Freeman "was born" to play Bilbo Baggins, Jackson said
The Office actor Martin Freeman will play Bilbo Baggins in two-part Lord of the Rings prequel The Hobbit, director Peter Jackson has announced.
Meanwhile, Jackson's wife Fran Walsh has reportedly told a radio station filming could move to the UK because of an industrial dispute in New Zealand, According to BBC News.
Jackson said he was "incredibly proud" to be able to announce that Freeman would be the hobbit.
The films are due to be released in December 2012 and December 2013.As with the Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy, the film had been due to be made in Jackson's native New Zealand.
Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy won 17 Oscars and earned billions of dollars at box offices worldwide.
