1/7/11 I just read that Elijah Wood (Frodo from The Lord of the Rings films) will appear in The Hobbit. This is great news for fans of his performance in Peter Jackson’s epic trilogy based on J. R. R. Tolkien’s masterpiece.
You can read more about this and other casting news at http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2011/01/07/41520-elijah-wood-will-be-in-the-hobbit/. I certainly hope that Andy Serkis will return as Gollum and Ian McKellen will reprise the role of Gandalf. I just can’t imagine anyone else portraying those two characters. Can you?
UPDATE 1/11/11: I got my wish! Andy and Ian have signed on to the project! 
http://the-hobbitmovie.com/ian-mckellen-and-andy-serkis-join-hobbit/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
phoenixweasley
Well, that’s interesting, since Frodo wasn’t born until 26 years *after* the events of The Hobbit! *smirk*
Jason, you know they will sell more movie tickets if they can get several of the popular stars of the LOTR film trilogy to reprise their previous roles or make cameo appearances. Did you read the article that explains how this will work?
Ah, I confess I hadn’t read that explanation. *Pauses to read* Okay, that would allow Frodo’s appearance to make sense, but it’s hardly necessary. Of course, to turn The Hobbit into two films (also unnecessary) will require the injection of filler like this. I don’t think Elijah Wood’s appearance will bring in that many more people, though, do you? The people who want to see The Hobbit on film will see it whether he’s in it or not. I shouldn’t complain, but the more Peter Jackson makes up from scratch, the worse it’s likely to be. No offense meant to Jackson & Co.; I actually enjoyed The Lord of the Rings film trilogy. The main problem is that the tone of The Hobbit is going to be forced to match LotR, when the novel’s tone is completely different. This is the problem with making it *after* LotR. Expectations have been set. It’s almost guaranteed to be all wrong in tone and with inevitable deviations that are likely to be worse and more conspicuous than those introduced into LotR. (For example, are we going to see a thirteen-year-old Aragorn in Rivendell? I hope not, but I bet we do!)