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Rhys Darby as Norman in Yes Man (2008)

At first I thought this was an April Fool's day joke, but it's actually true. Apparently Bret McKenzie, one half of New Zealand comedy band Flight of the Conchords, had a small part as a hobbit named Figwit in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Film news websites are abuzz with speculation over whether or not he will be reprising his role in the upcoming film adaptations of The Hobbit, which are now shooting in New Zealand.

I'm wondering why they're not going to offer a part to actor and comedian Rhys Darby. He was hilarious as the inept manager and New Zealand consulate deputy cultural attache Murray Hewitt in the Flight of the Conchords HBO series. Perhaps it's because these films will be fantasy epics, and Darby usually plays nerdy, kooky characters. With his distinctive screen persona, perhaps he'd be out of place in this kind of film, that presumably will want to be taken seriously.