Although director Guillermo del Toro and producer Peter Jackson recently said that casting on The Hobbit won't start in earnest until next year, the rumor mill is suggesting that the filmmakers already have the actor in mind for the lead role of Bilbo Baggins.

According to The One Ring and MSN, via British tabloid Daily Express, Scottish actor James McAvoy (soon to be seen in Wanted) is the frontrunner to play Bilbo. McAvoy is no stranger to fantasy films, having previously played "Mr. Tumnus" in The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.

"A number of names have been doing the rounds, including Daniel Radcliffe and Jack Black, but James (McAvoy) is the one the film's bosses really want," the Daily Mail's alleged insider told the paper. "They're expected to have talks soon so hopefully it could be confirmed in the not too distant future."