Benedict Cumberbatch On Playing 'Smaug The Dragon' In THE HOBBIT Trilogy

Benedict Cumberbatch On Playing 'Smaug The Dragon' In THE HOBBIT Trilogy

The Sherlock star talks briefly about bringing 'Smaug' to life on the big screen in Peter Jackson's return to Middle-Earth, commenting specifically on what it was like to work with Weta's motion capture equipment and exactly how much of him we'll see in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.

By JoshWilding - Sep 30, 2012 02:09 AM EST
Filed Under: Fantasy
Source: Total Film


"It’s very freeing, once you put the suit on and the sensors," Benedict Cumberbatch told Total Film in a recent interview when asked about how it feels to bring 'Smaug The Dragon' to life on the big screen with the use of motion capture technology. "I’ve never felt less encumbered, actually. And you have to be. You have to be free."

He adds, "You just have to lose your shit on a carpeted floor, in a place that looks a little bit like a mundane government building. It was just me as well, with four static cameras and all the sensors. Then the boys at Weta work their magic."

With The Hobbit now set to be a trilogy, the fact that the second instalment was renamed The Desolation of Smaug makes it fairly obvious that that is when we'll see the iconic character make his big screen debut. However, the actor went on to reveal that fans should keep an "eye" out for him in An Unexpected Journey too. "I think my eye will open at the end of the first film, and then you’ll get the rest of me in the second."







The adventure follows the journey of title character Bilbo Baggins, who is swept into an epic quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor from the fearsome dragon Smaug. Approached out of the blue by the wizard Gandalf the Grey, Bilbo finds himself joining a company of thirteen dwarves led by the legendary warrior, Thorin Oakenshield. Their journey will take them into the Wild; through treacherous lands swarming with Goblins and Orcs, deadly Wargs and Giant Spiders, Shapeshifters and Sorcerers.

Although their goal lies to the East and the wastelands of the Lonely Mountain first they must escape the goblin tunnels, where Bilbo meets the creature that will change his life forever…Gollum.

Here, alone with Gollum, on the shores of an underground lake, the unassuming Bilbo Baggins not only discovers depths of guile and courage that surprise even him, he also gains possession of Gollum’s "precious" ring that holds unexpected and useful qualities … A simple, gold ring that is tied to the fate of all Middle-earth in ways Bilbo cannot begin to know.


STARRING:

Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins
Ian McKellen as Gandalf the Grey
Richard Armitage as Thorin Oakenshield
Andy Serkis as Gollum
Hugo Weaving as Elrond
Benedict Cumberbatch as Smaug
Luke Evans as Bard the Bowman
Christopher Lee as Saruman the White
Cate Blanchett as Galadriel
Elijah Wood as Frodo Baggins
Orlando Bloom as Legolas

RELEASE DATE: December 14th, 2012.


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devil
devil - 9/30/2012, 3:29 AM
he a good actor he sould play dr strange in the marvel movie
TheNameIsBetty
TheNameIsBetty - 9/30/2012, 4:39 AM
Some old news, but interesting nonetheless. Can't wait!
Danbojohnj
Danbojohnj - 9/30/2012, 4:40 AM
Can't wait.
DrRockso
DrRockso - 9/30/2012, 4:59 AM
I hear he's doing the motion capture for King Kong II: Wrath Of Kong
mgeoff88
mgeoff88 - 9/30/2012, 5:35 AM
The only time I have to worry about "Smaug" is when I'm in L.A. ;P

Seriously though, I'm really looking forward to The Hobbit.
SpoonWielder
SpoonWielder - 9/30/2012, 6:36 AM
Well of course he wouldn't feel encumbered. He's a whole batch of cumber.
SCURVYDOG619
SCURVYDOG619 - 9/30/2012, 6:47 AM
"You'll get the rest of me in the second."

Why is he teasing Tea like this?lol
Saintsinnister
Saintsinnister - 9/30/2012, 8:04 AM
@devil. That is a good idea, he should play Dr. Strange
Saintsinnister
Saintsinnister - 9/30/2012, 8:05 AM
also the show Sherlock is awesome. Wayyyy better than that turd knock off Elemetary
Jolt17
Jolt17 - 9/30/2012, 8:36 AM
Sounds good. After Sherlock, he's definitely my one of my favorite actors working today, so I can hardly wait for his Smaug. Oh, and yeah...



He should be Doctor Strange, indeed.
Jolt17
Jolt17 - 9/30/2012, 8:36 AM
*definitely one of. Oops.
itzayaboy
itzayaboy - 9/30/2012, 9:51 AM
Ha just give away the ending haha
Tony93
Tony93 - 9/30/2012, 10:28 AM
he spoiled the end of the movie >:O
gaikinger
gaikinger - 9/30/2012, 11:24 AM
just read this book again while taking a s#!t....how are they gonna make this into 3 films?
AlexDeLarge87
AlexDeLarge87 - 9/30/2012, 12:07 PM
I hope someone finds a video where Ben is acting Smaug in mo cap suit. Im really interested how he is gonna pull that off. ;)
Super12
Super12 - 9/30/2012, 12:36 PM
I don't get how he's going to act as a dragon in a mocap suit...that makes no sense. Smug is huge. And has a tail and wings.
KnobGoblin
KnobGoblin - 9/30/2012, 1:08 PM
Who is this guy, and why is his name suddenly attached to everything in production?
DaenerysTargaryen
DaenerysTargaryen - 9/30/2012, 3:10 PM
Oh Cumberbatch....someday I will see your official pics from your upcoming movies. I need a Star trek 2 and Smauglock picture! The wait is driving me insane*r*
Jolt17
Jolt17 - 10/1/2012, 2:45 AM
True that, Godzillafart.
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