Pj To Produce The Hobbit!

[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.

[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!

[Thenamir]

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

1. 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?
2. Casting -- Gotta have Ian McKellan back as Gandalf?
3. Legolas could potentially be hangin' with Dad in Thranduil's fortress so ya gotta have Orlando Bloom?
4. 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?
5. Christopher Lloyd as Thranduil?
6. The voice of Smaug?
7. What elements will have to be CGI, and what should not?

Just a starter list, for conversation.

[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.

[THE Ka]

Originally Posted by The Might

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... ).
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, 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.

[Lalwendë]

Originally Posted by Sauron the White

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.

Originally Posted by The Might

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. 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...

Nice box office stuff indeed.

A bad filmatisation of the Hobbit though...

.....
EDIT:

Originally Posted by Farael

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...