Tag: The Hobbit

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Cinéma

The Hobbit starts filming in New Zealand

Today (March 21), Warner Bros. announced that filming has finally commenced in Wellington, New Zealand, on the two-part film adaptation of the 1937 novel The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien. Peter Jackson, director of The Lord of the Rings film trilogy, will direct the film and also serve as producer and co-writer.

The filming was long delayed by a variety of obstacles: initially MGM’s precarious financial situation, then Guillermo Del Toro stepped down from the role of director. When Peter Jackson was slated to take over directing, there happened to be a union conflict that threatened to delay the production once again.

Finally – and some say due to the stress of getting the picture made – Peter Jackson was hospitalized on January 26 for a perforated ulcer, once again delaying the shoot which was supposed to start in early February.

The prequel is set in Middle-earth 60 years before Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, which Jackson and his filmmaking team brought to the big screen in the blockbuster trilogy that culminated with the Oscar-winning The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.

The Hobbit follows the journey of title character Bilbo Baggins, who is swept into an epic quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor.

The two films, with screenplays by Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, Guillermo del Toro and Peter Jackson, will be shot consecutively in digital 3D using the latest camera and stereo technology. Filming will take place at Stone Street Studios, Wellington, and on location around New Zealand.

The studio has also launched anofficial The Hobbit blog and a Facebook page so Peter Jackson to post updates.

Tentatively titled The Hobbit: There and Back Again and The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, the two films are planned for release in late 2012 and 2013 respectively.

 

 

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Cinéma

The Hobbit to start filming in March

First MGM’s financial woes threatened to delay the latest J.R.R. Tolkien film adaptation, The Hobbit, then there were labour disputes with the New Zealand production staff plus a change of directors, and so it should come as no surprise when director Peter Jackson was recently hospitalized for a perforated ulcer.

Finally today (February 7), The Hobbit production company, 3Foot7 Ltd., announced that the first day of principal shooting will be Monday, March 21. The plan is to film the adaptation in two parts, with The Hobbit Part 1 to hit theatres in December 2012, and Part 2 the following December.

“Despite some delays we are fully back on track and very excited to get started,” said director Peter Jackson.

The Hobbit takes place before the events described in trilogy of Lord of the Rings. The confirmed cast includes Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins, along with Ian McKellen, Cate Blanchett, Andy Serkis, Elijah Wood, Saoirse Ronan, Richard Armitage, Ken Stott, Graham McTavish, William Kircher, James Nesbitt, Stephen Hunter, Rob Kazinsky, Aidan Turner, Peter Hambleton, John Callen , Jed Brophy, Mark Hadlow, Adam Brown, Mikael Persbrant, and Sylvester McCoy.

 

 

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Cinéma

Saoirse Ronan joins cast of The Hobbit

Young Irish actress Saoirse Ronan, 16, is one of three Irish actors cast for Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit, according to Ros Hubbard, member of the casting team. In an interview with the Irish Film and Television Network, she mentioned Irish actors Aidan Turner, James Nesbitt, and Saorise Ronan had been cast for The Hobbit.  

Although Ronan’s role is not yet known, Hubbard commented, “…working with Peter Jackson is like working with a family. So they’ll have a great time. Saoirse’s family will go too, everyone is very close and very loving on those sorts of jobs. It’s not like typical studio movies at all.

This will be the second collaboration between actress and the director after their 2009 collaboration on the film adaptation of the novel The Lovely Bones. Although the movie flopped at the box office, Ronan was nominated for numerous acting awards for her role as Susie Salmon.

At the age of 13, she was nominated for a best supporting actress Oscar for her pivotal role as Briony Tallis in 2007’s Atonement, the film adaptation of Ian McEwan’s bestselling novel.

Filming of The Hobbit was to begin in mid-February but has been slightly delayed due to Peter Jackson’s health problems. He was hospitalized earlier this week for a perforated stomach ulcer.

Ronan stars as the daughter of an ex-CIA man in the action thriller Hanna with Eric Bana and Cate Blanchett, which is set for theatrical release on April 8.

 

 

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Potins

Peter Jackson admitted to hospital

Director Peter Jackson, 49, was rushed to hospital yesterday evening (January 26) in New Zealand for acute stomach pain, reports the Hollywood Reporter.

Diagnosed with a perforated ulcer, that same night Jackson underwent surgery and doctors expect a full and quick recovery, according to a statement from his production. However, filming of The Hobbit which was to begin in New Zealand in mid-February, will be pushed back.

"Sir Peter’s surgery is not expected to impact on his directing commitment to The Hobbit beyond a slight delay to the start of filming."

This is not the first delay for The Hobbit. Earlier MGM financial problems, the departure of director Guillermo Del Toro, and then labour issues all served to delay the production repeatedly.

Del Toro is still involved in the project since he co-wrote the screenplay with Jackson, Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens.

The Hobbit, an adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s fantasy tale, will be shot in 3-D as a two-part film, with the first scheduled for release in December 2012, and the second to follow one year later.

 

 

 

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Cinéma

Ian McKellen and Andy Serkis in The Hobbit

Actors Ian McKellen and Andy Serkis will resume their roles of Gandalf and Gollum respectively in the two-part film adaptation of The Hobbit by director Peter Jackson, reports the Hollywood Reporter.

It has been confirmed that Elijah Wood will make an appearance as Frodo, even though his character doesn’t appear in the book. Other confirmations include Cate Blanchett reprising her role of Galadriel, and British actor Martin Freeman as lead character Bilbo Baggins.

The film will follow the adventures of Bilbo and his wizard friend Gandalf in their quest to recover a stolen treasure. Written in 1937, The Hobbit takes place before The Lord of the Rings. In the past, Jackson said that the first part of the film will be more faithful to the book, while in the second instalment, he would take some creative license to help connect it to his famous trilogy.

Filming is set to begin in New Zealand next month. The first part of The Hobbit is slated for release in December 2012 and the second, on year later – both films are being shot in 3D.

 

 

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Cinéma

Elijah Wood might resume role of Frodo

Even if the character of Frodo doesn’t appear in J.R.R. Tolkien’s book The Hobbit, Elijah Wood may still make an appearance in Peter Jackson’s two-part film adaptation.

Reportedly, Frodo is slated appear in the opening sequences of the two films, according to Deadline and The One Ring websites.

Cate Blanchett will be reprising her role of Galadriel, and British actor Martin Freeman takes the lead as Bilbo Baggins. The film will follow the adventures of Bilbo elsewhere and his wizard friend Gandalf in their quest to recover a stolen treasure.

Orlando Bloom, who played the elf character Legolas, is also rumoured to be in talks for the films despite his character’s absence in Tolkien’s book. The return of Ian McKellen, Andy Serkis and Hugo Weaving in their respective roles of Gandalf, Elrond and Gollum, has not yet been officially confirmed.

Casting is expected to be announced in the next few weeks since filming is set to begin in New Zealand in February.

Written in 1937, The Hobbit takes place before The Lord of the Rings. In the past, Jackson said that the first part of the film will be more faithful to the book, while in the second instalment, he would take some creative license to help connect it to his famous trilogy.

The first part of The Hobbit is slated for release in December 2012 and the second, on year later – both films are being shot in 3D.

 

 

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Cinéma

Cate Blanchett to reprise role in Hobbit

This week, more casting has been confirmed for The Hobbit films, including Cate Blanchett, 41, reprising her Lord of the Rings role as elf queen Galadriel, the Lady of Lothlorien.

Director Peter Jackson welcomed the news of Cate Blanchett’s return to Middle-earth, “Cate is one of my favourite actors to work with and I couldn’t be more thrilled to have her reprise the role she so beautifully brought to life in the earlier films.”

New Line-Warner Bros also announced that Ken Stott, Sylvester McCoy, Mikael Persbrandt, Ryan Gage, Jed Brophy and William Kircher have been confirmed for the fantasy adventure film franchise.

Other actors previously announced for the cast include Martin Freeman (TV’s Sherlock, Breaking and Entering) in the lead role of Bilbo Baggins, Richard Armitage (upcoming Captain America: The First Avenger), Aidan Turner (TV’s Being Human), Rob Kazinsky (TVs EastEnders), and Graham McTavish (Secretariat).

The Hobbit movies will be filmed in Digital 3-D, with releases scheduled for December 2012 and December 2013. In 2003, LOTR: The Return of the King dominated the Academy Awards, winning all of the 11 categories in which it was nominated, including Best Picture – the first ever Best Picture win for a fantasy film.

Last seen as Lady Marian opposite Russell Crowe in Robin Hood, Blanchett’s next project, action-thriller Hanna, which co-stars Saoirse Ronan and Eric Bana is due in theatres April 2011.

 

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Cinéma

The Hobbit to stay in New Zealand

After extensive negotiations between the Government of New Zealand and Warner Bros., it has been confirmed that the two Hobbit films will be filmed in the country.

New Zealand Prime Minister, John Keys announced at a press conference that production will begin in New Zealand in February. “Making the two Hobbit movies here will not only safeguard work for thousands of New Zealanders, but it will also follow the success of the Lord of the Rings trilogy in once again promoting New Zealand on the world stage."

Peter Jackson had threatened to shoot abroad due to a labour dispute with unions that wanted to force the production to negotiate an illegal collective agreement. Jackson had sharply criticized the organization, says the Hollywood Reporter.

The Screen Actors Guild and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists finally lifted their boycott last October 21st, allowing production staff to work on this production.

British actor, Martin Freeman, has won the title role of Bilbo Baggins. The first Hobbit film will be released in theatres in December 2012, and the second in December 2013.

 

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Cinéma

The Hobbit cast announced

Preproduction has been in full swing on The Hobbit, a two-part Lord of the Rings prequel, since it received the green light on October 15 from New Line, MGM and Warner Bros.

Following some uncertainty, English actor, Martin Freeman, 39, been cast in the role of Bilbo Baggins.

“Despite the various rumours and speculation surrounding this role, there has only ever been one Bilbo Baggins for us," says director Peter Jackson.

“There are a few times in your career when you come across an actor who you know was born to play a role, but that was the case as soon as I met Martin. He is intelligent, funny, surprising and brave – exactly like Bilbo and I feel incredibly proud to be able to announce that he is our Hobbit.”

The ensemble cast also includes Richard Armitage, Rob Kazinsky, Aidan Turner, Graham McTavish, John Callen, Stephen Hunter, Mark Hadlow and Peter Hambleton, as the group of dwarves who accompany Bilbo on his quest for the treasure, along with help from his wizard friend, Gandalf.

The Hobbit, parts one and two, are respectively set for release in December 2012 and December 2013.

 

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Cinéma

The Hobbit begins filming in February

 

 

It’s official: the filming of The Hobbit will begin next February with a record budget of $300 million U.S., announced New Line and Warner Bros.

Lord of the Rings fans will be pleased to learn that the director of the famous trilogy, Peter Jackson, will direct both parts of The Hobbit, with both films shot simultaneously in 3D in New Zealand.

This prequel to Lord of the Rings, tells the story of Bilbo Baggins in his early years, and his friendship with Gandalf, the magician, as they attempt to retrieve a treasure guarded by a dragon.

The production has experienced numerous delays. In May of Guillermo del Toro had withdrawn as director, but remained on as co-writer.

Part one of The Hobbit is scheduled to hit theaters in 2012, although casting has not yet been announced.

The Lord of the Rings trilogy earned $3 billion in worldwide box office receipts, and in 2003, the third film in the series, The Return of the King, won 11 Oscars, including Best Film.