AS Rhys-Davies said, Jones was the person who should have done the voice for Treebeard. Since he didn't Jackson better the frak be trying to get him to play Smaug. Nobody else has a voice that would work as well.

Bilbo should be an unknown, I agree. But Gloin should be played by Rhys-Davies albeit with different makeup and hair and other costuming. Having a hard time picturing Cox as Thorin though. Beorn is another role I'm a bit concerned on how they will cast. I always pictured Robert Baratheon as looking a lot like the Hildebrandt Bros painting of Beorn, so I would think some of the names proposed for that role in HBO's GoT might work. The role of Bard should be at least a somewhat known actor, if not a well known one.

My biggest fear is that Smaug will look lame, but Jackson got Weta Workshop to do some brilliant work, along with Howe and Grant. I was worried about the Balrog, and was totally thrilled. I was worried about the Ents, and was thrilled. I was worried about The Eye, and was... well, less than thrilled. Got a bit too cartoony in RotK I thought. I was never worried about Gollum, at least not after Fellowship. Gollum HAD to be awesome or it would have killed the whole series.

It is true, we have waited a long time, but I'd rather wait then have it rushed. Big projects take time.

Now, lets just hope we can keep Cameron and his 3D away from Jackson, that is the one thing that could DESTROY the project the quickest.