HOLLYWOOD SPY SPOTLIGHT: THE STARS OF PETER JACKSON'S "THE HOBBIT" AND THEIR CHARACTERS! MARTIN FREEMAN, CATE BLANCHETT, LUKE EVANS, LEE PACE, IAN MCKELLEN, EVANGELINE LILLY, RICHARD ARMITAGE!

I'm sure that, mesmerized by divine LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy, you're all anxiously waiting for two THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY films to come to cinemas in 2012 and 2013 directed by Peter Jackson. Based on J.R.R. Tolkien's famous saga, they will follow Bilbo Baggins, a Hobbit, and his journey to the Lonely Mountain accompanied by a group of dwarves in order to reclaim a treasure taken from them by the

dragon Smaug. So, here's HOLLYWOOD SPY's spotlight on all the biggest characters which will be the part of this magnificent tale.

MARTIN FREEMAN IS BILBO

Martin Freeman will take the lead role of Bilbo Baggins, a very well-to-do hobbit living a contented life in the peaceful lands of the Shire, when his accidental wish for adventure (that he didn’t even know he possessed) comes true with the unexpected arrival of a Wizard and a clutch of Dwarves. He will earn the trust and friendship of his Dwarvish traveling party during their quest and will form lasting friendships with the Elves of Mirkwood and Rivendell and the Men of Lake-town who had never encountered Hobbits before. You've seen Freeman in BBC's SHERLOCK series.

CATE BLANCHETT IS ELVEN QUEEN

Cate Blanchett is playing Galadriel, beautiful Elven queen. She doesn't appear in THE HOBBIT book, but Peter Jackson said there will be a backstory of the White Council which she summoned

trying to fight of evil Sauron, but didn't succeed and that's why she redoubled her watchfulness in Lorien in which she had escaped after Sauron had destroyed her kingdom of Eregion. It's most probable that Cate Blanchett will be also used as the narrator of the whole story as she did in LORD OF THE RINGS too.

LUKE EVANS IS THE LEADER OF MEN

Luke Evans will play Bard, a man of Lake-town and the gloomy captain of a company of archers. Bard will use the black arrow, which he got from his father, in order to kill evil dragon Smaug! He will also be the leader of Men during the Battle of Five Armies,

where his allies will  include Elves and Dwarves. After killing the dragon, he will probably become king Bard of the Lake-town. You'll be seeing Evans in Tarsem's IMMORTALS, in RAVEN, and you've seen him in CLASH OF THE TITANS too.

AIDAN TURNER IS DWARF PRINCE

Aidan Turner will play Kili, a dwarf prince raised under the stern guardianship of his uncle, Thorin Oakensheild. He, and his brother Fili, as skilled fighters, will set off on their adventure armed with

the invincible courage of youth, neither being able to imagine the fate which lies before them. He will die defending Thorin at the Battle of the Five Armies. Turner is the star of BBC's hit show BEING HUMAN.

LEE PACE IS ELVENKING

Lee Pace will play the Elvenking Thranduil who rules the Wood-elves of Mirkwood. He will capture Dwarves because he doesn't trust them. Being powerful and mighty he will help the

people of Lake-town and will lead his elven army against the Goblins in the Battle of Five Armies. He is also the father of famous Legolas from LORD OF THE RINGS. Pace is the star of Tarsem's THE FALL and of PUSHING DAISIES.

RICHARD ARMITAGE DWARF LEADER

Richard Armitage will play Thorin Oakenshield, a strong and fearless fighter and revered leader of Dwarves, who wants to reclaim his kingdom from the evil dragon Smaug who took their homes and fortune and forced once proud and noble race into

exile. In his wish to return the vast treasure of his homeland Erebor, he will bring twelve dwarves with him to Bilbo Baggins’ front door and that's how The Quest of Erebor will begin. Armitage has starred in BBC's ROBIN HOOD and in CAPTAIN AMERICA FIRST AVENGER.

BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH IS THE DRAGON

Benedict Cumberbatch will lend his voice to Smaug, one of the last great dragons of Middle-earth who attacked the Dwarf kingdom of Erebor driving out the Dwarves and taking all of the treasure

within. Living there for two hundred years and guarding the treasure he also makes the people of the nearby Lake-town live in constant fear that one day the sleeping dragon might awake. Cumberbatch is the star of BBC's SHERLOCK. He will also voice the Necromancer Ruler of the stronghold of Dol Guldur in southern Mirkwood.

EVANGELINE LILLY IS WOOD ELF

Evangeline Lilly will play Tauriel, a true Sylvan Elf, whose name means a Daughter of Mirkwood. The only thing known about this character is that she doesn't appear in the book, and that she won't

have a romantic link to Legolas. It is not known how long her role will be, whether she will be a warrior Elf or just some lovely Elven maiden. Lilly was one of the stars of LOST TV show.

IAN MCKELLEN IS GANDALF

Sir Ian McKellen will again play Gandalf the Grey, a powerful wizard who has built deep relationships over time with great lords and leaders of Dwarves, Men and Elves. He will mobilize Dwarves and Bilbo Baggins

to seek the Lonely Mountain and attempt to eradicate the dragon Smaug. McKellen has played the same role in LORD OF THE RINGS.

STEPHEN FRY IS MASTER OF LAKE-TOWN

Stephen Fry will play Master of Lake-town, who will welcome Thorin and his company after escaping Thranduil’s dungeons, but since he is known as a business man, greedy and self-serving, he will be happy to see them go because they are expensive to keep and they distract the people from their daily business. When Smaug attacks Lake-town he will run away in his gilded boat leaving his people to fight without their leader. Fry is one of Britain's biggest thespians and a beloved comedian.
I used some data from beautiful TheOneRing.net in writing this spotlight!

HOBBITY TIDBITS

First part AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY premieres in December

2012, while second part THERE AND BACK AGAIN will premiere in December 2013! Overly dark and morbid Guillermo del Toro was supposed to helm the film, but fortunately, Peter Jackson took it over during the pre-production limbo. Actors James McAvoy, Matthew Goode and David Tennant were in the option to play Bilbo. MGM's bankruptcy, Peter Jackson's ulcer surgery and New Zealand union strikes are just some of the troubles THE HOBBIT went through.Barry Humphries, also known as famous Dame Edna (US audience remembers her/him from ALLY MCBEAL) will play a CGI Goblin King, the ruler of the underground caverns in the Misty Mountains.Click on the picture bellow to get yourself THE HOBBIT wallpaper from Phoebe :)