Nope.  Not a chance.  Despite the fact that there are at LEAST twelve dwarves in The Hobbit, and John Rhys-Davies got off a three-film stint playing Gimli, he will NOT be appearing in The Hobbit.

There was some word he’d play Gimli’s father, who apparently figures in pretty heavily in this story, but Rhys-Davies himself was having none of it.  Dig the word:

“I’ve already been asked and to be honest with you, I wouldn’t. I have already completely ruled it out. There’s a sentimental part of me that would love to be involved again. Really I am not sure my face can take that sort of punishment any more.”

So that’s pretty much it, at least for the time being.  They asked, he demurred.  It’s pretty sad, because frankly, Rhys-Davies plays a pretty awesome dwarf, and having him come in on, say, Thorin Oakenshield would be a mindblower par excellence.

Of course, there’s always Warwick Davis….