Tag: The Hobbit

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Martin Freeman is frontrunner to play Bilbo

Entertainment Weekly reports Martin Freeman (The Office, Love Actually) is at the top of the list of actors to play Bilbo Baggins in two upcoming The Hobbit films.

The actor turned down the offer because he just finalized a deal to play Dr. Watson in the new BBC series Sherlock Holmes.

However, studio bosses at New Line and MGM really want him for the role. They are looking for a way to accommodate his schedule so Freeman can travel to New Zealand and still shoot the TV series.

A source told Britain’s Daily Express, "It’s hoped something will be worked out. It’s widely felt that Martin is ideal for the role."

In The Lord of the Rings trilogy, the role of Bilbo was played by actor Ian Holm. The Hobbit focuses on the early life of this adventurer, a close friend of the wizard Gandalf.

So negotiations are still underway.

Still no word on who will direct The Hobbit since the departure of Guillermo de Toro. The most likely scenario is that Peter Jackson will step into the director’s chair.

The Hobbit hits theatres in 2012.

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MGM says bye bye Bond

It’s no secret that MGM is in trouble. The movie company is almost $4 billion in debt and looking for a buyer. Its financial woes are having an impact on some major productions.

The next James Bond film was scheduled for release in 2012. First, production on the film was halted in April. Now there’s word the film has been shelved for good.

Production company EON released a statement yesterday (July 5): "We do not know when development will resume and cannot comment further at this stage."

Next to The Hobbit films. Director Guillermo del Toro already announced he was stepping down from his role. There are rumours Peter Jackson would replace him. Now there are reports MGM is trying to sell the rights to the two films.

Ian McKellan plays the pivotal role of Gandalf. He appeared on New Zealand’s Good morning show and made some discouraging comments: "I’ve got no news to give you except that an announcement is imminent, but what it will be I genuinely don’t know."

The actor also talked about the possibility he may not reprise his role: "Well, I’m not under contract and my time is running out."

 

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Peter Jackson is the one they want

Award-winning writer and director Peter Jackson is in talks to work his magic on The Hobbit films.

Things have been a little up in the air since Guillermo del Toro made a surprise announcement on May 30 that he was bowing out.

At the time, Jackson commented: "New Line and Warner Bros will sit down with us this week, to ensure a smooth and uneventful transition, as we secure a new director for the Hobbit. We do not anticipate any delay or disruption to ongoing pre-production work."

Several directors were mentioned as possible replacements but no firm offer was ever made. Sources say this is because Jackson was working to get out of a few project obligations.

Guillermo del Toro is staying involved in the two films. He will continue to co-write the script with Jackson, Philippa Boyens and Fran Walsh. Peter Jackson will also wear an executive producer hat.

Fans are eagerly awaiting the release of The Hobbit films, a prequel to The Lord of the Rings. The first film is now scheduled for release in December, 2012 with the second instalment coming out a year later.

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Neill Blomkamp may direct The Hobbit

There is still no word on who will replace Guillermo del Toro to direct The Hobbit films.

According to Peter Jackson’s official website, TheOneRing, Jackson will try to convince film producers that Neill Blomkamp is up to the task.

Peter Jackson introduced Blomkamp to the public when he produced his film District 9. It was released in 2009 and starred Sharlto Copley. He now wants to offer Blomkamp a bigger fish.

Nothing has been confirmed and other names have been mentioned since Guillermo del Toro bowed out of the project. David Yates (Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 and Part II), David Dobkin (Wedding Crashers) and Brett Ratner (X-Men: The Last Stand) have all expressed interest in directing the two films.

Even Jackson himself said he would direct the films if he had to.

Now we play the waiting game to see who will sit behind the camera.

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Peter Jackson might take over

The big announcement came yesterday (May 31) that Guillermo Del Toro will not be directing The Hobbit due to numerous production delays. Now there is news that Peter Jackson may step in to take over.

His agent previously stated that prior obligations would prevent Jackson from directing The Hobbit. However, The Lord of the Rings director gave an interview to the Dominion Post in New Zealand and offered a different version. He said, "If what I have to do to protect Warner Bros’ investment, then obviously that’s one angle which I’ll explore…The other studios may not let me out of the contracts."

Among the prior obligations is a project with Steven Spielberg, a trilogy about the adventures of Tintin. The two were supposed to take turns directing and producing the films. The first film, The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn, was directed by Spielberg and produced by Jackson. It will be released on December 23, 2011. The second film will be made next year and will be released in 2012.

Peter Jackson remains optimistic about The Hobbit and thinks the project will move forward once MGM’s future becomes clearer.

He added, "The key thing is that we don’t intend to shut the project down. We don’t intend to let this affect the progress. Everybody, including the studio, wants to see things carry on as per normal." 

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Guillermo Del Toro abandons The Hobbit

Sad news for fans of the famous J.R.R. Tolkien novel: Guillermo Del Toro will not be directing two The Hobbit films. The news was announced yesterday (May 30) on the official website, The One Ring.

Del Toro released a communiqué stating: "In light of ongoing delays in the setting of a start date for filming The Hobbit, I am faced with the hardest decision of my life. After nearly two years of living, breathing and designing a world as rich as Tolkien’s Middle Earth, I must, with great regret, take leave from helming these wonderful pictures."

The director isn’t making a clean break, however, because he co-wrote the script with Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh and Phillipa Boyens.

Peter Jackson, the film’s producer, added: "We feel very sad to see Guillermo leave the Hobbit, but he has kept us fully in the loop and we understand how the protracted development time on these two films, due to reasons beyond anyone’s control – has compromised his commitment to other long term projects."

The Hobbit still has not received the green light due to the uncertain situation at MGM. The studio was put up for sale last November and has not yet been sold. MGM co-finances the project with New Line. For the moment, no shooting date has been officially announced and no other director has been approached by the studio.

Guillermo Del Toro has other projects coming down the pipe. He has first right to look at some Universal remakes, including Frankenstein and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

 

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The Hobbit split into two

Actor Ian McKellan is reprising his role as the wizard Gandalf in The Hobbit. He confirmed on his website that filming will start in New Zealand in June.

His website says, "The Hobbit, two films, start shooting in New Zealand in June. Filming will take over a year."

The statement goes on to say, "Casting in Los Angeles, New York City and London has started. The script too proceeds. The first draft is crammed with old and new friends, again on a quest in Middle Earth."

The script was written by Peter Jackson and Guillermo del Toro will be the director. Jackson will be an executive producer.

The Hobbit was written in 1937 by J.R.R. Tolkien. It takes place before The Lord of the Rings trilogy. The story centres on Bilbon Sacquet who tries to save a stolen treasure with the help of his wizard friend, Gandalf.

There will be lots of trolls and dragons and Andy Serkis returns to portray Gollum.

Ian McKellan adds that Guillermo del Toro moved to Wellington, New Zealand, near Jackson’s home and Miramax studio.

The Hobbit films will be released in 2012.

Ian McKellan also lent his voice to the film A Lost and Found Box of Human Sensation which is being released this week.

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Two More Stars for The Hobbit

According to Peter Jackson’s announcement on MTV, in addition to the character of Gandalf, two other characters will be featured in The Hobbit.

Casting began this week, and Jackson, who is The Hobbit‘s executive producer and co-author, along with director Guillermo del Toro, are searching for the right stars for various roles.  Gandalf will again be played by Ian McKellen.

Amidst rumours regarding which characters will be featured in the new film, Jackson spoke about two Lord of the Rings characters that he wants to bring back to the silver screen. 

"Gandalf, being a 2,000-year-old wizard, is still around and plays a major role in ‘The Hobbit,’ and we’re having Ian McKellen reprise. There’s a couple of other characters: Elrond, who was played by Hugo Weaving [in the original films], and there’s a possibility of Galadriel, who was played by Cate Blanchett," revealed Jackson.

For the first of the two planned Hobbit films, based on the books of J.R.R. Tolkien, a few Lord of the Rings characters will be back.  However, for the second film that is planned for a 2012 release, we will see a link between The Hobbit and the middle-earth trilogy.  Hopefully, the original stars will return to their roles, but nothing has been confirmed.
 

Categories
Cinéma

Two More Stars for The Hobbit

According to Peter Jackson’s announcement on MTV, in addition to the character of Gandalf, two other characters will be featured in The Hobbit.

Casting began this week, and Jackson, who is The Hobbit‘s executive producer and co-author, along with director Guillermo del Toro, are searching for the right stars for various roles.  Gandalf will again be played by Ian McKellen.

Amidst rumours regarding which characters will be featured in the new film, Jackson spoke about two Lord of the Rings characters that he wants to bring back to the silver screen. 

"Gandalf, being a 2,000-year-old wizard, is still around and plays a major role in ‘The Hobbit,’ and we’re having Ian McKellen reprise. There’s a couple of other characters: Elrond, who was played by Hugo Weaving [in the original films], and there’s a possibility of Galadriel, who was played by Cate Blanchett," revealed Jackson.

For the first of the two planned Hobbit films, based on the books of J.R.R. Tolkien, a few Lord of the Rings characters will be back.  However, for the second film that is planned for a 2012 release, we will see a link between The Hobbit and the middle-earth trilogy.  Hopefully, the original stars will return to their roles, but nothing has been confirmed.
 

Categories
Cinéma

Filming Delayed for The Hobbit

J.R.R. Tolkien fans will have to wait patiently to see The Hobbit on the silver screen.

Peter Jackson, who brought us the Lord of the Rings trilogy and is producing The Hobbit, revealed that production will not begin in the summer as previously planned.

"We’re currently working on the second script which we hope to have completed by the end of this year or beginning of next. When the scripts are completed, we can begin with the exact calculation of the necessary budget. We hope to start filming in the middle of next year. However, we’ve received no green light from the studio yet," Jackson told MovieReporter.

Without a doubt, MGM’s future is riding on the project.  However, the delay is unlikely to cause any problems with the film’s popularity.  The first film is expected to reach theatres in 2011, with the second film due out the following year.

The first film will recount the story of Bilbo Baggins, while the second film will draw links between The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings.

Both films are to be directed by Guillermo del Toro (Hellboy, Pan’s Labyrinth), and the director has also been involved in writing the screenplays.

In the meantime, Peter Jackson directed the film The Lovely Bones with Mark Wahlberg, Rachel Weisz and Susan Sarandon.  The flick will open in theatres on January 15.