It’s being reported that Benedict Cumberbatch, who has acted in such films as Atonement and Amazing Grace, as well as the TV series Sherlock, has been cast in Peter Jackson‘s upcoming adaptation of Tolkien’s The Hobbit. His casting was supposed to be a secret, but Martin Freeman (Cumberbatch’s Sherlock co-star) let it slip a little early, later saying “I knew I was a big mouth, I didn’t know how much of a big mouth, and I’ve ruined everything. And now I might not have a job to go back to!”
It’s unclear who he will be playing yet, but it’s being speculated that he may have been cast as Bard the Bowman, the one who slays Smaug the dragon. Relatively unknown by many at the moment, Cumberbatch also has roles in Tomas Alfredson‘s Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy and Steven Spielberg‘s War Horse, both high-profile projects set for release later this year.
Cumberbatch joins an already extensive cast for The Hobbit which includes Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, Andy Serkis, Richard Armitage, Stephen Fry, Cate Blanchett, and Elijah Wood.
Part 1 is to be released on December 19, 2012 with Part 2 coming in December 2013.
(Source: The Film Stage)
