One of the first candidates for Bilbo Baggins in the unmade movie version ofThe Hobbitrecently expressed his thoughts on the idea of him playing the character. Years beforeThe Lord of the Ringsdirector Peter Jackson returned to direct the three-part prequel series, there was a plan for Guilermo del Toro to bring J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic piece of literature to the big screen.
Prior to this idea being scrapped in the late 2000s,del Toro was casting actors for a two-part movie interpretation ofThe Hobbit. Early in the process, one of the actors looked at for the role of Bilbo Baggins was Matthew Goode, a British actor now known for his role in fantasy TV seriesA Discovery of WitchesandThe Good Wife.
Matthew Goode auditioned for the role and may have been a serious candidate to serve as the star ofThe Hobbitmovies. It didn’t work out, though, as del Toro’s version never saw the light of day. That doesn’t seem to disappoint Goode, however, as he’s now expressed surprise that he was even considered in the first place.
Matthew Goode Was Surprised To Be A Candidate For Bilbo Baggins
Matthew Goode Believed He Was Too Tall For Bilbo Baggins, But Would’ve Played Him Anyway
When asked in a recent video interview if it was true that he once thought of as the “perfect” Bilbo Baggins, Goode pushed back slightly on that notion, but acknowledged discussions of the actor taking on the part in del Toro’s movie. Due to nostalgia over audio recordings ofThe Hobbithe had listened to in his youth, as well his love forThe Lord of the Ringsin general, Goode said he would have been thrilled to play the character.
That said, Goode was skeptical that he’d actually be offered the role. Seemingly bewildered by the interest in him, Goode pointed out that he was 6'2", which was extremely tall for an actor expected to portray a member of the diminutive Hobbit race. But his agent had assured him, “They like your face for him.” But as Goode recalled, it ultimately didn’t matter, as “they got their man” in Martin Freeman.
I said, “Simon, I’m 6'2”, love. What are we talking about here? I can’t play Bilbo. And he’s like, “Camera trickery, darling. Camera trickery. It’s all going to be fine. It’ll be absolutely fine. They like your face for him.”
Our Take On Matthew Goode As Bilbo Baggins
Martin Freeman Turned Out To Be The Perfect Bilbo Baggins
The Lord of the Ringstrilogy andThe Hobbitmoviessuccessfully utilized various camera tricks and other techniques to make the actors playing the Hobbits look smaller than they actually are. But it’s important to note that 6'2", he’d be several inches taller than nearly all Hobbits, so there’s a point where making him believable as a Hobbit might have been challenging.
There’s a good chance that Matthew Goode would have fit nicely into Tolkien’s Middle-earth world, it’s probably for the best that this scenario never played out - after all, Peter Jackson’s return led to a great trilogy of movies based onThe Hobbit. As for Bilbo Baggins, the role wound up in capable hands, with Martin Freeman emerging as a great choice for the live-action take on the book’s protagonist.
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Cast
As Bilbo Baggins celebrates his 111th birthday, he recounts the extraordinary journey that changed his life. Guided by the enigmatic wizard Gandalf, Bilbo joins a band of Dwarves on a perilous quest to reclaim their homeland from the fearsome dragon, Smaug. Along the way, they face treacherous foes, unearth long-buried secrets, and discover unexpected courage within themselves. With danger lurking at every turn, Bilbo’s adventure unfolds in a tale of friendship, sacrifice, and the enduring power of hope.
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, directed by Peter Jackson, continues the journey of Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) alongside Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage) and his company of dwarves. As they travel to reclaim Erebor from the dragon Smaug (voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch), they encounter new allies and dangers.
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies is the final installment in Peter Jackson’s trilogy, based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s novel. The film follows Bilbo Baggins and the Company of Dwarves as they face the catastrophic consequences of reclaiming the Lonely Mountain. The power struggle over the treasure leads to a climactic battle involving five armies, testing the characters' courage and alliances.
