WELLINGTON: Actor Martin Freeman Friday dismissed suggestions that Peter Jackson's “The Hobbit” project is jinxed, even as the Oscar-winning director missed its publicity launch due to ill health. Freeman, who will play Bilbo Baggins in the two-part prequel to “The Lord of the Rings”, told a media conference in Wellington that he was eager to start work on the Tolkien epic, which is due to begin shooting on March 21. The Briton said he had heard talk “The Hobbit” was cursed after a string of setbacks delayed filming but felt confident the project was now back on track. – Agence France
