The Hobbit (film series) appearing in "The Hobbit" films. In early October 2010, it was confirmed by the studio that Martin Freeman had been cast in the role of Bilbo Baggins. It was revealed that he had earlier been approached by the producers to play a role in the films, but was forced to turn it down because of scheduling conflicts with the BBC television series "Sherlock". At the time, Freeman was quoted as saying, "[I]f something could be worked out, that would be great. I did it [turned down the role] with a heavy heart, definitely." On his casting, Peter Jackson was quoted
Bilbo Baggins Bilbo Baggins Bilbo Baggins is the title character and protagonist of J. R. R. Tolkien's 1937 novel "The Hobbit", as well as a supporting character in "The Lord of the Rings". In Tolkien's narrative conceit, in which all the writings of Middle-earth are translations from the fictitious volume of "The Red Book of Westmarch", Bilbo is the author of "The Hobbit" and translator of various "works from the elvish" (as mentioned in the end of "The Return of the King"). In "The Hobbit", Bilbo Baggins, a hobbit in comfortable middle age, was hired as a "burglar" –despite his initial objections–