WellingtonNZ.com,
New Zealand 

Members of The Hobbit cast at Park Road Post in Wellington's Miramar

The stars of Sir Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit are feeling at home and welcome in Wellington as they prepare for the cameras to start rolling on the much anticipated films.

The first cast media appearance took place at Park Road Post today. British actor Martin Freeman – who will play the role of hobbit Bilbo Baggins in the US$500 million The Lord of the Rings prequel –was joined by the actors playing the 13 dwarves.

Irish star James Nesbitt (Bofur) described being involved in The Hobbit as an “enormous privilege”, not just because of the scale of the films, but because of the community and family atmosphere built around them.

His family was settling in well and he felt “incredibly at home” in Wellington, he said. “You can very easily understand why people move here.”

Nesbitt confirmed he has dressed up at the recent NZI Sevens tournament in Wellington – renowned as one of the world’s biggest fancy dress parties.

“I was in the corporate box and I was the only one in costume. People were talking to me obviously thinking ‘he’s supposed to be somebody ….but….he’s a chicken.’” Why a chicken? “It felt right.”

Former EastEnders star Rob Kazinsky told media he feels “entirely at home” in Wellington. And the cast, who have been together in Wellington for the past four weeks, seem very at home with each other. Jokes were made at the expense of themselves, each other and the production itself.

Asked if he felt there was a curse to contend with, Martin Freeman said production delays hadn’t compromised the film or worried the cast. “We are all ready to go …just as soon as 2015 rolls around,” he quipped.

Ken Stott, who will play Balin, described the credentials of the Wellington filmmakers involved as “second to none” and said the facilities in New Zealand’s capital were the “envy of the rest of the world”.

Freeman was full of praise for his director, describing Sir Peter Jackson as “phenomenally normal”.

“And I mean genuinely normal, as opposed to those people that play at being hip or cool or ostentatiously normal, sort of ‘look here’s me being normal and having a normal cup of tea’.

“He’s one of the few star directors on the planet but he’s still an enthusiast… he still wants to lose himself in the game.”

In a statement, Jackson, who is recovering from recent surgery on a perforated ulcer, said he regretted not being able to attend but was under a medical “house arrest” of sorts. He was looking forward to being back on deck very soon.

“I feel these movies are going to be something very special.”

Principal photography for The Hobbit will start in Wellington on Monday 21 March. Shooting will take place at Stone Street Studios in Miramar and on location around New Zealand.

Confirmed cast include: Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, Richard Armitage, Ken Stott, Graham McTavish, William Kircher, James Nesbitt, Stephen Hunter, Rob Kazinsky, Aidan Turner, Peter Hambleton, John Callen, Jed Brophy, Mark Hadlow, Adam Brown, Cate Blanchett, Andy Serkis, Mikael Persbrant, Sylvester McCoy and Elijah Wood.