Cate Blanchett returns to Middle Earth in ‘The Hobbit’

Cate Blanchett will be reprising her role of Galadriel in Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings prequel, The Hobbit, New Line, Warner Bros. and MGM announced Tuesday. Also on board are Ken Stott (Charlie Wilson’s War) as Dwarf Lord Balin, Sylvester McCoy (Doctor Who #7) as wizard Radagast the Brown, LOTR bit-player Jed Brophy as dwarf Nori, William Kircher as dwarf Bifur, Ryan Gage as Drogo Baggins and finally Swedish actor Mikael Persbrandt to play shape-shifter Beorn. We imagine that the cast will appear in both portions. 

The adaption of J.R.R. Tolkien’s beloved novel will be broken into two separate films. Production is scheduled to begin in February 2011, and Jackson will direct both movies back-to-back from a script he co-wrote with Fran Walsh, Phiippa Boyens and Guillermo del Toro. Jackson and Walsh will produce with Carolynne Cunningham while Boyens will co-produce and Jackon’s manager, Ken Kamins, will exec produce with Zane Weiner.

Expected to reprise their roles with Blanchett are Ian McKellan as Gandalf and Andy Serkis as Gollum. Jackson previously announced The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy star Martin Freeman will play Bilbo Baggins. On Blanchett, the director stated: “Cate if one of my favorite actors to work with and I couldn’t be more thrilled to have her reprise the role she so beautifully brought to life in the earlier films.”

The two-parter will be filmed in 3D with both releasing in December 2012 and December 2013 respectively.

Gist: The novel’s plot: Set in a time “Between the Dawn of Færie and the Dominion of Men”, The Hobbit follows the quest of home-loving hobbit Bilbo Baggins to win a share of the treasure guarded by the dragon, Smaug. Bilbo’s journey takes him from light-hearted, rural surroundings into darker, deeper territory. The story is told in the form of an episodic quest, and most chapters introduce a specific creature, or type of creature, of Tolkien’s Wilderland. By accepting the disreputable, romantic, fey and adventurous side of his nature and applying his wits and common sense, Bilbo develops a new level of maturity, competence and wisdom. The story reaches its climax in the Battle of Five Armies, where many of the characters and creatures from earlier chapters re-emerge to engage in conflict.

Worth Noting: Guillermo Del Toro was originally attached to direct, but stepped down due to delays in production caused by MGM’s financial troubles. Five months later, Jackson announced he would helm.

Do We Care?: Yes. Del Toro and Jackson have stated they want every actor, if possible, to reprise their LOTR roles. So do we.