Barnald

'Green light' to publish? I assume Doug has already written a fair chunk of it, based on various hints. This doesn't exactly fill me with confidence, the further time passes since the last Hobbit film.

Well Burger King did have those kids toys, along with that mail-away Uruk Hai figure (which was a great figure btw - fuck knows what ToyBiz were thinking making a good army-builder like that an exclusive).

Well you don't have to love every single moment of a film. And that's what, about 5 seconds? Can't say it ever bothered me.

Fuck it. I love An Unexpected Journey, and parts of the other two films. Do your worst.

Let's be honest, there's loads of great scenes across his films (too many to mention really - for starters, virtually all of Moria is just about perfection), and he has made some truly brilliant ones. I guess that just magnifies people's disappointment in him when he doesn't live up to their expectations.

Dead Alive would arguably have been worse

Braindead

Well that was my final offer, but I refuse to budge on Julians Sand as Thranduil

David Warner as the voice of Smaug is my final offer, along with Sam Neill as Thranduil

A quick glance at Cosmo's CV of late suggests he probably would have welcomed the gig. I may be wrong, but Cox doesn't seem to act as much as he once did. We could always cast his science professor namesake instead?

Again, very true. For all we know, roles were offered to the likes of Cosmo and Cox, but they didn't want to spend 2 years of fairly gruelling work in NZ (in terms of make-up, costume, physical shit) at their age, away from their family. It's no coincidence Jackson chose reasonably well-known actors for the big six roles (Thorin, Kili, Fili, Bofur, Balin, Dwalin) - Dean O'Gorman aside - and then filled out the rest largely with New Zealand character actors who he knew wouldn't give him any trouble (being utterly thankful for the role) and would probably be enjoyable to work with. It's very logical approach from a film-making perspective. I reckon Jackson agreed to entertain one fairly grumpy arsehole for the sake of art (Ken Stott). With Nesbitt, weren't there rumours that part of the reason the role appealed to him was because it offered the chance to save his marriage (he was having troubles at the time), uprooting the family to New Zealand for a 'new' (if temporary) life? Didn't work for him in the long run, but I'd definitely say he gained greater international exposure on the back of the films. He's a fine actor, and very memorable in the role (though he'd probably have wished the additional BotFA stuff had been included in the TC for his own sake).

You do have a very good point of course. Also, it's quite possible Jackson deliberately steered clear of casting too many cantankerous, well-known older actors on the back of JRD's complaints regarding make-up and such on LOTR. Imagining having to put up with this x13 every day.

I fucking love Oliver Reed and Kulich, so of course I'd welcome them in any capacity. You're getting better and better at this malarkey BB.

Scream Factory have certainly been on a real roll of late. Raising Cain and Lady in White last month; Carrie, The Thing, Child's Play and Exorcist III this; with Dead Ringers, Bubba Ho-Tep, Black Christmas, and The House That Screamed to come before the end of the year. Hard to see most of these releases being topped.

I don't believe I put up a photo of him (are you referring to the photos of Jack Thompson and Richard Ridings?)

Several times, yes. Died long before The Hobbit unfortunately but I always thought he'd have made a great Beorn.

Speaking of Hobbits, I still think they should have cast Rhys Darby as one. Maybe have a scene in The Green Dragon where he's the barman or something. He'd be terrific. And while I don't know if he had the serious acting chops for it in the long run, he'd have been very adept at Bilbo's comic stuff also. McNally would have been fine I suppose.

Jonathan Pryce would have made for a better Master of Laketown. And no one can beat Stott as Balin anyway in my book. But overall yes, some very strong picks there, I like nearly all of those actors and would have picked them myself. That said, you telling me these arseholes wouldn't make great Dwarves? If only Pat Roach were still alive to play Beorn.

Blessed as Dain I reckon. He could pull of a big personality like that arriving late on. Nah I'm just thinking of Stephen Fry full-stop, and no. He's many things but a Dwarf he isn't. Other good Dwarves - Jack Thompson, Richard Ridings, Vincent Regan.

Stephen Fry as Balin? Good Lord no. I knew you were insane but this is simply too much. Most of the rest would have been my shouts also, except Bill Bailey of course. Only a deranged loon would consider casting him (in anything).

No, James Cosmo must be Gloin

I can never look past Tom Baker. I reckon he'd have been just about perfect. Briers is a good shout too, but I think Baker would have lent a somewhat more mysterious edge to the character. Briers is just too lovely.

Maybe he built an actual palace out of the money he received for scoring the films?

You do that. No wants to hear it anyway.