The Wee Yin: Billy Connolly to play dwarf in adaptation of The Hobbit
He’s best known as the Big Yin and was recently named the most influential British comedian.
But Billy Connolly will switch focus to a smaller role after it was confirmed that he would play a dwarf in Peter Jackon’s movie adaptation of The Hobbit.
The Scottish comic and actor will play Dain Ironfoot, a great dwarf warrior, in the two-part film prequel to JRR Tolkien’s The Lord Of The Rings.
Jackson won huge acclaim and massive box office success for the original Rings trilogy.
He confirmed the casting for Ironfoot - a cousin of Thorin Oakenshield, to be played by Richard Armitage.
He told The Hollywood Reporter: “We could not think of a more fitting actor to play Dain Ironfoot, the staunchest and toughest of dwarves, than Billy Connolly, the Big Yin himself.
“With Billy stepping into this role, the cast of The Hobbit is now complete. We can’t wait to see him on the battlefield.”
Martin Freeman is starring in the lead role of hobbit Bilbo Baggins, while his Sherlock co-star Benedict Cumberbatch is also appearing as Smaug the dragon.
Actors reprising their roles from the previous Rings films include Sir Ian McKellen as wizard Gandalf, Cate Blanchett, Ian Holm, Christopher Lee, Hugo Weaving, Elijah Wood, Orlando Bloom and Andy Serkis.
The film has already begun shooting on location in New Zealand, where sets including the the hobbit land of The Shire have been built.
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, will be released in cinemas on December 14 and the second film, The Hobbit: There And Back Again, will follow a year later
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Comments
There are 14 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
donald
Wednesday, February 29, 2012 at 09:18 AMBilly the Brit is a political dwarf who was elongated by Parkie and other Brit Nats to spout his anti Scottish iin the British Meejah.
ThomasMcConnell
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 02:45 PMPending Moderation
David Ban
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 01:53 PMHow dae ye mak a "Big Yin" tae play a dwarf like "Wee Ain"?
jerrymanders
Monday, February 20, 2012 at 01:16 AMA true Celtic warrior.
korndog
Monday, February 13, 2012 at 11:05 AM'We could not think of a more fitting actor to play Dain Ironfoot, the staunchest and toughest of dwarves...' Is this the same guy who ran for cover (again) when someone dared to heckle him the other week""--------------------------------------------------------- Its called ACTING folks..... or do you really think Danny Dyer is a real hard man, or Leoardo DIcaprio, or Brad Pitt? How about being glad the roles gone to a well known Scotsman, instead of participating in the national sport of self depreciation?
maname'sbintaken
Sunday, February 12, 2012 at 07:45 AMComment removed by moderator
Hector the Red
Friday, February 10, 2012 at 07:59 AM“With Billy stepping into this role, the cast of The Hobbit is now complete. We can’t wait to see him on the battlefield.” Yer having a laugh.....this is the man that walks off stage because of hecklers......what chance does he have on a battlefield.......with orcs. Unless they use some artistic licence again (no Tom Bombadil....shame) and change his name to Dain Brownbottom! Will he bring out a song called D.W.A.R.V.E.S?
Tartancult
Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 05:48 PMI love the smell of envy in the morning...
quertycat
Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 04:18 PM" “We could not think of a more fitting actor to play Dain Ironfoot, the staunchest and toughest of dwarves, than Billy Connolly, the Big Yin himself." Not sure they have really thought this through. Do they realise he'll throw toys out of pram and walk off if anyone heckles him at all?
vladhibs
Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 03:00 PMwill he be called the 'wee yin' from now?
Lawnman
Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 01:21 PMBrit-free 3) Don't know about the "Crack of Doom" but realy believe you need to lay off the crack or what ever other drug you're on. Bigger joke than Connelly playing a tough dwarf. Off to work now.Bye
Brit-free
Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 12:53 PMis it too early to say that i blame the S N P ......in their usual sleekit way they will attempt to wriggle away from facing their part of the blame for this miscasting fiasco , i can hear already their excuse that " this was soley a matter of discussion between Jackson and Connoly " ....well come off it ! how stupid do you think we are ? ....it is a well known fact that the S N P have been in cahoots with Isengard and are attempting to clone Orcs in time to swell the electoral rolls ....this latest casting disaster should surely wake up Scotland to the reality of having elected the Ring Wraith Party with such a commanding mandate .....here ! slip this ring on ......then , through the swirling mists , you will see like me .....the full evil horror of an S N P government ......see you at the crack of Doom ....
Jimmy Fae the West
Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 12:52 PM#1 Teee heee. He has been practising by playing the Fore-lock touching Poison Dwarf of the too wee, too pair, too stupid shires lately. In search of the promised Land of Neck-warming Ermine and subsidised beer at the Green-Dragon.
Boab1
Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 12:29 PM'We could not think of a more fitting actor to play Dain Ironfoot, the staunchest and toughest of dwarves...' Is this the same guy who ran for cover (again) when someone dared to heckle him the other week?
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