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Tiny actors sought for Hobbit film
Peter Jackson has issued an appeal for diminutive actors to take parts in the Hobbit, even though he hasn't yet been given official backing to make the film.
Published: 4:50AM BST 24 Sep 2010
The roles are as 'scale doubles' for actors with speaking parts
Jackson has risen from a maker of small-budget schlock-horror films to the heights of Hollywood Photo: REX FEATURES
Sean Astin and Eijah Wood in The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
Men between four foot (123cm) and five foot two (158cm) and women up to five foot tall are being sought to play the inhabitants of middle earth in a prequel to the Oscar-winning "Lord of the Rings" trilogy. All applicants must be over 16.
The roles are as "scale doubles" for actors with speaking parts. Scale doubles are used in crowd scenes and long shots in order to make a contrast with taller "human" characters.
Jackson's company, Wingnut films, placed an advertisement in the Dominion Post newspaper for the budding actors. The Hobbit has been stalled as a result of the financial woes afflicting film studio Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer MGM is on the brink of bankruptcy, facing a debt of $3.7 billion.
Mexican-born director Guillermo Del Toro quit as director in May, citing almost two years of delays, with "Lord of the Rings" director Jackson expected to replace him at the helm. However a spokesman for Wingnut insisted the film-makers were continuing with their plans despite not having an official green light to begin.
"But we do need to be prepared in the event that we get one," he said. "That means having a little look around Wellington for scale doubles". Ian McKellen, who is likely to reprise his role as the wizard Gandalf, said earlier this month that back-to-back shooting of the two movies was set to begin in January.
