Billy Connolly Joins The Hobbit

Just when you thought the last call had been made for Peter Jackson's back-to-back features of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and The Hobbit: There and Back Again, Deadline has released the news that comedian Billy Connolly will be joining the cast as dwarven warrior and cousin to Thorin Oakenshield, Dain Ironfoot. In a statement yesterday, Jackson said, “We could not think of a more fitting actor to play Dain Ironfoot, the staunchest and toughest of Dwarves, than Billy Connolly, 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!". Connolly joins an enormous ensemble cast including Martin Freeman, Sir Ian McKellen and Cate Blanchett. An Unexpected Journey will be released on 14th December 2012 and There and Back Again is set to be released on 13th December 2013. In the meantime, Connolly will next be heard in Pixar's Brave, released on 13th August in the UK.