Pj To Produce The Hobbit!

[MatthewM]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071218/ap_en_ot/film_the_hobbit

Check this out! An agreement has been reached!

[Sauron the White]

The fact that Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh are the executive producers of these two films means a great deal. But what it means above all else for them is one thing - power. They will be in charge. They will be the boss. They will have the last word. No running to anyone else for approval. No hiding from studio executives who want to poke around on set. No arguement about final cut or anything else. Jackson and Walsh will be gods on this film

I would guess that they will get the best possible financial deal that anyone has ever recieved for a film.

In the movie business, the studios will sooner part with money than with power. To get this deal done they had to part with both.

And as a side note, this probably puts the final two nails into the coffin of any sequels to GOLDEN COMPASS. New Line is going to marshall their economic and production forces behind these Middle-earth films and are not going to waste resources on something which has proven to be a loser.

The next year will be extremely interesting as we get the announcement of director (in all probablity Jackson), cast members, and other talent. It will be a very interesting year.

Let the speculation begin.:D

[The Might]

One question...

What is the sequel?
How can you make a sequel to the Hobbit, when you've already done it...it's LotR! :confused:

[Thenamir]

TM: Hobbit in two parts, not a literal "sequel".


Two movies? Hmmm...where is the likely split point, I wonder? What will the cliffhanger be in Hobbit I? Caught by spiders? Imprisoned be Elves? A barrel ride down the forest river?
Casting -- Gotta have Ian McKellan back as Gandalf?
Legolas could potentially be hangin' with Dad in Thranduil's fortress so ya gotta have Orlando Bloom?
And what about Ian Holm? Too old to play Bilbo, now? Who would take his estimable place, or perhaps he could be a younger Ian with the help of CGI, a la Beowulf?
Christopher Lloyd as Thranduil? :D
The voice of Smaug?
What elements will have to be CGI, and what should not?

Just a starter list, for conversation. :smokin:

[The Might]

No, I think I know what it's about Thenamir.
If I remember correctly, I read an article some time ago where they were planning the Hobbit and another movie about other events that took place before LotR. Maybe stuff like the Dwarves losing Moria, Rohan coming to Gondor's help or the Wise attacking Dol Guldur.
Problem is I can't really see how you can combine these different storylines...
Then again, I might be wrong about that. What I could imagine is a series of animated minifilms (something like the Animatrix or the Clone Wars) that would deal with these separate events...

On the other hand, I can't really believe that they would make the Hobbit in two parts.
I mean RotK was one movie and that's one large novel, with three books in it. TH is much smaller and simply there isn't enough going on to make that possible.

[Thenamir]

Hmmm. That actually makes more sense, TM. And I would salivate rather embarassingly at the idea of a series of independently-produced minifilms in the same vein as The Animatrix.

[Lalwendë]

And as a side note, this probably puts the final two nails into the coffin of any sequels to GOLDEN COMPASS. New Line is going to marshall their economic and production forces behind these Middle-earth films and are not going to waste resources on something which has proven to be a loser.


Wouldn't bank on it being a loss maker. I was watching 'movie' news on Sky today and they were saying it's doing well outside the USA (it's not the whole of the film-going world you know ;) ), and it hasn't even opened yet in every territory. It will turn a profit, sorry to disappoint you. If it does lose money then it's more likely part of an ongoing trend as films aren't taking in as much money in the USA right now due to the economy and the net result of that will be that less money is available for The Hobbit - so in the long run it will be a Very Good Thing if Golden Compass does alright.

On the other hand, I can't really believe that they would make the Hobbit in two parts.

I can. It's called twice as many ££££££s.

Oh, such a cynic. I just hope they chuck enough money at it to hire a proper scriptwriter and to take on Alan Lee and John Howe again.

[Meriadoc1961]

I don't know anything, so I am just guessing, but it would seem to me that they would have to have the first movie based upon events in The Silmarillion, and then follow the story line of The Hobbit. But I suppose the two books could be spliced together to make two movies.

Merry

[Farael]

I can't remember WHERE I read it, but from what I understood at the time, PJ meant to add material such as the White Council and the "defeat" of the Necromancer/Sauron. That should give enough extra material for two movies methinks.

What I'm scared about is how they'd deal with things that Tolkien never really wrote on... I REFUSE to see Gandalf shooting fireballs Saruman-style while Elrond commands the forces of nature to attack an army of goblin and Galadriel wields a HUGE sword, slaying Sauron's biggest warrior.

[Gothbogg the Ripper]

Wow! Great news! Absolutely stunning. Now comes the simple matter of casting the voice of Smaug. I vote for Timothy Dalton!

[Nogrod]

So two films it will be. I'm looking forwards to it even if I don't hope for too much...

I'd like the scenario where we would get a lot of Silmarillion stuff and other general background with all the visual mastery those guys have in their hands. Also getting deeper into those persons involved in the story, how their relations and beliefs are tested and how they cope and change etc. Maybe some interesting viewpoints to Gollum as well - and a long scene with the riddles in the dark - and the eccentric Beorn as a fabulous creation of modern digi-tech with his message of being one with nature! The disturbing role of the elves as the self-presumed master-race and all the moral problems it will wake up, the questions of history and ownership, bonds and loyalty, greed and friendship, letting go and forgiving vs. standing bravely and with honour etc... There would be so much to say in that film!

Then maybe something of an adventure story just enough to give it enough marketing credibility.

Sadly it will not be so as the Silm-stuff or the harder themes of the book are not for the box office... And cash is what they are going for anyways.

So what could it be then in reality?

Let me guess...

So we will have a nice and partly humorous adventure-story as film one in which Bilbo and the dwarves reach the Lake Town. The people who know the story or are familiar with the LotR-movies are given some hints to the gravity of situations with fex. musical themes reminding that of the Ring's theme or with other gadgets like that in the scenes where Bilbo gets the ring. But those will be just small things. It will be a nice fantasy adventure with some stunning effects and suitable for all the family without any previous knowledge of Tolkien's world.

Then with the second movie they will say that it has "darker tones" in it.:rolleyes: They will try to make Smaug "the next Gollum" and it will gain a lot of screentime. All this will then lead to the massive battle of the five armies which will surpass the battle at the Pelennor fields in RotK with it's magnitude as the technology has advanced since the LotR - and will take half of the film... And in the end some green-grey slime will just wipe the battlefield clean... :D

Nice box office stuff indeed.

A bad filmatisation of the Hobbit though...

.....
EDIT:
I REFUSE to see Gandalf shooting fireballs Saruman-style while Elrond commands the forces of nature to attack an army of goblin and Galadriel wields a HUGE sword, slaying Sauron's biggest warrior.Sorry Farael, you'll need to either close your eyes or just leave the film... that's what they will do.

Well depicted, though...

[Nazgûl-king]

It's great that we finally have some news on The Hobbit film (Or films I should say), as for who should voice Smaug, I always imaged Smaug sounding like James Earl Jones (who voiced Darth Vader in Star Wars). As for them splitting it into two parts, this should mean that they should be able to put just about everything (if not everything) from the book in, as well as putting in some extra stuff, like the White Council's attack on Dol Guldur. What do you think they are going to name the second one?

[Oddwen]

What do you think they are going to name the second one?

It'll probably be something like "The Hobbit: There..." and "The Hobbit part II: ...and back again." Or just "There and Back Again".

[Sauron the White]

here is an update from Entertainment Weekly which contains some authoritative information
---------------------------------------------

MGM CEO Harry Sloan talks 'Hobbit'
Dec 18, 2007, 03:13 PM | by Vanessa Juarez

Categories: Movie Biz, The Hobbit

This morning, New Line and MGM announced that the Hobbit debacle was over and the first of two planned pics would finally be going into pre-production with Peter Jackson as executive producer. The Hobbit is scheduled for a 2010 release, and the sequel is expected the following year -- the latter having the better chance of being directed by the Lord of the Rings mastermind himself. Shortly after the announcement, Hollywood Insider spoke with MGM CEO Harry Sloan about the details.

EW: You must be delighted that this project is finally moving forward.
HARRY SLOAN: Ecstatic. It’s a great day for MGM and New Line, and to have two Hobbit movies with Peter Jackson, really, I couldn’t imagine anything better happening around Christmastime this year.

Can you talk about how this came together? Did this just happen overnight or the last few days?
Well, you know, nothing happens overnight. MGM has always said, and taken a firm position, that we want Peter to be involved, and we have to compliment and be very gratified that [New Line’s Bob Shaye and Michael Lyne] and Peter were able to put their differences aside for the good of these movies. We saw that take place over the last six months. I wouldn’t say it was instant by any means.

It’s seems that for the last year or so MGM has tried to stay out of the fray because this was a disagreement between New Line and Peter Jackson over the lawsuit. So when did you come into the picture, and how persuasive did you have to be?
It was very much in MGM’s interest that we get this property up and running. When I took over the studio, one of our first goals was to develop franchises, and this is the first one we have under the new management, and I also think between The Hobbits and James Bond, we now have two of the best-known franchises in the world, so it’s a really great day for MGM.

Have Peter Jackson and New Line resolved the lawsuit?
Yes, they have. That was part of it, because it wouldn’t have been a good atmosphere.

Peter Jackson did say all along that he didn’t want to go into a new deal without having settled the lawsuit.
And, of course, it added a level of complexity to putting the whole deal together. But I think the most important thing was for the participants, for Peter and Bob and Michael, to first get talking and start focusing on what great work they had accomplished together. That began to build a bridge toward cooperation on resolving the lawsuit and, of course, making a deal for Peter to oversee these two movies out of the Hobbit property.

Can you tease us with who might be in line to direct? Guillermo Del Toro, Sam Raimi...
Well, those are the names that have been mentioned and they’re both top directors, excellent directors. It’s Peter’s project. Peter and Bob Shaye are going to oversee it creatively but in the end ... our choice had always been Peter. But if after he and Fran [Walsh, Jackson's wife] and whoever they work with develop the script, if Peter feels comfortable and Bob feels comfortable with another director, then there will be another director.

Is there any chance that Peter could direct the Hobbit sequel?
Well, he could direct either of them.

He’s been busy with The Lovely Bones, so has it been a scheduling thing?
Well, he’s got Lovely Bones, he’s got Tin Tin, he’s got two or three projects, but it is the right time for him to devote his intentions to developing the property and the script with himself and Fran and maybe other writers as well. And once the property is developed and there’s a picture that’s ready to go, he may consider directing it -- although the second film might be more likely due to scheduling.

Does Peter have the right to refuse a director for this one, or script approval?
Neither us nor New Line would want to hire a director that Peter was not completely comfortable with. Remember it’s Peter’s project, he’s overseeing it. So I don’t want to tell you what’s legally in the contract.... But we wouldn’t do that.

This must be a good time for New Line to land this project, given that Golden Compass hasn’t done well. Did that play any sort of a role in getting this to come through at this point in time?
They can speak for themselves. But from my point of view, I’d say no because I think we were well on our way to having The Hobbit set to be developed and go into production long before Golden Compass opened.

Well, I’m sure they’re happy now. It’s good timing.
Look, any time perhaps the world’s greatest franchise has the opportunity to live on is good timing. That’s how we feel. We’re blessed every time we get another James Bond movie up and running.

With those two franchises, how challenging is it going to be with the writers' strike, if it continues to go on into the New Year, and there’s also the SAG negotiations next year.
We start shooting the new James Bond movie Jan. 7, and we’ll be done before [a potential] actors' strike, so it won’t affect James Bond. As far as The Hobbit, yes, it’s going to have an affect because we need the strike to get settled. We’ve got Peter Jackson, which is the biggest point here, but now Peter and the other writers who will be involved can’t write. So we’ve got to get this strike settled.

Any word on who would star in The Hobbit, or any expectations? I know a lot of the previous LOTR actors who would be able to have a role in The Hobbit have said that they would only be on board if Peter Jackson was.
Yeah, I think Peter stayed in touch. I think Peter’s been in touch over time with the other actors and is close with them and they’re close with him, so I think we’d be hopeful that some would reappear.

[William Cloud Hicklin]

Sorry, folks, there's not going to be any Silmarillion material.

[Sauron the White]

See, there you go. Making authoritave statements when there clearly is a difference of opinion about what even constitutes "SIlmarillion material". I would remind you that the word Silmarallion was used by JRRT in the Appendicies to LOTR where he described many events of the First and Second Ages. That material from LOTR is owned as film rights by Saul Zaentz and New Line Cinema.

And yet some people think there is nothing to work out? Please.

[William Cloud Hicklin]

Nope, there's nothing to work out. If Zaentz/New Line use Tolkien material not included in the LR, then the lawyers will descend. Period. Why should the Estate 'compromise' when the other side has a null claim?

[davem]

I would remind you that the word Silmarallion was used by JRRT in the Appendicies to LOTR where he described many events of the First and Second Ages.

He also used the word 'the' in LotR, & having spent most of last night checking I find he used it in all his other fiction - I think this is proof positive that when Tolkien sold the film rights to LotR & TH that actually included everything he wrote that includes the word 'the'.

To strengthen the case - he also made use of commas in all his writings.....

[Nerwen]

See, there you go. Making authoritave statements when there clearly is a difference of opinion about what even constitutes "SIlmarillion material". I would remind you that the word Silmarallion was used by JRRT in the Appendicies to LOTR where he described many events of the First and Second Ages. That material from LOTR is owned as film rights by Saul Zaentz and New Line Cinema.

And yet some people think there is nothing to work out? Please.

The rights to The Lord of the Rings (including the appendices) and The Hobbit are separate from the rights to The Silmarillion. [By which I mean the book published under that title in 1977, okay?]

That doesn't mean that New Line won't try and get permission to use material from The Silmarillion in their upcoming movies– but that has nothing to do with the use of the word "Silmarillion" in Appendix A of The Lord of the Rings.

When people talk about The Silmarillion, they are, by default, talking about the published book, not the synopses of some of the events included in Appendix A. (Anyway, Tolkien didn't call Appendix A The Silmarillion, either.)

Surely you understand the difference?

[Sauron the White]

Nerwen ... yes, I do understand the difference. Yes, I do understand what constitutes the book length SILMARALLION. Yes, I do understand the material found in the Appendicies in which Tolkien uses the term Silmarallion. And yes, I do understand that there is a good deal of overlap between the two. And there is the rub.

[Nerwen]

To quote myself (in the First and Second Age Film Rights thread)

Are you suggesting that lawyers for Tolkien Estate might claim anything which is treated in both The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion violates the copyright on the latter? I don't think they'd get very far.

[Thenamir]

My vote for the voice of Smaug: Michael Dorn -- give him a proper British accent and rough up the edges of that voice (Lt. Worf on Star Trek, for those not in-the-know), and it could be smooth and mysterious riddling with Bilbo, and wild and dangerous attacking Lake-Town. James Earl Jones is already too many great voices, Sean Connery has already voiced a dragon (Dragonheart), John Rhys-Davies is both Gimli and Treebeard, and Christopher Lee has already been marked in my mind as Saruman.

But please, please, don't get someone like the voice artist, whoever he was, who did Smaug in the Rankin-Bass version. (Aptly named -- "rank" means stinking, and "bass" is a fish.) That was simply dreadful.

[William Cloud Hicklin]

Are you suggesting that lawyers for Tolkien Estate might claim anything which is treated in both The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion violates the copyright on the latter? I don't think they'd get very far.

Of course not. If it's in the Appendices, they've got it (presumably- there might be an exemption clause in the contract, but we can't know that). The issue is the rather astonishing claim that all the First and Second age material Tolkien ever wrote is somehow 'incorporated by reference' into the Appendices.

[Sauron the White]

from WCH

The issue is the rather astonishing claim that all the First and Second age material Tolkien ever wrote is somehow 'incorporated by reference' into the Appendices.

Could be please cite the quote where anyone made that "rather astonishing claim"? And I would like the exact quote not some rehash, a retelling , a paraphrasing, a translation, an "its the same thing as...", or "it sounded like to me that ...".

[William Cloud Hicklin]

Then, to avoid any futher accusations of 'strawman' or 'twisting', will you please, Sauron, make a succinct statement of why you think New Line has a right or a claim of a right to Silmarillion material?

[Sauron the White]

Mr. Hicklin - could you please answer my previous request to you first and then we can move on? First things first.

Again, you stated

The issue is the rather astonishing claim that all the First and Second age material Tolkien ever wrote is somehow 'incorporated by reference' into the Appendices.

And I asked you.....Could be please cite the quote where anyone made that "rather astonishing claim"? And I would like the exact quote not some rehash, a retelling , a paraphrasing, a translation, an "its the same thing as...", or "it sounded like to me that ...".

Please be good enough to cover that ground before we move on. Thank you.

[William Cloud Hicklin]

OK, quotes ensue:


Is it not possible, that a sharp legal staff with some innovative thinking, could well claim that they own the films rights to that material and anything published later and made known to the public can be used by them as well since it only details material which they already owned and had use of?

is it not possible for a legal department to advocate that since the legally own that information in the Appendicies for the purposes of film, that they have the right to other more detailed information that JRRT had also written up until that time and referred to by name or character or event in LOTR?

I would remind you that the word Silmarallion was used by JRRT in the Appendicies to LOTR where he described many events of the First and Second Ages. That material from LOTR is owned as film rights by Saul Zaentz and New Line Cinema.

Could not a case be made that it was Christopher Tolkien who - in your words - "used some sneaky way" of attempting to take back what his father had already sold?

Now, how have I misinterpreted your argument?

[Sauron the White]

Again good sir, I ask you to please produce the quote where I made - in your words the astonishing claim that

all the First and Second age material Tolkien ever wrote is somehow 'incorporated by reference' into the Appendices.

The quotes taken from my posts indicate that some material would be covered but I see nothing there going to the extreme position that you take in your quoted claim.

I stand ready to be corrected.

[William Cloud Hicklin]

Then allow me to moderate the statement you take issue with.

As I understand you, you appear to be claiming that if the LR includes a brief sketch or synopsis of some tale or incident from the earlier history, than that tale or incident in all its forms, including, e.g., the full 25-page 'Of Beren and Luthien,' is 'incorporated by reference' into New Line's film rights.

[Sauron the White]

Again sir, before we move on, you were in error and wrong when you stated that persons here were making this supposed argument

The issue is the rather astonishing claim that all the First and Second age material Tolkien ever wrote is somehow 'incorporated by reference' into the Appendices.

I am more than happy to discuss this with you or anyone else and freely answer your questions. However, I do approach with some trepidation the opponent who somehow, someway and for some reason purposelly exaggerates my position to the point of absurdity and inviting ridicule. Lets us deal with things as they are please.

[Lalwendë]

My vote for the voice of Smaug: Michael Dorn -- give him a proper British accent and rough up the edges of that voice (Lt. Worf on Star Trek, for those not in-the-know), and it could be smooth and mysterious riddling with Bilbo, and wild and dangerous attacking Lake-Town. James Earl Jones is already too many great voices, Sean Connery has already voiced a dragon (Dragonheart), John Rhys-Davies is both Gimli and Treebeard, and Christopher Lee has already been marked in my mind as Saruman.

But please, please, don't get someone like the voice artist, whoever he was, who did Smaug in the Rankin-Bass version. (Aptly named -- "rank" means stinking, and "bass" is a fish.) That was simply dreadful.

It has to be someone who is known for pulling off sarcasm. Now there's a whole lot of people good at that around right now, unfortunately most of them presenters, which rules out say Charlie Brooker or the Top Gear team (as highly amusing and inappropriate as it would be to have Jeremy Clarkson voice Smaug... :D), but one or two actors remain. Maybe Richard Wilson or Bill Nighy? David Tennant?

[Thenamir]

I, as you, would love to see David Tennant in almost anything (was rather surprised, in re-watching HP & The Goblet of Fire, to see Tennant there as Barty Crouch Jr.), but you'd have to do some digital magic to his voice in order for his high-tenor to sound serious and resonant enough for a lumbering giant of a man-bear.

[Lalwendë]

He could voice Smaug though (sorry - wasn't clear there!) as there's nothing to say that a Dragon has to have a deep, manly voice. He can 'do serious and scary' very well though as shown in the past series of Doctor Who. Speaking of which, John Barrowman would make a fabulous Elf!

[Thenamir]

My mistake entirely, for some reason I had Beorn on the brain. Smaug is indeed the context.

[Thenamir]

Let me eat a bit more crow, here, and make something a bit clearer. The two films, noted on a news story posted in another thread, will be "The Hobbit" proper, and the "sequel" film will cover what might be called Middle-Earth's "intertestamental" period, the 60 years from the end of the Hobbit to the beginning of FOTR.

[Bêthberry]

Well, if we are looking for a traditional 'deep, manly' voice full of power and authority without being too Darthish, there's the actor who voices Optimus Prime in Transformers. Peter Cullen? It's a good-guy resonating voice.


I just cannot see them doing The Hobbit proper in the first film and then making it all up for the second. I think it would work much better the other way around, so they could explain how TH is merely a slight deviance from the Legendarium in the first, and then to TH proper in the second. Better box office that way, leaving the solid Tolkien stuff to the last. I bet they could get davem to do a good job of it, too, stringing TH into The Silm.

[Lalwendë]

Well, if we are looking for a traditional 'deep, manly' voice full of power and authority without being too Darthish, there's the actor who voices Optimus Prime in Transformers. Peter Cullen? It's a good-guy resonating voice.


I just cannot see them doing The Hobbit proper in the first film and then making it all up for the second. I think it would work much better the other way around, so they could explain how TH is merely a slight deviance from the Legendarium in the first, and then to TH proper in the second. Better box office that way, leaving the solid Tolkien stuff to the last. I bet they could get davem to do a good job of it, too, stringing TH into The Silm.

davem could be a good Smaug actually, as he's good at being sardonic ;) And they're both Northern too*

:D


*I'm having visions of Smaug in a flat cap...

All this talk of them making up extra stuff has me in fits. It could be a rare thing and be quite decent but the odds are that it risks turning the whole business into being something like a cruddy Middle-earth soap opera, such as so many sci-fi series turned into in the end with all their spin-offs.

I'm also not looking forwards to spending the rest of my whole life explaining to people "No! It's NOT in the books!"

Still, the machine rolls on in so many ways. More money to pay for Hollywood execs' supplies of disco dust and more grist for Tolkien fans to argue about.

[Sir Kohran]

I'm actually not surprised by this; I didn't think that New Line could ever seriously try to go ahead with TH without Peter Jackson on board. That would be the equivalent of Allen and Unwin saying 'There will be more Middle-Earth stories, but Tolkien won't be writing them'. Anyhow this is the best news I've had today and probably all week, unless tomorrow they announce I've been selected to play Bard or something.

Good luck PJ!

[Orald]

Thenamir said: Let me eat a bit more crow, here, and make something a bit clearer. The two films, noted on a news story posted in another thread, will be "The Hobbit" proper, and the "sequel" film will cover what might be called Middle-Earth's "intertestamental" period, the 60 years from the end of the Hobbit to the beginning of FOTR.

Quick question for you. I understand them making "The Hobbit", but what kind of script are they able to come up with for "after the hobbit but before LotR"? If what you say is true, then how are they going to accomplish this because there really isn't a whole lot to say that could be put into a movie.

Unless of course one movie is about Bilbo and his journey and the other is about more about Gandalf, the white council, and Dul Guldor.

[THE Ka]

I mean RotK was one movie and that's one large novel, with three books in it. TH is much smaller and simply there isn't enough going on to make that possible.

I really, really hope they don't split it up. I am glad there is a balance of 'knowledgable' authority and money into this at the moment, (because golden compass was simply ruined and elements of mutliple books being missmatched was disastrous), but I've seen what happens when they take shorter works and try to split them. It's not pretty, and you go home with an ill feeling in your stomach and mind.

If they do split it, question is ultimately, where? There really isn't an ultimate cut off point in the book, simply if you think hard enough, because Tolkien didn't intend The Hobbit to be a series. At first he wasn't even sure of having LoTR connected, but thankfully that worked out :). What makes it different is this, LoTR has points in between works, because of it's sheer size and effect. It's something that fits wonderfully well with such a work, with TH? No, not really.

I kindof understand adding some material at the end, to give the audience (those who haven't read LoTR yet, or are fuzzy) an indication as to how the two are related. With films, it is pretty much standard practice (as is seen at the beginning of FoTR).

The good thing I am happy about now is, if and when it comes out, I can take my mum and not have to explain it, since she's read TH and remembers it quite well. (Sorry, I am very happy at least about this... :D).
Hopefully this is true with the general audience that sees The Hobbit, that they have read TH in their childhood, or taken a taste of it at least once, to get the warm and fuzzy feeling (or inevitably, the sore ear and jaw from having to explain it, thus leading to tiresome but enjoyable conversations... ;)) of seeing some form of respect towards it.

I dunno though, The Hobbit is absolutely one of my favourites, something I really cherish, I just hope that it is given more consideration in the time coming.

[Meneltarmacil]

Regarding casting choices, I think Alan Rickman would probably be a good choice for one of two possible roles, though there are problems with each:

-Thranduil, though he'd need a blond wig. I've tested one of Thranduil's lines (where he's sending the Dwarves off to their cells) by saying it in the best imitation of Rickman I could do, and I think it's pretty good. He could definitely pull off the personality aspect, but it's the visual part that needs work.

-The voice of Smaug. I believe he can do sarcasm quite well, and he's quite good at playing "arrogant bad guy" roles. Smaug would be right up his alley, though I'm not sure his voice carries the same kind of strength that a dragon would need.

[William Cloud Hicklin]

For Smaug, what about Jeremy Irons? Just the right sort of aristocratic drawling sneer.

[Mister Underhill]

Interesting developments! My read: the exec producer credit is usually taken by someone who oversees or owns some stake in a project, but isn't deeply involved in day-to-day production. In other words, that credit suggests strongly that Jackson won't direct.

All the information coming out right now -- and for the next few months -- should probably be taken with a grain of salt, but according to this Entertainment Weekly article (http://hollywoodinsider.ew.com/2007/12/no-jackson-will.html), Jackson's manager is saying he definitely will not direct.

I'll bet you'll be able to get a good gauge of how hands-on Jackson will be by the director they ultimately select. I can't imagine some of the bigger name directors whose names are being slung about being willing to just come on as a workman to execute Jackson's vision. There'll be more of a partnership there if you hire, say, Sam Raimi, mark my words. A lesser-known protege, like Neill Blomkamp, the guy who was supposed to helm Halo, might indicate a more hands-on approach by Jackson.

The article implies that Jackson's writing team won't be directly involved either, which is good or bad depending on your point of view.

As far as content, I can't imagine they'll come up with a complete film from whole cloth of the time between TH and LotR, as some reports suggest. What is there to do? Show Bilbo using the ring to hide from neighbors?

I expect a beefed up Hobbit in two parts, with every off-screen action or backstory element you can imagine dramatized -- Smaug's original attack on Lonely Mountain as a prologue, maybe Gandalf retrieving the map and key from Thrain in the Necromancer's dungeons as a flashback somewhere, and so on. And of course battle sequences drawn out for maximum effect. There's plenty of material there for a couple of two hour films, I daresay, though I haven't read through The Hobbit in a while. This is a good excuse for a re-read!

[Sauron the White]

Anybody remember Marketsaw.com? A few weeks ago they predicted much of what became public a few days ago regarding Jackson and two more Middle-earth movies. They were mostly correct and time will tell if they were correct about the 3-D part of their story. Now here is the latest from that same site regarding Jackson, his schedule and directing THE HOBBIT.

We discussed a few things, primarily of course was "The Hobbit". We REMAIN STEADFAST that Jackson will direct The Hobbit. All indications were that he was to be super heavily involved and nothing has changed whatsoever.

What I have heard is that Jackson will wrap up "The Lovely Bones" with a nice bow and then turn around to Steven Spielberg and say that he cannot take the reins of Tintin until the third iteration. That is to say, Spielberg will work his magic for the first Tintin feature, Zemeckis (YES. Zemeckis is the name I heard!) will work his magic for the second and Jackson for the third. Aside from the potential shuffling of the pecking order of Tintin, each iteration will only take about 30 days of shooting and the rest would be post-production.

"District 9" from what I gather will be temporarily back-burnered.

By delaying "District 9" shuffling the "Tintin" order somewhat (but still maintaining his contractual obligations), Jackson frees up enough time to shoot two Hobbit movies back to back and still get another Oscar (or ten). And heck, even if he did Tintin right away - it is a relatively fast shoot.

There is simply FAR too much at stake to risk placing another Director in that chair. Jackson's credibility is on the line here bigtime. The Hobbit must not fail. If he screws up "The Hobbit" by hiring a figurehead Director who is torn between his own vision and that of the Overlord Producer - thats whats gonna happen! Jackson knows that. He will take full responsibility for the success and helm it. He would probably fire ANY director that took the job anyway, just as he did with actor Ryan Gosling. Its gotta be a perfect duo of movies and nobody can do it better than the man himself. Again, he KNOWS that.

Look for the Zemeckis announcement that he is directing the second iteration of Tintin.

[Thenamir]

<Artie Johnson mode=ON>Verrrrrrrry Interrreshtink.<Artie Johnson mode=OFF> (5 trivia points to the first person who can name what show that's from.) That would be good news indeed. Of course, before yesterday I'd never heard of Marketsaw, so I don't know whether their accuracy in the story heretofore is just a fluke, or if they are generally reliable. Very cool to watch events develop here.

[William Cloud Hicklin]

Rowan and Martin's Laugh-in.

I accept checks, money orders, and Krugerrands.

[Thenamir]

I'm sorry, WCH, but the fine print in the disclaimer at the bottom of your trivia points explicitly says, "No cash value." :D

[Essex]

sorry if someone's already mentioned it (I'm lazy) - but the hobbit story itself could easily be split into two films especially if you take into account the dealings of the White Council, some of which took place during the time of Bilbo's adventures. You know, when Gandalf kept bogging off and leaving Bilbo to rescue the Dwarves' all the time.

I always remember reading the Hobbit at School - and we kept wondering where Gandalf was going. Also, I would love it if Gandalf used the term 'I don't give a toss' in the film - I remember the titters it gave us young English Literature students when we read that bit out loud!

I'd love to see the arguments and wranglings between Gandalf and Saruman etc. and of course possibly the 'back story' of Gandalf getting the key and map etc

PS anyon reckon if we're going to have a talking bird? I think they'll HAVE to have Smaug talking (or there will be MUCH grinding of teeth!) - But that thrush having a chat? mmmmmm not sure!

[THE Ka]

What is there to do? Show Bilbo using the ring to hide from neighbors? ~ Mister Underhill

Hee hee, they'll have to call it: "The Sackville-Bagginses Chronicles: At Bilbo's Wits End"

I've tested one of Thranduil's lines (where he's sending the Dwarves off to their cells) by saying it in the best imitation of Rickman I could do, and I think it's pretty good. He could definitely pull off the personality aspect, but it's the visual part that needs work.
~ Meneltarmacil

First of all, that is brilliant.:D
I'll have to agree though, he would make a formitable Thranduil, and it is about time he recieved a different role than what he usually has. As visually, hrmm. Possibly he could work, facial wise more than likely, it just goes with the identity of his style. The other things to change are quite simple, if makeup artists use their magic to transform Hugo Weaving into Elrond (Whom I usually identified as the infamous 'Mitzy':rolleyes:), I definately think they can make an amazing Thranduil out of Rickman.

[zxcvbn]

Alan Rickman's too old for Thranduil. I've seen him in the Harry Potter film and all that make-up isn't fully covering up his age. How about David Bowie?(He wanted to play Elrond in LOTR.)

And how about letting Bernard Hill(Theoden) play one of the Dwarves? He's a great actor but he rarely gets any good roles. He deserves more fame.

[Nerwen]

David Bowie's getting on a bit too, though, isn't he?

[Bêthberry]

No one seems to have speculated yet on what might be the most thrilling appearance of them all.

What cameo do you think Peter Jackson will choose for himself? Hobbit or dwarf? Or will he put his kids into the movie/s? Laketown children perhaps?

[davem]

What cameo do you think Peter Jackson will choose for himself?

Master of Laketown. No acting required.

[Mister Underhill]

What cameo do you think Peter Jackson will choose for himself? Hobbit or dwarf? Or will he put his kids into the movie/s? Laketown children perhaps?PJ = Lonely Mountain dwarf caught in Smaug's attack. You heard it here first!

[Sauron the White]

In the speculation and debate about Jackson not having enough time to do more than just lend his name to the two pics,, here is something which could be good news for the pro Jackson lobby. It seems that one of the big obstacles preventing Jackson from directing is his obligation to Steven Spielberg to direct a TIN TIN pic. But now it looks like Spielberg is filling up his own schedule with lots of work other than whatever the heck a tintin is.

from Variety..

Could "The Trial of the Chicago Seven" be Steven Spielberg's next picture?
Spielberg has been developing the DreamWorks project, about anti-Vietnam War activists arrested at the 1968 Democratic Convention, for some time. Now it looks as if he has found his hippie ringleader.

British thesp Sacha Baron Cohen, who just came off a role in DreamWorks' "Sweeney Todd," has been attached to play Abbie Hoffman in the pic, according to a report in London's Sunday Times.

A rep for Spielberg would neither confirm nor deny the report.

DreamWorks inked a deal with Aaron Sorkin to write the script for the project in July. Spielberg is producing alongside Walter Parkes and Laurie MacDonald.

"Chicago Seven" is not without competition for Spielberg's attentions.

He also has a project about Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War in the works. That project has a script and leading thesp in the bag.

Tony Kushner, the "Angels in America" playwright who rewrote Eric Roth's script for "Munich," has delivered the script, based on a Doris Kearns Goodwin book, and Liam Neeson is attached to play Lincoln.

Spielberg is also lined up to direct one of the 3-D toons in the "Tintin" trilogy, which is being produced by Spielberg, Peter Jackson and Kathleen Kennedy. Jackson will also helm one of the pics, the first of which is skedded to begin principal photography in September.

-----------------------------------------------------------
My own two cents --- I would really love to see Spielberg direct both LINCOLN and CHICAGO 7 and Jackson the HOBBIT. Forget about tincan or whatever it is.

[THE Ka]

But now it looks like Spielberg is filling up his own schedule with lots of work other than whatever the heck a tintin is.

Il est un journaliste et aventurier, avec son chien Milou ('Snowy' in english versions). Plus, Captain Haddock as well.
He's the main character from the graphic novel series by Herge (George Remi, a Belgian artists). It's pretty big, and has been for the past 70 years.

Ugh, I completely forgot PJ was working on Tintin! I am so torn now...:(

Though, Tintin has been made into films before. There has even been whole television series in a slew of countries, the latest I believe was Canada (only because I watched it as a little whelp). So, this won't be the first exactly.

Hmm, well, I think I'd rather see PJ working on The Hobbit, just to save it from the complete mayhem and disaster that could be risked without him.

~ Ka

[Child of the 7th Age]

This was posted on the OneRing.net that took it from IMBd, which apparently took it from a blog. If this is true (and who knows if it is), I'm not sure what difference it will make in the production of the Hobbit. Has anyone heard anything else about this?

Golden Parachutes for New Line Founders?


Following a planned meeting this week with new Time Warner Chairman Jeff Bewkes, New Line Cinema founders Bob Shaye and Michael Lynne are expected to be terminated and New Line's projects, including The Hobbit, folded into Warner Bros., L.A. Weekly columnist Nikki Finke reported on her Deadline Hollywood Daily blog Monday, citing no sources. With the exception of last year's Hairspray, New Line has had a nearly uninterrupted string of financial failures since its Lord of the Rings franchise ran out.

[zxcvbn]

No, I haven't heard anything apart from the rumour, Child of the 7th Age. But if it's true, I have to say New Line had it coming. Before LOTR, they were a second-rate studio helming endless horror flick rehashes(Friday the Thirteenth, Elm Street series etc.) and most of the work they've done after LOTR is of the same caliber. With LOTR's popularity they had the chance to make it into the 'Big Studio' league and blew it with crap like Freddy vs. Jason and the Golden Compass.:mad:

And I doubt this will affect the production of The Hobbit. It's too much of a cash cow for Warner Bros. And Peter's made himself some powerful friends(Harry Sloan, anyone?), so he won't have to worry about getting sh*tcanned, either.

[Sauron the White]

If this is true, it will be major news. New Line has only itself to blame as zxcvbn has wisely observed. Shaye took a once in a lifetime opportunity with NL poised on the brink of being a real major studio and completely reversed their fortunes with it. One bad decision, one bad movie after another. And his own Last Wimzy probably the mostinglorious achievement of them all.

I wonder if this will cause even a short delay in the 2 ME films?

[Child of the 7th Age]

Here is another link on the "firing" of Shaye and Lynne: http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/sources-bob-shayes-new-line-contract-wont-be-renewed-by-bewkes/

[Sauron the White]

theonering.net is now reporting that they have gotten an email from New Line denying any thruth to the reports that Shay is being fired or HOBBIT is going to be under the Warner label.