The Hobbit in July 2007?

[Brinniel]

Originally Posted by radagastly

Still, I am hopeful that this is a sign that P. J. will direct The Hobbit, if anyone does. I hope they can get it done before Ian McKellan dies. He's getting up there. It wouldn't be the same with someone else as Gandalf.

Whoa, before he dies? Yeesh. McKellan is 68 and as far as I know, in good health. While 68 is certainly not young, I wouldn't exactly call that old...especially not to the point where he's ready to croak.

It seems to me that Shaye is a bit embarrassed about his comments about Jackson after seeing how many are backing PJ up. Not to mention, I'm sure he's realising how much New Line could use another hit after all these flops over the past year (though I really am hoping The Golden Compass is good and successful).

I find it rather funny how much imdb.com jumps ahead on movies that have yet to be made. For The Hobbit, Sam Raimi is listed as the director (though they admit it's not confirmed), and the scheduled release date is December 1, 2009. Now I don't care what anyone says, but there is no way that the film could be completed by then...especially since they aren't anywhere close to even starting. If we must speculate on a date, I would say if they can decide on a director within the next year, somewhere between 2011-2013...if the film is made as carefully as LotR. But that's just my guess...

[Elladan and Elrohir]

I would say 2010, if they gave it to PJ tomorrow. That's not likely, though. I think we could well have another year or two before Jackson is finally given the director's job. By that time, New Line may or may not be a part of the discussion. So 2011 or 12 (for a release date, that is) doesn't sound at all unrealistic to me. That would probably fit with PJ's schedule better anyway; he's rather busy right now.

[Sir Kohran]

LOL, looking at the date the thread title seems a little strange...

...anyhow, I've said this before and I'll say it again. Peter Jackson is the only man who can make this work. He understands Tolkien and his stories in a way that all the comic book directors don't.

Whoa, before he dies? Yeesh. McKellan is 68 and as far as I know, in good health. While 68 is certainly not young, I wouldn't exactly call that old...especially not to the point where he's ready to croak.

No, but there's no telling what can happen to people, particularly older people. And the role of Gandalf is going to be demanding.

[William Cloud Hicklin]

Um, you do realize that many, many readers believe that putting another Tolkien work into Jackson's hammy fists would be a bad thing?

Not that anyone else I could think of would be any better. Come to think of it, the ideal situation is that the lawyers keep it tangled up forever and it never gets made.

[Sir Kohran]

Originally Posted by William Cloud Hickli

Um, you do realize that many, many readers believe that putting another Tolkien work into Jackson's hammy fists would be a bad thing?

Not that anyone else I could think of would be any better. Come to think of it, the ideal situation is that the lawyers keep it tangled up forever and it never gets made.

No, actually, I think you'll find most people would rather continue with PJ, regardless of what they think of him, rather than bringing in someone completely new.

Perhaps there could be a poll on this.

[davem]

Originally Posted by Sir Kohran

No, actually, I think you'll find most people would rather continue with PJ, regardless of what they think of him, rather than bringing in someone completely new.

Perhaps there could be a poll on this.

From what I've seen 'most' of those demanding a PJ helmed Hobbit (outside sites like this one)haven't read the book, know little about it, other than that its 'another' Middle-earth tale - & believe is similar to LotR in style. What they don't get is TH is a children's story, & if a movie is made that is true to the book it will not be at all what they expect. And if its done in the 'adult' style of the LotR movies it won't bear anything other than a vague resemblance to the book.

It seems to me that those demanding a Hobbit movie don't actually want a movie of the book - they want another Middle-earth movie like LotR.

TH is a children's book. Anyone who doesn't want a children's movie made of it doesn't really want a movie of The Hobbit at all, & , I would say, doesn't actually care about Tolkien's work. Tolkien wrote the book for his children & children generally were the intended audience. If its made in the style of the LotR movies children would be excluded from seeing it, & personally I think that would be wrong - just as wrong as making a PG13 movie of Wind in the Willows with enough added sex & violence to appeal to the 17 year old boys who apparently make up the majority of the movie going audience.

Or, in short, a movie of The Hobbit that your five year old couldn't see & enjoy would be the greatest insult to Tolkien I can imagine.

[Sauron the White]

JRRT himself opened the door very wide for anyone who wants to make the HOBBIT film more in line with the LOTR films when he attempted to do the same with his books. If JRRT thought it was a necessary and good thing to do why not is it not good for a filmmaker to make the same attempt?

Anyone who can argue that a HOBBIT film should be aimed at five year olds simply has blinders on to the realities of film making, film marketing and the potential audience for such a film.

A film is one thing. A book is another. There are some people here who seem like they would not be happy with anything other than a very strict line by line slavish adaption of the book to film regardless of its effects on dramatic pacing and other important film considerations. A very small number Tolkien purists may be pleased (but I doubt even that as they would nitpick at the tiniest of deviations or changes) but the public would not respond to it the way they did with LOTR films.