The Hobbit

but I wonder who they'll cast as Bilbo, could they actually use Ian Holm?

Yeah, I hope they won't have to recast certain characters (because of actors backing out or declining to participate, yadda...). Off the top of my head, Ian Holm, Ian McKellen, Hugo Weaving, and Andy Serkis would be must-returns.

This does raise some interesting questions about casting, though. Who will play Thorin? Who will play Beorn? Who will voice Smaug? And so on...

Hmm...

While I'm sure they can find plenty of good evilish voices for Smaug...I'd like to hear something along the lines gruff deep evil with a hint of british coldness.

Agreed. I always thought Max Von Sydow had a great voice for Smaug, and he's still around. Too bad Sean Connery's already voiced a dragon, or he'd be nice (if a bit recognizable). John Noble would have been great, but alas...he's already contributed. Paul Freeman has a great English voice as well (although most people know him for playing a Frenchman), and he's still very much around.

EDIT: Christopher Plummer just popped into my head. He'd be an awesome Smaug!

You are SO right! Either Max or Chris would be perfect!

Also, welcome to the forum!

I hope they get great John-Rhyes-Davies-style dwarves, y'know great actors like John who have great comedic timing and act just like dwarves.

NEW YORK - Peter Jackson and New Line Cinema have reached agreement to make J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Hobbit," a planned prequel to the blockbuster trilogy "The Lord of the Rings."

Jackson, who directed the "Rings" trilogy, will serve as executive producer for "The Hobbit." A director for the prequel films has yet to be named.

Relations between Jackson and New Line had soured after "Rings," despite a collective worldwide box office gross of nearly $3 billion — an enormous success. The two sides nevertheless were able to reconcile, with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios (MGM) splitting "The Hobbit" 50/50, spokemen for both studios said Tuesday.

"I'm very pleased that we've been able to put our differences behind us, so that we may begin a new chapter with our old friends at New Line," Jackson said in a statement. "We are delighted to continue our journey through Middle Earth."

Two "Hobbit" films are scheduled to be shot simultaneously, similar to how the three "Lord of the Rings" films were made. Production is set to begin in 2009 with a released planned for 2010, with the sequel scheduled for a 2011 release.

New Line Cinema is owned by Time Warner. Sony and Comcast are among the owners of MGM.

Not sure who's playing Bilbo. Ian Holm, digitally youngified? Someone new entirely?

Yeah, perhaps they could make use of whatever Ratner's people did to make Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart look twenty years younger in X-Men: The Last Stand.

Anything to keep Ian Holm in the cast.