Tom Waits for Role in "The Hobbit"?

You lookin' at me, Frodo? Rumors swirl. We report.

By Fred Mills

If you're Tom Waits, it ain't enough to celebrate your 60^th birthday; the musical legend was born on this day in 1949, and we at BLURT would like say, "Happy birthday, Tom!" (You can read our review of his recent album Glitter and Doom Live here.) And for most folks, just blowing out the candles would suffice. But not Tom.

Waits is easing into his 60^th year to the rumors that he's under serious consideration for a major role in Peter Jackson's upcoming adaptation of The Hobbit. The director's apparently already holding auditions for various parts, and while no specifics have emerged from the Jackson camp, other actors reportedly in the possible mix include Daniel Radcliffe, Martin Freeman, James McAvoy and David Tennant. The only confirmed roles thus far have ben for Ian McKellen, Hugo Weaving and Andy Serkis.

Waits, of course, has appeared in many films over the years, sometimes in main roles and sometimes more cameo-based. They include Down By Law, Bram Stoker's Dracula, Mystery Men, Short Cuts, Myster Train and The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus.

Filming for The Hobbit  scheduled to begin sometime in the middle of 2010. Tom, drop us a line and keep us posted...