Martin Freeman has been offered the role of Bilbo Baggins in Peter Jackson's The Hobbit

Nathan Swank September 9th, 2010

Martin Freeman, best known as Tim from the original The Office in the U.K. and LOVE ACTUALLY, has been offered the role of Bilbo Baggins (once played by Ian Holm) in Peter Jackson’s upcoming THE HOBBIT. Freeman was already offered the role but turned it down due to his commitment to the BBC series Sherlock. That’s very honorable Martin, but are you freakin kidding me? This is THE HOBBIT with Peter Jackson! The film before the ground breaking amazing LORD OF THE RINGS series! Anyway, they seem to want him bad enough that New Line and MGM are willing to work around his schedule. I don’t think Mr. Freeman has a choice anymore, unless he just flat out doesn’t want to do it, which means he’s not interested in a seven-figure salary, starring in one of the biggest movie franchises of all time nor furthering his career as an actor.

As a big fan of Freeman’s, I find this news very exciting. I think he has made everything he’s in from television to movie better and have not understood why he is not a bigger star. Plus, bless his little heart, he kind of already looks like a hobbit and I mean that in the sincerest of nicest ways.

martin freeman