English actor Martin Freeman has been chosen to play the lead role of Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit.
Freeman is best known for his role in the original BBC television version of The Office, as well as the films Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and Love Actually.
Director Sir Peter Jackson has also announced that New Zealand actors Mark Hadlow, Peter Hambleton, John Callen and Stephen Hunter will play dwarfs.
Sir Peter's Wingnut production company says the cast list has been in place for some weeks. However, it did not want to announce it while the international actors' boycott of The Hobbit was in place.
Warner Bros, which is financing the $500 million project, will visit New Zealand next week to decide whether to move the filming overseas following concerns over industrial action.
Hadlow 'appalled' by union action
Hadlow says he can not understand the action by the New Zealand Actors' Equity union which he believes has put about 400 jobs at risk.
Hadlow will play Dori the dwarf in The Hobbit and has worked on several of Sir Peter Jackson's films, including King Kong and Meet the Feebles.
He told Radio New Zealand's Checkpoint programme he is ecstatic about working on the film and supports Sir Peter 100%.
The actor says he is appalled by the furore created by the unions, particularly the Australian-based Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance, which had been advising Actors' Equity.
"Three weeks ago, I received two texts on my phone ... before I had signed a contract, before I knew I was being cast from someone in the MEAA who said to me: 'Do not sign your contract. We hear that you are possibly going to be in Hobbit'. What arrogance is that?"
Hadlow says it will be tragic if New Zealand misses out as the filming location.
When asked if he had been told to have his passport ready, Hadlow replied: "No".
