John Noble would say no to THE HOBBIT
No Denethor in del Toro's movie?
So far we know that Andy Serkis & Ian McKellen will both return for The Hobbit when filming begins next year on Guillermo del Toro's first of a two film epic that will bridge the gap between Tolkien's first novel and the epic Lord of the Rings trilogy. We have also heard in the past that Jackson and del Toro both agree that any of the original cast members who would like to return to the series, no matter who they are, would be welcome to return... probably with the second movie featuring them. So at this moment, no one cast member from the original franchise can be ruled out. Except John Noble, who has told MTV this week that he would decline the offer to return to the series, even if del Toro asked him directly.
If they said, Would you come and play Denethor again, Noble said, I would have to say, No, Im doing Fringe! And I certainly couldnt play a younger Denethor or even Echelion now that Im an older John. Not even with makeup. I do wish them the best of luck, however, he added. Theres tremendous fan interest in The Hobbit. But Lord of the Rings was so special, you could tell even when you were working on it, that it was just so good, and sometimes, you just want to leave that in a special place somehow".Noble played Denethor in the original film, the father of Faramir and Boromir who was the ruling steward of Gondor even though Aragon (who served under him) was the rightful heir to the throne.
A possible storyline between Aragon and him would have been the most likely way of bringing the character back, though that would seem unlikely now, unless they cast someone younger. Best leave that character in the past I say.