Peter Jackson Casts Billy Connolly as The Hobbit's Final Dwarf

[Mike Kayatta]

Peter Jackson Casts Billy Connolly as The Hobbit's Final Dwarf

The Big Yin will play a short dwarf for the big screen.

Comedy man Billy Connolly, perhaps best known for his role as Il Duce in the Boondock Saints movies (though he's given many a great performance over the course of his career) has been cast in the upcoming Lord of the Rings prequel as Dain Ironfoot, "a great dwarf warrior and cousin of Thorin Oakenshield." With Connolly's role now in stone (iron?) the cast of The Hobbit is officially complete.

"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," said Jackson during a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, then later adding, "We can't wait to see him on the battlefield!"

Connolly will join Sherlock boys Martin Freeman and Benedict Cumberbatch in the film(s), as well series mainstays Sir Ian McKellen, Andy Serkis, and others. I really think Jackson made the right move by bringing him in for Ironfoot, after all (and I mean this in the best way possible) the guy already sort of looks a bit like a Tolkien dwarf, height withstanding. The hair and makeup departments are probably cheering louder than anyone.

Catch Connolly and the rest on December 14th, 2012, when The Hobbit hits theaters.

Source: WETA


Permalink

 

[Tartarga]

Oh hell yes, Billy Connolly is pure concentrated awesomeness. I cannot remember the last time I was this excited for a movie.

 

[Ragsnstitches]

I hope he does a gig following this role. It would be interesting to hear this witty mans take on being dwarvinised.

Ugh, the release is sooo far away.

 

[scarab7]

Yes, yes, and yes. Really starting to get hyped for this movie.

 

[Plinglebob]

AWESOME!!! Honestly can't think of anyone better to play Dwarf, but I probably would have cast him have Beorn.

 

[Soviet Heavy]

Billy Connolly.... as Dain freaking Ironfoot!? That's so insane it's awesome.

 

[Wolfram23]

That is wicked!

 

[RJ Dalton]

I'm still bothered by having heard that Jackson created a female elf character for no apparent reason. A bit pointless to worry about any reservations I may have, though, because I'm going to go see it anyway. I want to hear the full dwarf song.

 

[RJ Dalton]

Spoiler

Far over the Misty Mountains cold,
To dungeons deep and caverns old,
We must away, ere break of day,
To seek our pale enchanted gold.

The dwarves of yore made mighty spells,
While hammers fell like ringing bells,
In places deep, where dark things sleep,
In hollow halls beneath the fells.

For ancient king and elvish lord
There many a gleaming golden hoard
They shaped and wrought, and light they caught,
To hide in gems on hilt of sword.

On silver necklaces they strung
The flowering stars, on crowns they hung
The dragon-fire, on twisted wire
They meshed the light of moon and sun.

Far over the Misty Mountains cold,
To dungeons deep and caverns old,
We must away, ere break of day,
To claim our long-forgotten gold.

Goblets they carved there for themselves,
And harps of gold, where no man delves
There lay they long, and many a song
Was sung unheard by men or elves.

The pines were roaring on the heights,
The wind was moaning in the night,
The fire was red, it flaming spread,
The trees like torches blazed with light.

The bells were ringing in the dale,
And men looked up with faces pale.
The dragon?s ire, more fierce than fire,
Laid low their towers and houses frail.

The mountain smoked beneath the moon.
The dwarves, they heard the tramp of doom.
They fled the hall to dying fall
Beneath his feet, beneath the moon.

Far over the Misty Mountains grim,
To dungeons deep and caverns dim,
We must away, ere break of day,
To win our harps and gold from him!

The wind was on the withered heath,
But in the forest stirred no leaf:
There shadows lay be night or day,
And dark things silent crept beneath.

The wind came down from mountains cold,
And like a tide it roared and rolled.
The branches groaned, the forest moaned,
And leaves were laid upon the mould.

The wind went on from West to East;
All movement in the forest ceased.
But shrill and harsh across the marsh,
Its whistling voices were released.

The grasses hissed, their tassels bent,
The reeds were rattling?on it went.
O?er shaken pool under heavens cool,
Where racing clouds were torn and rent.

It passed the Lonely Mountain bare,
And swept above the dragon?s lair:
There black and dark lay boulders stark,
And flying smoke was in the air.

It left the world and took its flight
Over the wide seas of the night.
The moon set sale upon the gale,
And stars were fanned to leaping light.

Under the Mountain dark and tall,
The King has come unto his hall!
His foe is dead, the Worm of Dread,
And ever so his foes shall fall!

The sword is sharp, the spear is long,
The arrow swift, the Gate is strong.
The heart is bold that looks on gold;
The dwarves no more shall suffer wrong.

The dwarves of yore made mighty spells,
While hammers fell like ringing bells
In places deep, where dark things sleep,
In hollow halls beneath the fells.

On silver necklaces they strung
The light of stars, on crowns they hung
The dragon-fire, from twisted wire
The melody of harps they wrung.

The mountain throne once more is freed!
O! Wandering folk, the summons heed!
Come haste! Come haste! Across the waste!
The king of friend and kin has need.

Now call we over the mountains cold,
?Come back unto the caverns old!?
Here at the gates the king awaits,
His hands are rich with gems and gold.

The king has come unto his hall
Under the Mountain dark and tall.
The Worm of Dread is slain and dead,
And ever so our foes shall fall!

Farewell we call to hearth and hall!
Though wind may blow and rain may fall,
We must away, ere break of day
Far over the wood and mountain tall.

To Rivendell, where Elves yet dwell
In glades beneath the misty fell.
Through moor and waste we ride in haste,
And whither then we cannot tell.

With foes ahead, behind us dread,
Beneath the sky shall be our bed,
Until at last our toil be passed,
Our journey done, our errand sped.

We must away! We must away!
We ride before the break of day!

It makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up just thinking about it

I know the actual song. The Hobbit is my favorite Tolkien book, what I meant was I want to actually hear it performed.

 

[tmande2nd]

WHY WONT THROWING MY MONEY AT MY SCREEN MAKE THIS COME ANY FASTER!

 

[Something Amyss]

Well, he already kinda looks the part.

 

[jurnag12]

I'm still bothered by having heard that Jackson created a female elf character for no apparent reason. A bit pointless to worry about any reservations I may have, though, because I'm going to go see it anyway. I want to hear the full dwarf song.

Same. While I got tired with the constant bloody songs at every other page, that one has always been awesome.

 

[RJ Dalton]

Same. While I got tired with the constant bloody songs at every other page, that one has always been awesome.

The songs were some of the best parts of the Hobbit. They helped build a really strong impression of the world and its cultures. I wanna see them all in it.

I know what you meant, I'm excited for it too! I still tear up when I hear the short clip of it in the trailer.

My reaction was a bit more of a squeegasm, actually.

 

[Fasckira]

I would have argued hes best known for being, you know, a comedian... but then I guess he may not be that big outside of the UK perhaps.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBMsPNI6EZE

 

[Myke_storm]

billy connolly on dwarves

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVR3xF8h1Ao&feature=related

 

[Sovvolf]

I would have argued hes best known for being, you know, a comedian... but then I guess he may not be that big outside of the UK perhaps.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBMsPNI6EZE

Pretty much my thinking, haven't seen neither Boondonks Saints 1 or 2 but I know Billy Connolly well enough from his stand up.