Rumors have been flying that there would be a major casting announcement for The Hobbit at Comic-Con next week: who would be tapped to play Bilbo Baggins. Among the frontrunners are said to be Daniel Radcliffe, James McAvoy, and David Tennant, though there's obviously the chance that as with The Lord of the Rings an unknown will take the lead.
Alas, executive producer Peter Jackson says that they're not quite ready yet:
No, we won't be announcing Bilbo for a little while. We're starting to think about casting, but we're knee-deep in the script right now. And when we do go to actors, they're probably going to ask to see a script, so we're powering ahead with getting the first draft done.
Nonetheless, preparations for filming are well underway. A familiar landscape is springing up in the New Zealand countryside as roads are laid out, fruit trees are planted and hobbit holes are being dug. Hobbiton is coming back, and there are pictures.