The back and forth on the Hobbit hasn’t really stopped. Yes, it has been greenlit and there has even been some casting news, but it doesn’t look like it’s going to be going into production in New Zealand—where the Lord of the Rings movies were made. No other location has been floated, but right it seems to be all about the tax cuts offered and a grudge held against the actors’ unions that offered Peter Jackson and his production trouble.
Martin Freeman will be playing Bilbo, and while Mr. Freeman has been in movies and TV that I have actually seen, the name does not ring a bell. More to the point Sir Ian McKellan and Andy Serkis have not been officially confirmed as returning, but comments made by Sir Ian make it highly likely. The Dwarves have all been cast, and you can head on over to the article at Collider for all the news on that. Can’t say I knew any of the names.
Frankly, who gets cast for what isn’t a huge concern. I’m sure that Peter Jackson will get a good performance (or a good enough) performance out of his cast. Let’s just hope we don’t get the wavering accent of Aragorn in the Return of the King. That’s all I’m asking.
You can find the Collider article here.