Hobbit film rumors haven’t exactly been in short supply, but here’s a new one that sounds interesting: Internationally-recognized singer, songwriter, and actor Tom Waits could be joining the cast.

The news comes from AICN-Downunder, which reports from what sounds like a trusted source that Waits is someone the production is seriously considering. AICN-Downunder previously claimed Brian Cox would be playing a dwarf in The Hobbit, a rumor that has yet to be confirmed. So far, only Ian McKellen, Hugo Weaving, and Andy Serkis are confirmed as being in the cast.

Waits has released a number of albums, and his music is known for incorporating blues, jazz, and vaudeville. In addition, his singing voice is distinctive: critic Daniel Durchholz once described it as sounding, "like it was soaked in a vat of bourbon, left hanging in the smokehouse for a few months, and then taken outside and run over with a car."

With regards to acting, Waits appeared in Bram Stoker’s Dracula, Mystery Men, and in a number of independent films. He can also be seen in the upcoming The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus, directed by Terry Gilliam, and the musician has also contributed to numerous soundtracks.

So he seems like an odd choice at first, but when you look at his filmography, Waits seemingly fits in beside Brad Dourif, Christopher Lee, and the various character actors that populated the Lord of the Rings trilogy. But what do you think of this casting rumor?