Who Should Play Beorn in The Hobbit?

[Holbytlass]

Gotta love imdb. Most of the actors suggested I had to look up.

I like the looks of Marc Nelson, Sardy.

How about Michael Clarke Duncan.
He's a big guy and he can certainly pull off the hospitable yet don't get too comfortable Beorn.

I agree though, they probably won't put him in.

[HerenIstarion]

... but I suppose you know the guy...

... the one who is Hagrid in Harry Potter

[Sauron the White]

Brian Blessed is am amazing stroke of genius casting which would be perfect. I realize that the man is about 70 years old - which, on the surface at least, may be pushing it a bit, but he is a veteran mountain climber who is in great shape. So his "real age" may be a lot younger.

Forget about Coltrane. He will forever be associated with the Potter films - and I did not even like him in that role. Giant???? Indeed!

[Sir Kohran]

The Eagles dropping the Dwarves off at Mirkwood? I think that's just a bit absurd...audiences everywhere would be asking why the Eagles stopped giving them help as soon as they arrived at the most arduous and difficult stage of travelling. Why on earth wouldn't the Eagles just fly them over Mirkwood? I think for the sake of common sense Beorn should be included.

[TheLostRanger]

A little off topic with this question, but could anyone tell me what happened to Beorn after the hobbit? Was he still alive during the LotR era? Fade in to obscurity? Or am I forgetting something like he died at the end of the Hobbit? It's been a long while since I've read the Hobbit but he was a favorite character of mine. As far as who I think should play him. I don't know... How about William Wallace's friend (The big guy) from Brave Heart?

[Lord Gothmog]

I have not had time to check all my books but there is some hints about Beorn in FotR

Fellowship of the Ring: Many Meetings

Frodo learned that Grimbeorn the Old, son of Beorn, was now the lord of many sturdy men, and to their land between the Mountains and Mirkwood neither orc nor wolf dared to go.
'Indeed,' said Glóin, `if it were not for the Beornings, the passage from Dale to Rivendell would long ago have become impossible. They are valiant men and keep open the High Pass and the Ford of Carrock. But their tolls are high,' he added with a shake of his head; `and like Beorn of old they are not over fond of dwarves. Still, they are trusty, and that is much in these days.

So far it is not certain if he has died or simply left the area but he did have a son who ruled meny men.

I will see if I can find more info.

[Lord Gothmog]

Futher information from Tolkien's Letters

From Letter 144

Beorn is dead; see vol. I p. 241. He appeared in The Hobbit. It was then the year Third Age 2940 (Shire-reckoning 1340). We are now in the years 3018-19 (1418-19). Though a skin-changer and no doubt a bit of a magician, Beorn was a Man.

Hope that helps

[TheLostRanger]

Thank you sir, any more info you can dig up would be much appreciated.


Back to my comment about the guy from Braveheart, went to IMDB and it turns out that the same guy plays mad eye in harry potter (who knew) So I guess I will have to ponder the question of who should play Beorn a little longer.

[TheLostRanger]

Made that post before I seen your next reply. Many thanks Lord Gothmog. You sir are a gentlemen and a scholar.

[Lord Gothmog]

You are welcome. I am always pleased to be of help.

[zxcvbn]

Somebody mentioned Robbie Coltraine earlier. I can't think of a better fit for Beorn. His portrayal of Hagrid in the harry Potter film comes to mind. He'd be ideal for playing the grizzled, grim skin-changer.

[TheLostRanger]

Very true zxcvbn. I am near certain he will be considered for the role... but a certain part of me would wonder when his character was introduced in the movie when exactly he was gonna take Bilbo to Hogwarts...

[Sauron the White]

One of the big flaws in the Petter films for me is the so-called giant played by Robbie Coltraine. The guy looks nothing like a giant and in fact is built like someone rather on the short side. I don't really care how big he is or how many camera angles or tricks are supposed to make him tall - to me, he just appears very non-giant like. Maybe that qualifies him to be a dwarf?

[Knight of Gondor]

I think William Dafoe sounds good, although his voice and demeanor seem to me to be too...thin. His voice is a thin, cruel sounding voice (IE, Green Goblin in Spider-Man, Gill in Finding Nemo), whereas I look to Beorn to be a lumbering, boisterous fellow.

Stephen Fry, I know he's versatile, but I simply can't see him in that role. I haven't seen him in anything but A Bit of Fry and Laurie and Jeeves and Wooster, but still.

Auh-nuld and Chuck are both out.

I like the look of Bob Hoskins in the pictures.

One guy that jumps to my mind is Gordon Kennedy. He plays Little John in the latest BBC Robin Hood.


(The bearded fellow on the left)



He has that heavy-set thick face and the unkempt curly hair and an overall rugged look that I picture Beorn having.

[Lush]

You know, two years ago (gotta love the threads that go ever on and on), someone mentioned Eric Bana.

While Bana is a huge star, and this is a small role, you never know, some actors regularly take pay-cuts so that they get to do stuff they love. If Bana likes Tolkien, he might be up for it. Also, sometimes it's really good to take a break from the big roles, it's good for your resume, and you can really grow as an actor without such enormous pressure that the people in the bigger roles have.