James Nesbitt has been cast as Bofur the dwarf in Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit. Hurrah!

Peter Jackson has finally been confirmed as director of the two overdue film adaptations of The Hobbit. As if you didn’t know.

And Sophie thought she had a difficult choice. Starring in the prequel to one of the most successful trilogies in cinematic history, or jaunting about with Benedict Cumberbatch in a new series of the truly brilliant Sherlock? Martin Freeman – how on earth did you decide?

When will we be put out of our misery? After months of rumours, scuffles, drop-outs and new additions we’re still no closer to knowing when The Hobbit will start shooting. If ever. The last we heard was that once Peter Jackson reluctantly agreed to helm the project, MGM’s money troubles set them back even more. So what’s the latest?

The Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson has been jetting round the world to meet with potential cast members of The Hobbit.

It’s the news that Shire-fans have been waiting for ever since Guillermo Del Toro pulled out of directing The Hobbit. It looks like big dog Peter Jackson is now in talks with MGM as to whether he’d be suitable to direct the two-part epic. Currently he’s credited as a producer – as well as helping pen the script along with his faithful fellowship of Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens – but it looks like everyone involved is straining to get him in the big boy chair.

Crimety, it seems the team of The Hobbit are taking a lot of inspiration from LOTR – the only thing missing from this endles production quest is a tromp around Mordor. With various stoppings, stallings, funding problems and director drop-outs, we’re beginning to wonder whether The Hobbit will ever get made. And the most recent rumour? That David Yates – director of the last four Harry Potter films – will step up to helm it.

Oh dear oh dear, this seems to be a production that can’t catch a break. After numerous set-backs, problems and funding issues, director Guillermo del Torro has announced that he will no longer helm The Hobbit; the much awaited prequel of the Lord Of The Rings films.

After much speculation, rumour and set-backs, it could be that The Hobbit is actually going to start shooting in July. And how do we know? Cos Gandalf told us. Yeah. Put that in your elven bread and stab it to death with a big sword.

Casting rumours for the new film adaptation of The Hobbit are a daily occurrence. The latest from the rumour mill is that Tobey Maguire (Spider-Man) might play protagonist Bilbo Baggins.