Who Will Be Moving From Music Biopics To Del Toro's The Hobbit?

Two of the only three members of The Hobbit's cast that I think we can so far bank on (the third being Ian McKellen) are set to make appearances in two separate music biopics before hand.

Firstly, Andy Serkis is to play Ian Dury in a film of the Blockhead's life. He said "I'm actually doing a film in April about the life of Ian Dury, who's a proto-punk rocker in the 1970s. He's an amazing character, a real poet. He sort of came up out of the British pub rock scene. He sort of pre-empted the Sex Pistols and the whole punk movement. And he was a polio sufferer, so he basically didn't have much use of his left leg or his left arm."

This is perfect casting. If you don't believe me, check out video of Ian Drury performing.

As I understand it, Michael Winterbottom collaborator Matt Whitecross will be the director (you may recall Serkis played Martin Hannet in Winterbottom's 24 Hour Party People).

The second Hobbiter to sign up for a muso-movie is none other than Doug Jones. He's in the cast of the Serge Gainsbourg biopic. He won't be playing Gainsbourg himself (Eric Elmosnino will be ), and he hasn't yet revealed who he will be playing, but he promises that the role will require his characteristic prosthetic make-up. Asking around, I have confirmed that the film is based upon a French comic book series (!) and will feature several supernatural creatures in "fable-like" scenes. These creatures will be handled by Studio DDT, who also worked on Pan's Labyrinth – hence the Jones connection.

The film will also feature Laetitia Casta as Brigitte Bardot so, gentlemen, start your daydreaming now.