Good and bad news about "The Hobbit" always seems to come on the same day.
First we had news that filming was delayed due to Peter Jackson's unexpected surgery, but now we have a new cast member to be excited about. See? Up and down!
According to ITFN, Saoirse Ronan is the latest addition to the cast of "The Hobbit." Ronan and Jackson worked together before on "The Lovely Bones," a film that really helped solidify Ronan as a fresh new talent in Hollywood. The film centered on a difficult subject, and it's a mark of how well they got along that Ronan is eager to work with Jackson again.
ITFN didn't specify Ronan's role, but "The Hobbit" did have a casting call out for a female elf named Itaril, a member of the Woodland King's Guard, who has to be "quick and lithe and physically adept, being able to fight with both sword and bow."
We're not sure if this is actually a legitimate character sheet, but since "The Hobbit" was rather short of women, it's a strong possibility one would be invented for the film. Anyone who has seen the trailer for Ronan's upcoming film "Hanna" knows she's adept with a bow, so it's a curious coincidence. Sure, she could have a cameo as Bilbo's adventuring ancestress, Belladonna Took, but Ronan seems a little more elven than hobbit, don't you think?
We'll keep our eye on this, and see if we can bring news as to who Ronan is actually playing. But we hope we're right!
