Peter Jackson Finishes Casting The Hobbit, Adds Billy Connolly

With all the talk surrounding the forthcoming film adaptation of The Hobbit these days, it was easy to forget that the casting wasn’t even complete. But now, Peter Jackson, producer of the two-part epic based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s series, has announced that Scottish actor Billy Connolly will round out the enormous cast. Connolly will portray Dain Ironfoot, a dwarf warrior and cousin to Thorin Oakenshield (who will be played by Richard Armitage).

As Jackson said, “We could not think of a more fitting actor to play Dain Ironfoot, the staunchest and toughest of Dwarves, than Billy Connelly, the Big Yin himself. With Billy stepping into this role, the cast of ‘The Hobbit’ is now complete. We can’t wait to see him on the Battlefield!"

Part one, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is expected to hit theaters this December. The second film, The Hobbit: There and Back Again, is slated for a December 2013 release.

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