Gosh!

Richard Armitage to star as Thorin Oakinshield in The Hobbit.

This is a dream come true for me (The Hobbit was one of the absolute childhood classics for me) and, I bet, for Mr. Armitage as well, who also loved Tolkien as a child, and now gets to be an elf (and let’s confess, he’s too tall to be a Hobbit, though people who like his feet probably have mixed feelings, unless they really like foot hair. Did you know the word used to translate “hobbit” in one of the first German translations of Tolkien was Haarfüssler?).

[eta: A DWARF???? It has been a long time since I read that book. Time for a reread. Well then he could have played Bilbo. Cough. SERIOUSLY?]

Seriously, I dragged into my office this morning before a day of student meetings and fellowship interviews for grad students and just clicked on the link to RAFrenzy, and now …

… there are tears in my eyes.

Thank you, universe. Hearty, hearty congratulations, Mr. Armitage. I am SO happy for you. This makes my week, maybe my month. Even if I have to wait more than a year to see it.

Armitage with pointy ears, from Spooks 9.2:

And the kids are welcome to take over the asylum, fitzg and everyone else. Just no spoilers, please. À bientôt — till this afternoon probably. I’ve inaugurated a new category below.

~ by Servetus on October 22, 2010.

114 Responses to “Gosh!”

  1. Servetus, honey, he’s a dwarf, not an elf–sorry! The world’s tallest dwarf, perhaps, although I am sure they will use f/x magic to make him appear much shorter. I am just so thrilled for him. They can make him short and bearded and weathered (uglify him just as he has wanted) and I can revel in knowing his talent has been duly noted by no less than PJ, and that this role will bring him so much recognition world-wide, and by a new fan base. It’s a dream come true!!!

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  2. It’s true. He’s the leader of the Company of Dwarfs. Not an elf, sorry.

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    • I know for Gimli the dwarf (real actor was 6’1″) and the Hobbits in LOTR they used the actors for closeups, etc., and then (what is the politically correct way to say this), little people actors, who wore masks of the regular size actor for distance shots or when they are all standing with the larger sized characters. (Oh, you know what I mean-LOL!). I think now when RA referred to getting a plaster cast made of his head it was for this purpose. Of course, he couldn’t say at the time.
      Very, very, happy for him.

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      • Exactly, they used various techniques to create the illusion of a much shorter person playing the role and I am sure they will do the same here. I think you are right about the head cast, too. And “little people” is the right term, Musa. ( :

        I am sure he will do a fantastic job and I am simply thrilled to pieces for him. It has to feel so good to be chosen for a project like this.

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  3. I keep seeing Tim Conway doing Dorf.

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  4. DwRArf!!!!!! Is that like me pretending to be tall?

    The pointy ears come into their own….

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  5. Oh happy day!!!

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  6. I’m so happy he will be a dwarf and not some beautiful elfish creature or a king/knight-like character

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    • I knew you’d be happy to hear he was getting to play a less glamourous but very substantial role, Jane. Obviously he was chosen not for his good looks but for his ability as an actor (good on you, Peter Jackson!) I have no doubt this role will raise many people’s awareness of who RA is and what a great talent he has. No doubt many have Googled him already to learn more about him.

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      • There was a marked upswing in hits on this site this week even on days when I did not post, and I thought it was strange. So maybe there had been some minor leakage and now people are eager to find out more about him?

        Oh, let’s hope so. I want him to get exactly what he wants.

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        • Well, as big a following as there is for Tolkien’s stuff, I would suspect there have been some rumours floating about the fandom that lead some folks to checking this and other blogs out.

          Me, too. I want him to have the kind of success he wants and recognition and further validation of his true talent as a gifted and versatile actor. I am sick of people dismissing him as only eye candy (And he might be able to afford a new Beemer, too, if he wanted it! *grin*)

          I think many new avenues will open for him.

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        • I saw an upswing too over the last few days, and as you know, I’ve posted almost nothing. It had to be people who got wind of something.

          I quit paying attention to the spam although I am tempted to write a piece on the kinds of spam I see. Amazing.

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    • This must be really gratifying for you, Jane!!

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    • I agree. Playing this part vs. the beautiful elfish creature of king/knight-like character definitely removes the stumbling block of his beauty. I much prefer him in a role like this. But then, I would actually like to see him get behind the camera. I cannot wait to see what he’s got there.

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      • I think he could be a fantastic director. I just don’t want him to completely give up being in front of the camera . . . too much acting goodness there!

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      • I would love him to get the chance to direct/produce/write even if that means that I cannot see him on screen. I’m sure with a major part in this movie many doors will open for him and he will have much more freedom to do what he really wants to do. And I’m not worried about him becoming the dreaded Hollywood star at all!

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        • Well, there are certainly examples of successful actors who do it all–Clint Eastwood, for example, who went from strictly acting to directing and starring and I believe doing some writing . . . RA’s versatility could very well open many, many doors. I think he is old enough, mature and grounded enough he isn’t going to turn into some awful Tom Cruise-like creature who thinks he’s God in his spare time.

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        • I think this is the perfect career move because it circumvents the Hollywood problem in a way. He gets a lot of visibility, but without having to go to Hollywood and hang around. When / if he does go to Hollywood, he will already be a known quantity.

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  7. I am just sooo happy for him to get this opportunity! As i wrote in another post recently…the journey with him will be winding and interesting. I never wanted to read or Tolkien but I will now.

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    • When I was a kid Tolkien suffered a lot in reputation as being the province of geeks (a sort of more elevated Star Trek fandom). But they really are worthwhile reading, probably of better quality than Bernard Cornwall, for example.

      Oh, I am so happy happy happy happy happy!!!!!!!

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      • There was a huge resurgence of Tolkien interest in the ’70s when I was a teen. I bought the trilogy in paperback at age 14 on a visit to my sister and remember starting to read them on my way home and becoming hooked . . . bookworm that I was (and still am).

        Some people have been acting snooty that “a bunch of television actors” have been chosen for the roles, but the fact is there are a lot of really good actors (one in particular) attached to this project, and everyone has to get a start somewhere–someone pointed out Ian McKellan was on a soap at one time, for goodness sake.

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        • Tolkien died in 1973 and that may have had something to do with it.

          No one had heard of most of the LOTR actors when they were cast, and look at them now. Viggo Mortenson, Orlando Bloom …

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    • I’ve read the trilogy several times and The Hobbit just once, I think. I will have to dig it out and re-read it now, of course. Knowing he is such a fan of Tolkien makes me all the more pleased for him getting this role. Surely a dream come true for him.

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      • It has a beautiful first sentence. Or, as I google them to copy here, first two sentences:

        “In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or to eat: it was a hobbit-hole, and that means comfort.”

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        • Aww, now that you brought that to my attention, it is a wonderful opening line, isn’t it? I actually read The Hobbit as a child . . . I recall checking out the book from the elementary school library and enjoying all the lovely illustrations that went along with the enchanting story. Wonder why it took me so long to move on to the trilogy??

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          • “It was a hobbit-hole and that means comfort” was a sentence that engraved itself into my brain the very first time I read it.

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            • And now I can hear his voice in my head saying those words, those delicious vowel sounds . . . “cuhm-fort” *sigh*

              It is such a cozy and (in the Brit sense of the word) homely image that sentence evokes.

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  8. I read all four books only once, but I may have to read The Hobbit again. 😀

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    • Servetus’s heretical opinion: The Hobbit is much better than the 3 LOTR volumes. It’s compact, economical, well -written. In the volumes of the trilogy there are all of these digressions sort of typical of the medievalist — fine for a historian, but not so great for a storyteller, where Tolkien gives you the history of a particular dialect of Elvish and so on. True Tolkien fans love that stuff, and that is what separates them from me, I guess. I liked the books a lot and have read them two or three times but I always skip over the informative chapters. 🙂

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      • Now that you mention it, the last time I read LOTR I do recall skipping over certain passages and moving on to the action, so to speak (I think newspaper writing has affected me in a certain way). I like the story to move on . . . don’t remember being that impatient when younger– interesting.

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        • I was into other kinds of writing when I read The Hobbit and the trilogy. I did it mainly because all of my geek friends were in raptures over it. I never felt that way about it, but I enjoyed what I read.

          Oh, and I think I worked out that RA was about three years old when I read those books. LOL!

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  9. @servetus,
    re: Oh, I am so happy happy happy happy happy!!!!!!!

    I KNOW!!!! ME TOO!!!!! His hard work is paying off…

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    • Now I have to go sit in an afternoon of interviews, and the interviewees will all be asking, why is she trying so hard to suppress that grin?

      As I am expecting some bad news later today, I’m so grateful to have this solace ahead of time.

      oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh!!!!! Mr. Armitage!!!!!! I’d like to send you a magnum of champagne!!!!!!

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      • @ servetus, as I don’t know how to write anyone off blog without email addresses- I will write this here for you..re bad news later…I’ll pray for you for whatever it is…there’s a great deal of divine will and energy being exercised right now in a whole host of ways and areas. It will be ok. You are in my thoughts…

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  10. @anyone..as I haven’t read the book, is Thorin a well developed character that our dear man can get his head around and live in?

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    • It’s been a long time since I read the book, Ann Marie, but I would say yes. And he will surely bring even more to the part.

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    • He’s a dwarf with a series of problems created for him by his grandfather and father; he’s caught in between his desires and his need to maintain honor. Really, a perfect Armitage role.

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  11. So amazing – and I agree that the Hobbit is a much more readable book than the LOTR. A really great read – and self-contained.

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    • I am sure there will be a huge wave of renewed interest in reading the book with this announcement . . . and as a reader I love the thought that RA’s various projects encourage people to read more–LOTN, North and South, the Heyer books (even SB!) And now discovering/re-discovering The Hobbit.

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    • The language of it, I was thinking last night, is just so compelling. That was what kept me reading it as a kid.

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  12. I now get how people feel when their team wins the super bowl. He has now broken through to the other side. I feel like a proud momma, althou I personally had nothing to do with it!!!

    @Sev i hope all is well.

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    • When the Alabama Crimson Tide won the National Championship last year, I was truly thrilled. But I think I am even happier about this. I do have that pleased-as-punch proud Mama thing going on, too, @Rob, even though I haven’t had one blinkin’ thing to do with this. HE’s done it. I am just so very proud FOR him and OF him. Don’t you know the Armitages’ heads are probably spinning right about now, realizing how high-profile their boy is about to be??

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      • I hope that they’re taking classes into how to preserve their privacy.

        But I also have wondered how they feel about it, and hope that they are at least as pleased as I am!

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        • I have thought of them a lot since I’ve learnt the good news. Is this curiosity to know how did they take it, if they have jumped in excitement as I have and don’t be able to erase the grin from your face every time you remember this? Hehe.

          OML 😛

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          • hey, I figure if I am doing that, they really must be. However, they’re also used to him.

            (I was telling my mom this morning that some of my students have complained recently that I am intimidating. She said that she didn’t find me intimidating, but that she also remembers earlier stages of my development.)

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    • I had a similar feeling yesterday and today — I had nothing to do with it but I was unreasonably proud.

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  13. @Angie – I am a bit sad thou bec he’s not “ours” anymore, we are going to have to share him w/ the ENTIRE world now. I can only imagine how proud his family is of him.

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    • True, we have to share him now—but–we can take pride and satisfaction in the fact WE were intelligent and discerning enough to see what a gem he was BEFORE everyone did. *patting self on the back with a smug smile*

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      • @angieklong– Absolutely! I do feel smug, and I am even smug about feeling smug! LOL Like a super big “I told you so!” to the World!! 🙂

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      • That feeling/thought crossed my mind too Rob but Angie is right. *patting myself too*

        OML 😀
        (super thrilled)

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      • yeah, we have to put on our best faces as ambassadors and talk about how glad we are to share Armitage with the world … 🙂

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    • For the first and hopefully the only time, I feel maternal about RA. I know this feeling because I’ve felt it about my own son coming to the attention of so many others, and how I was so proud of him but also hated he was not my little boy anymore. Of course no one could ever know him as I do. LOL! Some of us are now understanding the possessiveness some of the first fans felt and may still feel. I started to write a blog piece on this, but I don’t have time. Plus, it’s hard to write in the car. Of course SO is wondering what in the heck I’m doing and ribbing me while I type this. He’s ready to get on the road! LOL!

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      • I agree. Now we are going to have to deal with the sort of reactions the first N&S fans must have had in response to the reception of RH.

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    • Yeah, I agree that it will be hard to share him with the newcomers.

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    • I had this exact thought earlier today: pride tinged with a bit of regret for the much-deserved surge in fanbase. Here I was, looking forward to the possibility of a cheap, but close-to-the-stage seat at a performance of The Rover next year. I will be surprised if he is able to slow down the momentum now to do something like that (plus, they haven’t even settled on the filming locations for The Hobbit to begin production and PJ’s shoots are never short). With this casting news, I am also thinking that this will probably be the end of the line for Lucas North and, perhaps, John Porter. Still, RA has worked so hard for this moment and no one deserves the recognition more.

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      • I think that he is committed to Striek Back so they must have factored that it already. Really hope he can still fit The Rover in – even for just a few weeks.

        Do I feel bad that we may have to share him – NO!! That’s a selfish notion in my opinion – I want more people to appreciate his talents and I want him to be successful and be happy and attain his objectives in life. But there might not be too many new fans for quite a while – the first movie is not due out until 2012.

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        • I assume they wouldn’t have announced SB in the papers with his name if he weren’t contractually obligated — but I also fear that The Rover may be heavily shortened or not come to fruition at all. I guess we’ll find out how he feels about SB if he does a second series and there is then a third series and he has the option to continue or not.

          I don’t feel bad that we’ll have to share him. But I do have a bit of the sort of feeling that I had when the larger German public discovered a particular kind of cheese that was a sort of rarefied pleasure of mine and suddenly everyone was eating it. It didn’t make me like the cheese any less or make it seem any less special — but maybe knowing about that cheese made me feel a little differently about myself. I’m going to write about this shortly.

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  14. My other thought is I hope he takes a vacation instead of going to LA at the end of the year! I think Hollywood will now come to him! I find it a bit ironic that we we are mooing that no one appreciates him or his talent just this week and low and behold, this news breaks! Love it!

    He so deserves this and has worked so so hard. I am so happy for him and can’t wait to watch this next phase of his career unfold.

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    • Seriously. He said in the Financial Times interview that he’d taken a few week long vacations but not longer than that. Maybe he’ll be able to bring himself to take a month this time. 🙂

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  15. One more thing, can’t wait to see how he uses his talents to convince us that his is a DWARF!!! That bit just kills me! And they say, that the universe doesn’t have a sense of humor. When you think of all the short actors out there and he gets this part.

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    • Hmmm, never saw dwarves as sexy, but now…. Mmmm, long beard, piercing blue eyes, really big…axe. Perhaps after the Hobbit hits the screens, dwarves will be the new elves! So long Legolass, hello hot and hairy!

      Ok, for real, this is such wonderful news. Love P.J. gushing over him too!

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      • Just to prove myself right about dwarf hotness…happened to open the Hobbit to a random page and read a random passage about Thorin’s capture by the Wood-elves–
        “Then the elves put thongs on him, and shut him in one of the inmost caves with strong wooden doors, and left him.”

        I’m sitting here imagining RA dwarf wearing “thongs”. Interpret as you see fit.

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      • LOL: “really big … axe”. 🙂

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    • Maybe that’s why he said he’d like to be 5’8″ ? 🙂

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  16. I had a flight of fancy…imagine a gorgeous 6’2″ son calling home to tell his parents that he has just gotten the biggest break of his career (I would think although N & S could be, arguably), and he will make alot of money in a mega million dollar movie to play a dwarf! That just cracks me up!

    Regarding new fans, we will need to remember to be gracious and patient. There is an additional upside to this too. As more people discover him and research his other roles, as we all have done, there will be a sizeable uptick in fanfic, I hope! I love a happy ending!

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  17. It is just the most wonderful news! It’s taken a long time! And please let him take a vacation! Now, have to work on not being so possessive, and let the world at large get to know him!

    servetus, hopes are with your family.

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  18. I’ve been following the highs and lows of preproduction for this movie since 2008 when I first joined TORn. My hope was that RA would be cast as Bard the Bowman; posted this on the TORn site and the blog and felt that perhaps those of us who agreed about RA as Bard were aiming a little too high considering he was a TV actor and Peter jackson and Guillermo Del Toro (now not the director) might never have seen him act. When I heard the movie had finally been given the greenlight, I dared to hope that RA might have been given an audition. As it turns out, he must have wowed them all!!! My OH sent me a text at work yesterday to tell me the news – thank goodness it was the end of the day. I am so excited for RA – I never dreamt he would be given such an important role. PJ obviously sees the same talent we all do!!! CONGRATULATIONS RA!! 🙂

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    • Wasn’t there a post on TOR quite a while ago from Guillermo del Toro saying that he had been watching some BBC drama including some Gaskell ?? Well we know exactly what he was watching now, don’t we???!!!

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    • You can sign on to the film as the physical therapist who helps Mr. Armitage deal with stress on his body due to having to play such a short character 🙂

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  19. Does this mean that there will be no Strike Back 2? 😦 I hope not – I don’t want to lose Lucas *and* John Porter.

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    • I assume he’s contractually obligated, since they announced it officially. The question is whether he could, or would want to, get out of it, I suppose.

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  20. And so, we will see how a 6’2″ actor folds up into a dwarf. Peter Jackson had some lovely words to say about RA the Actor. So take THAT, you male-pattern jealoused “critics”! Haha!

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  21. I just read on RAnet that they’re going to film both movies in 3D. Richard Armitage in 3D!!!!!!!!!!!! I might be in a constant swoon in the movie theatre, no matter how much they “uglify” him. (Though I hate to confess here that I hope they don’t uglify him too much, just enough to make him believable, but no more). As others have mentioned he’s committed to Strike Back it seems, so I’m sure they will arrange filming schedules to accommodate that. I read they changed the Sherlock filming schedule for Martin Freeman who will play Bilbo so he could do it. Granted, physically having to prepare for Strike Back! But who says dwarves can’t be in shape! Interesting that two of the actors playing dwarves, Richard of course, and Aidan Turner, are handsome men (I don’t know the third actor). We might have to wait longer for Strike Back, and should Lucas live, I’m sure the BBC would accommodate his schedule, maybe he would only appear in a few episodes (OK, wishful thinking I know). I do hope someone interviews RA soon about this great development in his career.

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  22. Perhaps, just faint hope, BBC will take advantage of the new, higher profile, and continue Lucas. After all, they’ve proven despicably happy to “objectify” him. (Complaining, am I?) 🙂 So, maybe. Only, the multiple filming schedules are a bit worrying, even with a very fit actor…

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    • He does seem to be a bit of a workaholic. Good for us, not so good for him. Agree fitzg he needs to find some R&R time for himself as well.

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    • I have no spoiler knowledge but based on the news of all the projects he is involved in now – I just don’t think it feasible he will continue in Spooks next year. The Hobbit starts filming in Feb which is pretty much the same time as Spooks starts shooting. How he will fit Strike Back in I have no idea but I guess that must have been worked out already.

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      • I agree that I don’t see how he could do Spooks again, at least not as a series regular. Oh well. A week ago, that would have made me sad, but this absolutely makes up for it.

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  23. It occurred to me that the since the first Hobbit film is over two years away and the second over three years away that many of us will have strayed from RA fandom by then for various reasons and that makes me quite sad.

    Just saying…because I love reading these ‘conversations’ and I just wish the Hobbit was not so far off. I’m also pretty sure that Richard’s career is going to take off in a big way now and that may cause changes in the fandom too.

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    • I agree that it will cause changes in the fandom but mainly because, I am sure there will be more fans! Some of the old guard may feel their work is done, as Richard has finally become well known, they might want to retire the “candles” they have been holding for him and prefer to shine their light on some other overlooked talent. (Just my imagination to think this!)
      But I think for myself, I am here for the long ride, wherever Richard takes us! I have never been a fan of anyone before and I don’t see my interest in him waning at all!

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      • I think we should look at the fandoms of Game of Thrones and even The Hobbit film to see how a group of fans (a large group in both cases) can keep the flame alive even when nothing concrete is happening. Granted both are geared to book or book series and not one individual, but you can look at a blog like Winter is Coming for GoT, especially the early days, and see how they do it. I’m also sure Peter Jackson knows how to keep the PR coming for The Hobbit at least, and Richard Armitage’s role in it if we’re lucky. RA may still work on audiobooks and radio plays in the interim, he may even have recorded something new we don’t know about. But I think fandom is likely to always wax and wane no matter how much love there is.

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    • I’ve got months of stuff piled up to write — I will obviously be writing about past stuff he’s done and not stuff as it appears, I presume, but I plan to keep writing as long as it’s practical. If I have to stop it will because of personal circumstances in my life, not because I’ve tired of him — at least that’s what I think at this point.

      One thing about blogging anyway is that while it seems to be a fairly transient genre, at the same time it’s very easy to start a new blog. I’ve been blown away by the response to this blog, and I am sure that new fans who are discovering him will also be starting more blogs. And of course one assumes that the Armitage fan forums will continue on as they always have.

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  24. I’ve been reading all of your responses as I listen to Renee Fleming sing Verdi’s Requiem: Libera Me & I can’t help the tears. Silly old lady! I’m fairly new to this group and am so happy for all of you as well as RA. It’s all made me a bit emotional. And prayers coming from this corner of the world for your dad, servetus. Best wishes to all of you!

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    • I love her. I especially like the album “Night Songs” that she made with the Fauré pieces.

      Thanks for yoru good wishes.

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  25. […] In the religious tradition of my childhood, “nunc dimittis” is the liturgical piece sung after the Eucharist, expressing the sentiment that the congregation has now witnessed again the testament to the miracle of human salvation at the hands of a G-d who cared enough to give his only-begotten son to accomplish it. Its text is drawn from the Gospel of Luke, where the evangelist puts it in the mouth of Simeon, an ancient man who’s been promised he’ll live to see the Messiah. Simeon’s been waiting in the Temple for a very long time when Joseph and Mary bring Jesus to be circumcised. If we were interpreting typologically, we might see Moses, who waits for a very long time to see the Promised Land but cannot enter it, as a type for Simeon, whose eyes see a deliverance that he will — in contrast to Moses — be able to experience. I’m not equating Richard Armitage with Jesus Christ, but this expression “we’re singing the nunc dimittis” to mean “we’ve been hanging on a long time to see this result, but it’s here and we’re done now” was one I heard a lot as a child, and I found out when I was doing my doctoral work that it was an extremely common phrase for exactly the same sentiment in the sixteenth-century sources I read for my dissertation. The modern secular equivalent is probably the statement, usually attributed to the Lone Ranger, but perhaps even older (I found a reference to it in the Prisoner of Zenda): “My work here is done.” […]

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  26. […] you were when you learned that Armitage had been cast in The Hobbit?” Mulubinba asks. I was here. What I forgot: I inaugurated a new tag on that day: “absolute utter unadulterated […]

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  27. […] our ambivalence at the beginning, that we’re gradually being converted to Hobbit fandom? My own feelings about Armitage in the role were positive, but my feelings about being a The Hobbit fan were negative at the beginning and have improved only […]

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  28. […] course. And there’ll be more about that in the next year, naturally. The plan for this blog after October 2010 was to continue it until the premiere of the first installment of The Hobbit. Circumstances […]

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  29. […] my childhood and young adulthood experiences with The Hobbit, or There and Back Again (1937), as I have been a little disingenuous till now. I wasn’t as in love with this book as a child as Richard Armitage seems to have […]

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  30. […] into the archives to read fan reactions to the significant events pertaining to TH. There was the absolute joy surrounding the casting announcement, the excitement of the very first video blog with Richard’s part in the powhiri ceremony, and […]

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