Recently we shared that Sherlock co-star Martin Freeman, currently playing Dr Watson in the BBC modern day re-imagining of the literary detective, has decided to honour the renewed second season role and therefore declining the official offer to play Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit.
Considering the mess that is MGM’s financial woes, I don’t blame him. But now we get a glimmer of hope as some clues being assembled by the intrepid eyes at The One Ring suggest that it might still happen. They also have word of one of the major changes from book to screen for the film.
Yes, we have buried the news but according to our spy, if things go well with MGM and Spyglass in the next few weeks, ‘The Hobbit’ will head to production in January, pending negotiations with Freeman and filming could tie up actors for a year. (January happens to be an excellent weather month to shoot at the Hobbiton set.)
And, inadvertently, we know of a possible change to the plot. The character summary says:
although . . . he doesn’t have huge courage he does become, particularly in the last battle, very brave.
As readers will remember, Bilbo is mostly knocked out for “the last battle” which we can assume is The Battle of Five Armies. (That title would mean very little to some actors.) No filmmaker, definitely including producer and probable director Peter Jackson could resist filming and showing such a battle with all its action and emotional wallop, despite the titular character from the source glossing over it (and that is obvious with no spy information at all). But this information is a possible plot reveal that Bilbo will remain conscious and the ‘film Bilbo’ will get to see wonders of battle that ‘book Bilbo’ never did and perhaps play a brave role.
Of course much of this has to do with Spyglass settling a deal to take over MGM and giving a new home to The Hobbit series which at this point will have to start all over again with nothing more than a script in hand.
I do hope its not just wild speculation, and that Martin Freeman could see himself in the role. His presence and dry wit with a perfect blend of vulnerability and confidence is perfect for Bilbo.
And I do agree with changing the Five Armies ending to at least have Bilbo present. Seems a bit anticlimatic for a film to have its main hero taking a nap while the story comes to its climax. Not saying I want him to lead the charge, but its not going to change much to have him awake at least.
Do you think that Spyglass’ offer will be the one to save MGM from financial ruin? Or will it be like all other suitors and fall flat on empty pockets.
Something’s gotta give here.
