Here’s some big news for the Benedict Cumberbatch “The Hobbit” and “Sherlock” fangirls, so if you’re one prepare yourself. According to CinemaBlend via Digital Spy, Cumberbatch is set to have a role in “The Hobbit”, starring Cumberbatch’s “Sherlock” co-star Martin Freeman (Freeman is set to star as Bilbo Baggins).
Freeman let the news slip about Cumberbatch’s involvement after winning the BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actor in a drama series for his role as Dr. John Watson in “Sherlock”. Backstage, Freeman told the press about Cumberbatch joining the movie. However, Cumberbatch later said that the role was supposed to remain a secret, leaving Freeman to say, “I knew was a big mouth, I didn’t know how much of a big mouth, and I’ve ruined everything.”
Still, all of the surprise isn’t ruined since there’s still no word as to who Cumberbatch will be playing. I have never read “The Hobbit”, so I have no idea who he could play, but the folks at the tumblr page “Addicted to Sherlock” have an idea: Smaug. Apparently, from my small bit of “Hobbit” research, Smaug is a dragon that has a tremendous hoard of treasure, from which Bilbo steals from. Other than that bit of info, I have no idea who Smaug is as far as characterization, so I have no opinion on whether Cumberbatch would be right for that or not. If this sounds right to you, give your opinions as to why Cumberbatch should voice Smaug in the comments section below.
“Benedict is a magnificent exotic animal as an actor
… He doesn’t look like a normal person; he rarely plays normal people.
He plays exceptional people.
—
Steven Moffat