The Hobbit casting has stretched there and back again, but I believe this may be the final two pieces of the great puzzle.
According to Deadline, they finally have a Bard the Bowman: Luke Evans. I guess LOTR used up all the stock of rugged and older Northern English, because Evans seems a little young and handsome for Bard. (Are there no Sean Beans left? I always pictured Bard to be more of a Viggo/Bean type.) I haven’t seen him anything, so maybe he’s such a badass that it makes up for his youth and smoothness.
Deadline also confirms a popular rumor that’s been floating around Tolkiendom: Benedict Cumberbatch’s top secret role is the voice of Smaug. I always did hear Smaug with a more posh voice, so I really dig this pick. I wonder if he’ll pull double duty like John Rhys-Davies, and actually appear somewhere in the film in a small role?
ETA: This is what happens when your Internet goes wonky as you’re trying to read and write, and only one Deadline story will load. I completely missed that Cumberbatch is also voicing/playing the Necromancer, and providing facial capture for Smaug. So, you will see Cumberbatch in some form…and oh, he’s going to just be so deliciously cold and cruel! Anyway, apologies for missing that chunk of information the first time round, but I claim the thunderstorm clause.
6 comments
Why did they pick a guy who looks like Orlando Bloom’s stunt double??? Bard should be mid-forties, grizzled and manly. This guy could be a Pirates of the Carribean extra. Actually, he probably was.
Yeah, Evans does seem a bit young,but I haven’t seen Clash of the Titans or Robin Hood so I can’t speak to his capabilities either.
As for Smaug… I’ll always hear Richard Boone,but BC is a very intriguing choice. He’s so good in Sherlock. If I may be permitted a little Tolkien-fanboy fantasy casting,I’d pick him for Glaurung. Smaug seemed more arrogant and boastful than clever (by dragon standards I mean) to me, whereas Glaurung’s sharp tongue is his most dangerous weapon.
This is moot and a bit ridiculous of course,since Children of Hurin is probably close to the bottom of likely Tolkien adaptations so I’ll just stop typing now…
The Middle Earthlings are out tonight, eh? I think you’se are right, Bard I’m pretty sure is described as somebody weathered and battled and maybe even not so young…Some people wanted a big brutish voice for Smaug, Ron Perleman and Clancy Brownwas wished for, but Smaug is not that, he is more refinement. Bill Nighy would have worked, but he may be a bit overused, Shane Black I thought could have been interesting. But if he hadnt been a wizard already, and maybe even so, Christopher Lee would have been perfect.
Don’t you mean JOHN Rhys-Davies, Elizabeth?
Cumberbatch plays the “Neuromancer”? This could be the coolest crossover ever! A hobbit and a gang of dwarves heading out into the world with their Ono-Sendai decks to fight Smaug and the Tessier-Ashpools at the Villa Straylight. Could almost be a 365 days of sci-fi film.
Yes. Fixed.
Always glad to provide a red pen opportunity.
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