Aidan Turner, Richard Armitage Set For Peter Jackson’s ‘The Hobbit’

Methinks director Peter Jackson is a BBC AMERICA fan. Deadline.com broke the news tonight about several actors who have been cast in Jackson’s upcoming two-part adaptation of The Hobbit, and many names familiar to BBC AMERICA viewers are set for pivotal roles. Martin Freeman (Sherlock, The Office) is already locked in to play Bilbo Baggins, but behold, Richard Armitage – Robin Hood‘s Guy of Gisborne – has been cast as “Thorin Oakenshield, leader of the Company of Dwarves which sets off to reclaim the Lonely Mountain from a thieving dragon.” And if that doesn’t completely set off your sprinklers, smoldering Being Human star Aidan Turner (Mitchell) is set to play Kili, “a member of the Company of Dwarves.”

About Armitage, Jackson is quoted as saying, “Richard is one of the most exciting and dynamic actors working on screen today and we know he is going to make an amazing Thorin Oakenshield. We cannot wait to start this adventure with him and feel very lucky that one of the most beloved characters in Middle Earth is in such good hands.”

Regarding Mr. Turner, Jackson says, “Aidan is a wonderfully gifted young actor who hails from Ireland. I’m sure he will bring enormous heart and humor to the role of Kili.”

Throw in some rumored star turns from David Tennant (!!), Bill Nighy, Stephen Fry, Andy Serkis, and James Nesbitt, and you have a potential ensemble that’s almost embarrassingly amazing. What next? Is Jackson gonna summon Richard Burton, Alan Bates, and Denholm Elliott from beyond the grave for cameos, simply to show that he’s Peter Jackson and he can do that? I’m sick with anticipation. The Hobbit starts filming in February, with the two parts set to roll out in December 2012 and 2013.

Who are you most excited to see in The Hobbit?

by Kevin Wicks