With the hot and heavy casting news recently people are furiously trying to fill in un cast characters with likely candidates. Former Doctor Who star David Tennant is once again being mentioned as possibly playing Thranduil the Elvenking in the forthcoming Hobbit movie.
Tennant just recently announced that he and former costar Catherine Tate are to appear in a production of William Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing, which opens in London’s Wyndham Theatre from 16th May 2011. They will be playing the roles of combative lovers Beatrice and Benedick in the play, being directed by Bush Theatre Artistic Director Josie Rourke.
What does this mean? Well Thranduil is not a major character in the books, so Tennant would not need to be in New Zealand for a long stretch. He may possibly be able to film his scenes this upcoming (New Zealand) winter. Read on from DigitalSpy.com:
“David Tennant has been linked to the role of Thranduil the Elvenking in the forthcoming Hobbit movie.
According to Movieweb, the former Doctor Who star is preparing to join Martin Freeman, Andy Serkis, Cate Blanchett, Elijah Wood and Sir Ian McKellen in Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings prequel project.
Thranduil is the father of the character Legolas, played by Orlando Bloom in Lord of the Rings. Bloom is also reportedly attached to portray the part in The Hobbit.
Tennant was previously rumored to be in consideration for the lead role of Bilbo Baggins, which eventually went to Freeman.
Part one of The Hobbit will open in cinemas in December 2012.”
