Warner Bros. New Line Cinema and MGM announced today that Oscar-winning actress Cate Blanchett has joined the cast of Peter Jackson‘s long awaited two-part adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit.
Jackson expressed his excitement with having Blanchett back on board:
“Cate is one of my favorite actors to work with and I couldn't be more thrilled to have her reprise the role she so beautifully brought to life in the earlier films.”
Warner Bros, New Line Cinema and MGM confirmed earlier reports that Sylvester McCoy will play Radagast the Brown and added that Ken Stott is the Dwarf Lord Balin; Swedish actor Mikael Persbrandt is the shapeshifter Beorn; British actor Ryan Gage is Drogo Baggins; and New Zealanders Jed Brophy and William Kircher will play dwarves Nori and Bifur respectively.
Previously announced were Martin Freeman (Bilbo Baggins), Richard Armitage, Aidan Turner, Rob Kazinsky, Graham McTavish, John Callen, Stephen Hunter, Mard Hadlow, Peter Hambleton, James Nesbitt and Adam Brown.
The script for the movie was co-written by Jackson, Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens and Guillermo del Toro. Jackson, Walsh and Carolynne Cunningham are producing the films, with Phillipa Boyens serving as co-producer and Ken Kamins executive producing.
Production on The Hobbit will begin this February in New Zealand and the first movie is scheduled for release in 2012. The second should follow a year later in December, 2013.
The Hobbit
