The Hobbit : Dream Cast

[Azaelia of Willowbottom]

Originally Posted by Sauron the White

Can Viggo play someone in his teens or early 20's? I have no idea but it might be a stretch that gets in the way of reality. Of course, all depends on just what they want to do with that second movie as a bridge between HOBBIT and LOTR.

No. I don't think he can. He's about 50, and I think he looks his age, maybe a little younger, even if physically he is more than capable. He can definitely play 40s. He might be able to manage 30s, but 20s is just a little too far, and teens are right out of the question. His face is a little too angular or something. He might be able to do the bridge movie--life in the wild makes Aragorn weather-beaten and scruffy, and I'm sure they could age him back a bit, just not all the way to his teens. I could see him doing the tracking Gollum stuff. Time in the movies is shaky, anyway. But if they were going to do the meeting of Aragorn and Arwen, they'd probably have to cast a younger actor. Audiences suspend disbelief, but I doubt they can suspend it that far. Good luck to the casting directors on finding someone who looks like Viggo. They'll need it.

I don't like James Earl Jones for Smaug. His voice has too much attached to it, unfortunately. No matter how competent an actor he is, he's not going to be able to escape Vader. Unfortunately, typecasting happens, and I think he'd be "typed out" because his voice is so, so connected to one of the most iconic villains in cinema.

Alan Rickman, I wouldn't mind, even if he might have some trouble escaping Snape, particularly with the young teen age group. I do like him for Smaug, regardless. I think he's a great actor, and he'd probably have a grand old time with that role.

However, I like the idea of Ian McDiarmid the best so far. He's mainly a stage actor (and director!), so he knows how to use his voice to its full potential. I was lucky enough to see him on Broadway a couple years ago, and that performance was not only a laugh riot, but so vocally (and physically, emotionally, and psychologically) different from the Emperor that I believe this man can do just about anything.