Entertainment Weekly is reporting that Martin Freeman, the British actor from the original UK version of The Office who played Arthur Dent in the 2005 adaptation of Douglas Adams’ The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, has turned down the role of Bilbo in Peter Jackson’s upcoming Hobbit movies.
BUT he may have been offered the starring role again, with a schedule that would allow him to continue his role as Dr. Watson in the sensational new BBC series Sherlock, which U.S. viewers can catch in October on PBS.
Former Doctor Who star Sylvester McCoy has also been tied to the film, at first in rumors for the Bilbo role but now, according to the actor, something “bigger.” Sir Ian McKellen, who played the wizard Gandalf in Jackson’s three Lord of the Rings films last decade, is expected to reprise his role for The Hobbit.
