Richard Armitage's connection with Richard III

I know there was some discussion here recently regarding actors who might play Richard III on film and RA's name came up. I just found this in relation to R3 under the actor's Wikimedia entry (sources for quotes referenced at Wikimedia):

[open quote]

He is said to be involved in a drama based about Richard III.

"I was named Richard being born on the anniversary of Richard III's demise at Bosworth; one of my father's favourite novels is The Sunne in Splendour by Sharon Kay Penman, and I read this many years ago. In recent years it has led to a tentative interest and line of research into the rehabilitation of this story. As an actor, it's a project I would love to achieve. I believe it is a great story, a socio-political thriller, a love story and a dynastic tragedy."

"There's a darkness and mystery to Richard. I like the idea of someone who is not ambitious, but gets put on the fast track to the crown and almost finds himself there against his instincts."

"I've got a script in development, well, it isn't mine, but it's about Richard III... there's too much to tell, let's do twenty episodes then we can tell all of the story... sort of a long-running "Wars of the Roses" kind of thing... I know a lot of people that are interested [in producing it], but there is no one that will step on the gas. Quite. Nearly there, nearly there."

[close quote]

I would note that he's playing Thorin Oakenshield (leader of the dwarves) in The Hobbit, which is due out in about a month. He may be in great demand after that, as other actors were after the first LOTR trilogy came out. If that's the case, and if those bones are confirmed as R3's, I personally hope that RA's project finds funding. Or that he's cast in another R3 project.

As for his height, camera angles and perspectives can be forced (witness hobbits and humans), or he might be made to walk in a ditch as Liam Neeson was during filming with a much shorter Clint Eastwood. As for his age, that's what magenta gels and CGI are for. Just take a look at, say, current photos of Hugo Weaving, and how they've filtered him as Elrond in the new film.

From what I've seen -- and it's admittedly only from YouTube -- I think he's capable of performances that the writing and co-stars of his previous projects haven't allowed. Seeing The Hobbit just got 100% more interesting, as I originally wasn't looking forward to sitting through three hours of dwarves.

~Wednesday