So here’s a nifty bit of news for you–guess who’s on the short list to try the Bilbo Baggins role for the upcoming Hobbit movie. And even more interestingly, guess who turned it down? Both questions have the same answer: none other than Harry Potter himself, Daniel Radcliffe.
And while I DO think he would’ve made a pretty sweet Bilbo, I can’t help but not be disappointed (factor out the negatives–it works) that he didn’t sign on. Oh, sure, he would’ve handled it well, and I can understand him not wanting to be typecast in fantasy roles (which is probably why he showed up nude in Equus), but I really do think there’s better out there. Significantly better, in fact. James McAvoy has already been suggested, and I’m all in favor of that. Frankly, if it weren’t so obvious, I’d think Elijah Wood handled Frodo just fine–why not let him take a run at the younger Bilbo?
But regardless of who actually takes the role, you know they’re probably going to be the subject of huge discussion in the fan community, because this is just too big to leave in just anyone’s lap, and chances are, someone won’t like the end choice.
Daniel Radcliffe has definitely matured as an actor from the early Harry Potter films, which sparks my interest even more to see him in the last installments of J.K. Rowling’s series.
Kate Mulgrew from “Star Trek: Voyager” has joined the cast of “Equus.” Mulgrew will star with Harry Potterstar Daniel Radcliffe and Richard Griffiths in the revival of Peter Shaffer’s “Equus,” which opens Sept. 25 on Broadway.
Mulgrew is set to play a sympathetic magistrate who champions the case of a young man (Radcliffe) who blinds six horses.
Griffiths, who appeared with Radcliffe in a recent London production of the play, will portray a the character who investigates the incident.
Harry Potter is Broadway bound – well – sort of.Daniel Radcliffe, the icon of “Harry Potter” movies, makes his Broadway debut on Sept. 5 in the play “Equus.” Radcliffe plays the stable boy who is blinded by six horses and appears undressed on stage.
According to Hollywood Reporter, Radcliffe earned rave reviews for his performance in the London production. He also received loads of media attention for appearing naked onstage — a departure from his wholesome image as the bespectacled boy wizard in the big-screen adaptations of J.K. Rowling’s best-selling fantasy novels.
Richard Griffiths, who portrays Harry’s mean Uncle Vernon in the “Potter” movies, reprises his London role as the psychiatrist who treats the stable boy who has blinded six horses.
“Equus” begins previews Sept. 5 for a limited 22-week run at the Broadhurst Theatre.
So here’s a nifty bit of news for you–guess who’s on the short list to try the Bilbo Baggins role for the upcoming Hobbit movie. And even more interestingly, guess who turned it down? Both questions have the same answer: none other than Harry Potter himself, Daniel Radcliffe.
