McAvoy to play del Toro's Hobbit?

Updated 14.46 Thu Jun 05 2008

Keywords: peter jackson, lord of the rings, movie, ian holm, the hobbit, bilboa, james macavoy, guillermo del toro

Speculation is rife as to who will play Bilbo Baggins in Guillermo del Toro's two-part adaptation of The Hobbit.

Produced by Peter Jackson, it is not expected to hit the big screen for another three years.

"No-one has landed the role yet...I am as much a candidate as anyone else" - Guillermo del Toro

Atonement star James McAvoy has been tipped by film fans to take on the role in the blockbuster adaptation of J R R Tolkien's classic work.

The Mexican director has denied these rumours: "No-one has landed the role yet...I am as much a candidate as anyone else."

On the subject of directing the films he said: "I am very excited and I am very nervous. I think it is a responsibilty. You have to be very happy but very careful"

Earlier in the year British actor Sir Ian Mckellen said he will reprise his role as Gandalf in the two-part adaptation.

Del Toro is moving to New Zealand for four years to make the films. He has also written and directed the film Pan's Labryrinth, which earned six Oscar nominations in 2006 and won three awards.

Del Toro is currently filming the upcoming sequel Hellboy II: The Golden Army.