'll be FUCKING AWESOME(ly dull, but people will lap it up, no doubt)!
6:32AM on 09/08/2010 Add as a friend | MFC profile
5:50AM on 09/08/2010 Add as a friend | MFC profile
11:29PM on 09/07/2010 Add as a friend | MFC profile
10:57PM on 09/07/2010 Add as a friend | MFC profile
1:02PM on 09/08/2010 Add as a friend | MFC profile
10:40PM on 09/07/2010 Add as a friend | MFC profile
I SERIOUSLY doubt he would turn down that part but at the same time even though he's the real right choice, i could never see them choosing him.
He is genuinely the best part of anything he's ever in but with James McAvoy as popular as he is or whatever younger actor,...
I SERIOUSLY doubt he would turn down that part but at the same time even though he's the real right choice, i could never see them choosing him.
He is genuinely the best part of anything he's ever in but with James McAvoy as popular as he is or whatever younger actor, i really don't think studios are going to believe that he can carry a semi-franchise even though he definitely could.
AS much as i want to hm get recognised though, i'd much prefer to see more Sherlock than The Hobbit if it came down to it. Amazing programme.
9:09PM on 09/07/2010 Add as a friend | MFC profile
MGM, make it work.
MGM, make it work.
8:49PM on 09/07/2010 Add as a friend | MFC profile
8:38PM on 09/07/2010 Add as a friend | MFC profile
8:26PM on 09/07/2010 Add as a friend | MFC profile
And yes, Freeman as Tim easily dwarfs Jim.
And yes, Freeman as Tim easily dwarfs Jim.
8:21PM on 09/07/2010 Add as a friend | MFC profile
Now this news saddens me, not because I'm a LOTR fan...because I'm not, but because I'm a Freeman fan and I'd love to see him take his place on the silver screen, especially in something as historic as the LOTR series has become.
However,...
Now this news saddens me, not because I'm a LOTR fan...because I'm not, but because I'm a Freeman fan and I'd love to see him take his place on the silver screen, especially in something as historic as the LOTR series has become.
However, whilst it is upsetting that this might be the case, I am glad that the reason is something as awesome as Sherlock instead of a crappy direct to DVD movie. It would've broken my heart to see him replaced or dropped in Sherlock and I'm massively looking forward to the next series