James McAvoy as Bilbo Baggins?

[Knight of Gondor]

I will NOT mention the term used for a bundle of wood in the book, I will NOT mention the term used for a bundle of wood in the book, I will NOT mention the term used for a bundle of wood in the book...

My main objection is that James McAvoy is simply too young. Black would be outside of his element (has anyone forgotten the desecration he dealt Fellowship of the Ring on that blasted MTV spoof?) and no Hogwarts boy wizard could possibly do the role justice.

I would like McAvoy for the role in, say, 30 years or so. I think he could, as Lush says (hi Lush! Long time no see!) play a hobbit. But not Bilbo.

[Diamond18]

I liked Jack Black in "The Holiday" -- but agree that he wouldn't make a good Bilbo.

I've only seen McAvoy in Narnia and Becoming Jane... judging from those I wouldn't think of him as Hobbitish. But I did like him in both.

Of the name bandied about here, Michael C. Hall seems by far the most Bilbo-esque of the lot. At least, judging from his run on Six Feet Under. (I've yet to see Dexter.)

[Lush]

Hi Knight! I agree that Jack Black would be the wrong choice. I think that he's a very intelligent, very funny man (he reminds me of the guys I hung out with in college), but I can't see him as Bilbo. I'm always up to being pleasantly surprised, but I think that this would be a disaster of Anakin Skywalker-sized proportions.

I love Michael C. Hall. He's a hilarious, brave actor and he has amazing range, and "Six Feet Under" was glorious. I'm not entirely sure that he can "carry" a vehicle like this - something that has nothing to do with his talent and looks, and everything to do with the way the big-budget marketing world works.

I'm sure that they will choose someone young, and devilishly cute, to play Bilbo. I can only hope that they will choose someone young, devilishly cute, and extremely talented. Which is why I hope they'd go for someone like McAvoy. Or an unknown dude.

[Maedhros_the_Tall]

For me, out of the names mentioned, McAvoy is the only person I think could potentially play Bilbo, and play him well. Jack Black? Don't make me laugh. Daniel Radcliffe? The pocket battleship that played the, supposedly, skinny and weak Harry Potter that badly!? Send him elsewhere. We don't need him mucking up the Hobbit as well, and the association with the kids in the cinema watching the film as well would be appalling.

Michael C. Hall I can't comment on though, I've never seen him in anything, to the best of my knowledge!

[Morthoron]

Having just seen Atonement, I can honestly say that James McAvoy is far too young looking to play the part. Certainly, make-up and/or prosthetics can be applied, but it seems to me that if The Hobbit production was to remain in keeping with the remainder of the LotR series, then an actor closer to Ian Holm's age and appearance (at the time of filming LotR) would be necessary.

[Eönwë]

Originally Posted by Lush

Or an unknown dude.

Thats always an option.

[TheGreatElvenWarrior]

I wouldn't mind McAvoy as Bilbo, he looks hobbitish enough and I don't mind his acting. And if you don't like the age comparison for Bilbo and McAvoy, then might I remind you of Elijah Wood and Frodo (which was already stated, I know) But this is Hollywood, who would play Bilbo the best on their terms? That's what we need to think about...

But I also like the idea of somebody unknown for Bilbo, then people wouldn't think of the actor in another movie. That seems like one of the best choices.

~Just another one of my little posts that don't mean much,
TGEW

[Lush]

There are so many benefits to having an unknown guy, honestly. All you have to do is surround him with a strong supporting cast, and you're no longer worried about someone "carrying" the movie when it comes to image alone. Of course, the more unknown he is, the more conventionally hot he's going to be.