The Hobbit Movie – Cate Blanchett, Ken Stott, Sylvester McCoy, and Mikael Persbrandt In

Galadriel is headed back to the big screen and she isn’t alone. The Hobbit, which is The Lord of the Rings pre-quel, and director Peter Jackson’s seemingly cursed latest project, is in full swing and we’ve got the newest casting news. Following the word that Martin Freeman is the new Bilbo Baggins and the attachment of actor James Nesbit, comes the official press release promising CATE BLANCHETT, KEN STOTT, SYLVESTER MCCOY, and MIKAEL PERSBRANDT will join the cast.
According to the statement, “also joining them are Ryan Gage, Jed Brophy and William Kircher. The films, which are scheduled to commence principal photography in February 2011, mark Jackson’s return to Middle-earth following his Oscar-winning Lord of the Rings trilogy.” The announcement came jointly from New Line Cinema, Warner Bros. and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. Speaking of the latter, read up on our MGM news.
This pre-quel will be shaped into two films, not three, and we can also testify as to which actor won’t be in it.

Cate Blanchett (Lord of The Rings trilogy, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) will reprise her role as Galadriel, the Lady of Lothlorien. Ken Stott (Charlie Wilson’s War, TV’s Rebus) will play the Dwarf Lord Balin, Sylvester McCoy (TV’s Doctor Who) will play the wizard Radagast the Brown and well-known Swedish actor, Mikael Persbrandt (Everlasting Moments, Day and Night) will play the shape-shifter Beorn. British actor Ryan Gage (Outlaw, TV’s Doctors) will play Drogo Baggins, with New Zealand actors Jed Brophy (Lord of The Rings trilogy, District 9) playing the role of the dwarf Nori, and William Kircher (Out of the Blue; TV’s Legend of the Seeker) rounding out the company of Thorin Oakensheild in role of the dwarf Bifur.

“Cate is one of my favorite actors to work with,” said Jackson, “And I couldn’t be more thrilled to have her reprise the role she so beautifully brought to life in the earlier films.”