Film Flash: 'The Hobbit' and 'Breaking Dawn' casts continue to grow



Followng news that Peter Jackson has found his Bilbo Baggins--U.K. Actor Martin Freeman from "Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy" and "Hot Fuzz" (pictured left)--the cast of "The Hobbit" continues to grow.

Joining Jackson and Freeman for production in February 2011 will be Richard Armitage (British series MI-5) as Dwarves leader Thorin Oakenshield, as well as fellow English Actor Rob Kazinsky and Irish actor Aidan Turner as dwarves Kili and Fili.

Other dwarves Jackson has cast for his two-part adaptaption of the J.R.R. Tolkien book include several TV actors like Graham McTavish from "24" as Dwalin and John Callen ("Power Rangers Jungle Fury") as Oin. The cast also includes Stephen Hunter ("All Saints") as Bombur, Mark Hadlow ("King Kong") as Dori, and Peter Hambleton ("The Strip") as Gloin.

In addition to filling more cast slots, Jackson has also reached an agreement with the New Zealand government enabling him to keep production of the movies in the country.

In other book-to-film-adaptation news, the "Breaking Dawn" two-part finale event is adding even more to its overflowing, fanged cast.

In a press release by Summit Entertainment, the newcomers include Olga Fonda ("Love Hurts"), Janelle Froehlich ("Hacienda Heights"), Masami Kosaka ("The Runaways"), Sebastiao Lemos ("Força-Tarefa"), Amadou Ly ("The Tested"), Ty Olsson ("2012"), Wendell Pierce ("Ray"), and Carolina Virguez ("Matalobos").

According to Entertainment Weekly, Summit has not yet announced which characters they will be playing.

Sources:
EW: 'Hobbit' director Peter Jackson cast heartthrob dwarf
CNN: New Zealand, filmmakers reach agreement on 'Hobbit' movies
EW: 'The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn' announces more cast members

Film Flash: 'Breaking Dawn' casts its crew, covens

For the final two film adaptations of Stephanie Meyer's worldwide phenomenon, the "Twilight" series, director Bill Codon ("Dreamgirls") has sunk his teeth into the casting process and quickly filled the numerous positions in his cast and crew for "Breaking Dawn."

Only three characters remain uncast, though it is unclear whether or not Codon aims to fill those roles. The surprisingly impressive list of confirmed hirings is provided below.

Crew Members
Cinematographer - Guillermo Navarro ("Pans Labyrinth")
Visual effects supervisor - John Bruno ("Poltergeist," "Avatar")
Production designer - Richard Sherman ("Gods and Monsters," "Kinsey")
Costume designer - Michael Wilkinson ("Watchmen," "300," "Tron: Legacy")
Make-up designer - Jean Black ("The Curious Case of Benjamin Button")

Vampire Casting
Renesmee - 9-year-old Mackenzie Foy ("FlashForward")

Denali clan:
Irina - Maggie Grace ("Lost")
Eleazar - Christian Carmargo ("The Hurt Locker," "Dexter")
Carmen - Mia Maestro ("Alias")
Kate - Casey LaBow ("Moonlight")
Tanya - MyAnna Buring ("Doomsday")

American nomads:
Garrett - Lee Pace ("Pushing Daisies")
Mary - Toni Trucks ("Music and Lyrics")
Randall - Bill Tangradi ("Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronciles")
Peter - Erik Odom (newcomer)
Charlotte - Valorie Curry ("Veronica Mars")

Amazon tribe:
Senna - Tracey Higgins ("Chains")
Zafrina - Judi Shekoni ("Private Moments")
Kachiri - TBD

Egyptian coven:
Amun - Omar Metwall ("Munich")
Kebi - Andrea Gabriel ("Lost")
Benjamin - Rami Malek ("Night at the Museum")
Tia - Angela Sarafyan ("The Good Guys")

Irish coven:
Maggie - Marlane Barnes ("The Tree of Life")
Siobhan - Lisa Howard ("Highlander")
Liam - Patrick Brennan (newcomer)

Romanian coven:
Vladimir - Noel Fisher ("Pacific")
Stefan - Guri Weinberg ("Munich")

European nomads:
Alistair -Joe Anderson ("The Crazies")
Charles - TBD
Makenna - TBD

Whew! That was a lot of names. Codon seems to have carefully selected individuals with top-notch credentials and experience, so hopefully this will shape up to be a fine cast and crew. As the fourth and final book in the teen vampire series, "Breaking Dawn" will be divided into two film installments (a 'la "Harry Potter"). The first part will hit theaters November 18, 2011. The second is set to be released November 16, 2012.

To attach faces to the names, check out MTV's "Breaking Dawn" cast photo gallery.

Sources:
EW: Bill Codon announces key crew members for 'Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn'
EW: 'Breaking Dawn' announces more new cast members
MTV: 'Breaking Dawn' casting news
CNN: Stephanie Meyer excited about 'Breaking Dawn' casting