Although his deal to direct the two films adapting Tolkien’s The Hobbit is still not signed (see “Jackson in Talks to Helm ‘The Hobbit’”), Peter Jackson has begun the process of casting the films, according to Hollywood Reporter.  He’s reportedly in Los Angeles this week meeting with actors, and has also made stops in New York and the U.K.

MGM, which co-owns the rights, is the hold-up on getting the films greenlit due to its financial problems, but apparently Jackson feels confident enough to begin pre-production steps such as meeting with talent.