The UK’s Telegraph is reporting that it seems as though Doctor Who’s David Tennant is in the front running to play everyone’s favorite burglar, Bilbo Baggins in Guillermo Del Toro’s Hobbit movies.

The Scottish star leads a list of stars, including James McAvoy and Daniel Radcliffe, vying to play the title role of Bilbo Baggins in “The Hobbit.” The film – which may be split in two – is based on Tolkien’s children’s book prequel to The Lord Of The Rings hit series.

Tennant is due to make his debut appearance at the world’s biggest science-fiction and fantasy convention Comic-Con in the US next week.

And Rings director Peter Jackson is also expected to announce his choice for the role when he attends.

Geoff Boucher of the Los Angeles Times, said yesterday: “David Tennant just happens to be making his very first trip to the San Diego expo to promote “Doctor Who,” a television series that he will soon be leaving behind. “Peter Jackson, the producer of the two-film “Hobbit” series that begins its theatre run in 2011, is also slated to appear this year, and, well you can see the dot-connecting possibilities. …

“I think Tennant would be exceptional in the role.”

Personally, I quite like all three of the actors on that short list for Bilbo, though for some reason when I heard David Tennant for the role the first time, it clicked more than the others.

If there’s going to be an announcement at Comic-con, trust that I’ll work my hardest to report on that as quickly as possible. Peter Jackson and Guillermo Del Toro panels are always the best and I try not to miss them. Knowing that something of this magnitude may get announced motivates me twice as much to go.