Peter Jackson must be a fan of 80s sitcoms, because he just cast Head of the Class‘ Billy Connolly as Dain Ironfoot in his duo of films based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit. I guess replacing Howard Hesseman can take your pretty far.

The Hollywood Reporter spoke to Jackson about casting Connolly. Here’s what he had to say:

“We could not think of a more fitting actor to play Dain Ironfoot, the staunchest and toughest of Dwarves, than Billy Connelly, the Big Yin himself. With Billy stepping into this role, the cast of The Hobbitis now complete. We can’t wait to see him on the Battlefield!”

In addition to Class, you may have seen Connolly in lesser known roles in obscure films like Boondock Saints (as well as it’s sequel, the cleverly title Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day) and The Last Samurai.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey comes to theatres December 14th with The Hobbit: There and Back Again releasing December 13, 2013.

SOURCE: The Hollywood Reporter