According to PerezHilton.com, Scottish actor James McAvoy has won the leading roll as a younger Bilbo Baggins in the upcoming prequel, The Hobbit, to the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

From the article:

Said to take the lead role of hobbit Bilbo Baggins is Scottish actor James McAvoy.

The J.R.R. Tolkien novel is hoping to be the next blockbuster big hit and will be directed by Guillermo del Toro.

The film is scheduled to begin filming later this year in New Zealand. (more…)

After his acclaimed performance in blockbuster Iron Man, Robert Downey Jr. has been scouted by Hugh Hefner to play the magazine mogul in an upcoming Playboy-creator biopic. According to PerezHilton.com, after seeing Iron Man, Hefner has put Downey to the top of the list of actors to portray him in the film.

From the article:

After Iron Man’s huge and unexpected success, RDJ is one of the hottest properties in town!

It’s not a 100 percent done deal, but sources say Hefner has signed off on Downey to play him in the movie, which has the working title Playboy.

Hef reportedly took a liking to Downey after seeing Iron Man and “admiring his humor and skill in showing his vulnerability.”

Other rumored leading men include Tom Cruise and Leonardo DiCaprio, and the film will be directed by Brett Ratner. And Ron Howard will serve as producer for the Universal Studios film.

With an authentic playboy with a debauchery-filled past in the leading spot, this promises to be F’ing rad.