From what I've been reading, Holm and Wood will be serving as book-ends as Bilbo tells the tale to his nephew.

The movie sub-titles were announced and a cast list has been put together:

http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/news/the-hobbit-official-titles-release-date.php

Benedict Cumberbatch's name doesn't appear on that list, but Martin Freeman did claim at the BAFTAs that he's been hired on. If they're trying to keep his role secret, I'm thinking the voice of Smaug. Otherwise, I don't think I've seen a name attached yet to the role of Bard from Laketown who kills Smaug....

I suppose they still have to find a few actors to play the trolls as well.....

"@MediumRob @stu-n Don't tell me Aragorn and Arwen are in it. (Ok, it wouldn't be hardship to see Viggo again.) And yes, I do know that Elrond was in the book, but Galadriel certainly wasn't."

Aragorn was 10 during the events of The Hobbit and Arwen was an adult, and both would have been at Rivendell when the Dwarves and Bilbo got there, so don't rule it out. No Viggo though. No Gimli, either, as one of the Dwarves in the party is his dad, and John R-D isn't playing him!

What they've said they're doing is telling the story that's in The Hobbit alongside the untold story of the White Council vs The Necromancer, hence Galadriel (and presumably Saruman as well – he delays the attack while he's searching for The Ring – although there haven't been any announcements about Christopher Lee and he looked very frail at the BAFTAs). The Necromancer kills Thorin's father, who had one of the Dwarven Rings – they might even go that far back.

"I presume Old Bilbo is telling the tale to young Frodo?"

Possibly we get to see Bilbo adopting Frodo after his parents' death?

@MediumRob @stu-n Ha(-: I am wondering what if any resemblance The Hobbit, the Movie is going to bear towards the original book. Don't tell me Aragorn and Arwen are in it. (Ok, it wouldn't be hardship to see Viggo again.) And yes, I do know that Elrond was in the book, but Galadriel certainly wasn't.

I presume Old Bilbo is telling the tale to young Frodo?

"In your focus on British actors, you've no doubt missed the fact that Frodo is already signed up for The Hobbit... ;-)"

Playing opposite Ian Holm's Old Bilbo, presumably.

"@stu_n At this rate Frodo and Sam will be along in baby carriers for the ride(-: I do take your point though. I hadn't twigged Legolas was anything to do with Mirkwood. I think that is the only part I have enjoyed watching OB play."

In your focus on British actors, you've no doubt missed the fact that Frodo is already signed up for The Hobbit... ;-)

@stu_n At this rate Frodo and Sam will be along in baby carriers for the ride(-: I do take your point though. I hadn't twigged Legolas was anything to do with Mirkwood. I think that is the only part I have enjoyed watching OB play.

Daleks to be given a rest, eh?

Coincidentally, I vaguely recall back in 2007 wondering about the wisdom of bringing them back every year and being told that the deal they'd done with the Nation estate was good for five series, and they were determined to get their money's worth...

Legolas isn't named in the book, but as he's the son of the king of the Elves of Mirkwood, it makes sense that he'd be around. Depending on what they do with the 'kicking the Necromancer out of Mirkwood' plotline, he could be in it quite a lot.

Of course, a forest is always the safest place to film Orlando Bloom, because it's the only way to guarantee that there will always be something more wooden than him in shot.

Orlando Bloom joins The Hobbit. I think you're making it up now(-: