The Hobbit Movie Thread

**Manwë Súlimo** · February 9th 2009, 12:29 AM

This thread will be dedicated to news and fan commentary of the upcoming two-part movie series based on "The Hobbit" by J.R.R. Tolkien. Below, I will add links to news articles and interviews as I come across them.

**Brandalf85** · February 9th 2009, 12:34 AM

Ron Perlman as Beorn

It'll probably happen hehe. Or Bard maybe. For those of you who don't know who that is, he played Hellboy.

**Manwë Súlimo** · February 9th 2009, 12:40 AM

Originally posted by Brandalf85

Ron Perlman as Beorn

It'll probably happen hehe. Or Bard maybe. For those of you who don't know who that is, he played Hellboy.

He does rather look bear-ish. I wouldn't mind.

**Manwë Súlimo** · February 9th 2009, 12:52 AM

Basic Facts

RELEASE DATE: December 2011 and December 2012
DIRECTOR: Guillermo del Toro,
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Peter Jackson
SCRIPT WRITERS: Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens

Confirmed/Rumored Actor Reprisals

Christopher Lee as SARUMAN -

CHRISTOPHER LEE WILL COME BACK AS SARUMAN

Speaking to Christopher Lee earlier this week, as you do, we discovered that the venerable 86-year-old has hopes of dusting off his wizard’s robes to play Saruman again in Guillermo Del Toro’s adaptation of The Hobbit.
Now you’re probably asking how the evil white wizard could possibly show his face again when he’s not even featured in The Lord Of The Rings prequel. Well consider the fact that the mooted two-film adaptation will probably be forced to add plenty of new material and Lee’s encyclopaedic knowledge of his character could fill in the gaps.

“I’ve read the books time and again,” said the 86-year-old. “Originally Saruman The White and the rest of the wizards, or the Istari as they call them, were immortal. There were five of them, two of them never appear, I know their names but they never appear, and the only three that are mentioned are Saruman The White, Gandalf The Grey and Radagast The Brown who you never see – so basically it’s two wizards.

“They lived for thousands of years and they were sent to the earth and they are virtually immortal. When it all started, Saruman was the noblest, the finest, the bravest, the most dependable and reliable of them all, he was number one. But somewhere, somehow, and it was never actually explained, he turns and it’s probably the Palantír (the wizard’s crystal ball thingy) that makes Saruman realise that if Sauron can do this, why can’t I do it and Saruman wants to become The Lord Of The Rings himself.”

“I’d be interested in seeing how that transition from good to evil occurred and, yes, of course I would return to the role if I was asked.”

So there you go, assuming Guillermo’s not the kind of guy to hold a grudge (apparently Lee turned down the role of King Balor in Hellboy II: The Golden Army) and assuming he’s got some space to fill in The Hobbit parts one and two, he could do worse than to get a willing Christopher Lee back in the robes again.
Ian McKellan as GANDALF - Source

“Yes, it’s true,” he said. “I spoke to Guillermo in the very room that Peter Jackson offered me the part and he confirmed that I would be reprising the role. Obviously, it’s not a part that you turn down, I loved playing Gandalf.”
Andy Serkis as GOLLUM - Source

Do you have any roles cast?

GDT: Well, I had the most charming meeting with Sir Ian, and all bureaucracy pending, he’s on board, as is Andy Serkis. We will continue giving you progress reports as the occur. It is our intention that we will not lose any of the key elements.
Ian Holm as BILBO NARRATOR - I lost the link, but it appears that Holm will narrate the film, but possibly won't be the young version of Bilbo you see on screen
Viggo Mortensen as ARAGORN - Unconfirmed. Source

Preliminary contact has already been made with at least three actors whose “Lord of the Rings” characters also appear in the “Hobbit” storyline: Viggo Mortensen (Aragorn), Ian McKellen (Gandalf) and Andy Serkis (Gollum).
Liv Tyler as ARWEN - Unconfirmed. Source

She says she is definitely onboard for a return appearance if del Toro and producer Peter Jackson invite her.

**Manwë Súlimo** · February 9th 2009, 01:03 AM

Legal Issues

Christopher Tolkien sues to stop the development of "The Hobbit"

**Ex Nihilo** · February 9th 2009, 01:10 AM

Originally posted by Beren Erchamion

Legal Issues

Christopher Tolkien sues to stop the development of "The Hobbit"

Well this was a short thread...

Since they will get there eventually, I have to say that I am not sure that I want Guillermo del Toro to direct this film. Part of the reason that LotR was so excellent was that Jackson was submerged in the film, that it was all that drove him. Del Toro is more like the spanish version of Tim Burton to me.

I liked Pan's Labrynth for the visual aspect, and found Hellboy to be fair as well, they were not exceptional. Even his marker film, The Devil's Backbone, is a median film at best.

I fear that del Toro will make The Hobbit into a much darker and more distorted adventure than it should be, it's his MO in all of his films.

**Manwë Súlimo** · February 9th 2009, 01:13 AM

Originally posted by Ex Nihilo

Well this was a short thread...

Since they will get there eventually, I have to say that I am not sure that I want Guillermo del Toro to direct this film. Part of the reason that LotR was so excellent was that Jackson was submerged in the film, that it was all that drove him. Del Toro is more like the spanish version of Tim Burton to me.

I liked Pan's Labrynth for the visual aspect, and found Hellboy to be fair as well, they were not exceptional. Even his marker film, The Devil's Backbone, is a median film at best.

I fear that del Toro will make The Hobbit into a much darker and more distorted adventure than it should be, it's his MO in all of his films.

Yes, the decision to give the directorship to del Toro has and will continue to give me stomach ulcers, but I'm clinging on to hope.

**Manwë Súlimo** · February 9th 2009, 01:25 AM

Miscellaneous News

Viggo Mortensen believes that the two movies should be truer to Tolkien and less reliant on special effects than the LOTR trilogies were. Source

Mortensen also claims the original trilogy became more led by effects as the series progressed.

“The Fellowship Of The Ring for me was the one most faithful to Tolkien. The one that had the most to do with any kind of subtlety in terms of performance and storytelling.

“Starting with the second one it became more of a blockbuster special effects thing. That’s not to say as that type of movie they weren’t the best.

"You can’t argue with the films’ success, but had it been me, I would have focused less on the effects and more on the characterisations.

“I’d have allowed the secondary characters to speak more and not be so focused on the heroes. There was more balance in the way that all the races of Middle-earth were presented in the first one. It was more about the relationships… That’s just my personal taste.”

**Manwë Súlimo** · February 9th 2009, 01:31 AM

Miscellaneous Reprisals

WETA Workshop will handle the special effects as they did for the LOTR Trilogy - Source

You’ll be using WETA Digital for the effects?

GDT: Yes, the essential elements for keeping continuity are on track, in the last few weeks I’ve been chatting with a ton of people via email, phone, and in person from the previous films. People like Andy Serkis, Sir Ian McKellen, Howard Shore, John Howe, Gino Acevedo, Richard Taylor next week I’m meeting Alan Lee. I’m doing this to ensure that whatever we do we keep continuity with the other films, yes it’s a world that is slightly more golden at the beginning, a very innocent environment.
Howard Shore will compose the soundtrack of "The Hobbit" as he did for the LOTR trilogy. Source

You’ll be using WETA Digital for the effects?

GDT: Yes, the essential elements for keeping continuity are on track, in the last few weeks I’ve been chatting with a ton of people via email, phone, and in person from the previous films. People like Andy Serkis, Sir Ian McKellen, Howard Shore, John Howe, Gino Acevedo, Richard Taylor next week I’m meeting Alan Lee. I’m doing this to ensure that whatever we do we keep continuity with the other films, yes it’s a world that is slightly more golden at the beginning, a very innocent environment.

**Petrus Caietanus** · February 11th 2009, 09:14 PM

Originally posted by Ex Nihilo

I fear that del Toro will make The Hobbit into a much darker and more distorted adventure than it should be, it's his MO in all of his films.

it would not be that bad...

**Ex Nihilo** · February 12th 2009, 02:01 AM

Originally posted by Ezra Fleshheart

it would not be that bad...

I hope not! But honestly, the Hobbit has a lot to live up to.

**Brandalf85** · May 30th 2010, 06:47 PM

Wow this thread hasn't had any activity in over a year...

Anyway, a bit of an update...

The film is at a standstill for a the green-light since the studios are having some issues working things out.

Then this news came today: Guillermo Del Toro is stepping down as director.

http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2010...it/#more-36920

So now they have to find another director. If not Peter Jackson, who would you want to direct The Hobbit?

**LilPunkishOfTerror** · May 30th 2010, 07:07 PM

Originally posted by Brandalf85

Wow this thread hasn't had any activity in over a year...

Anyway, a bit of an update...

The film is at a standstill for a the green-light since the studios are having some issues working things out.

Then this news came today: Guillermo Del Toro is stepping down as director.

http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2010...it/#more-36920

So now they have to find another director. If not Peter Jackson, who would you want to direct The Hobbit?

Manwe Sulimo for director!

**Manwë Súlimo** · June 2nd 2010, 05:57 PM

Peter Jackson has said that he'll step in as director in the worst case scenario, which is good for many reasons. Not the least of which is that this will prevent actors from leaving the film because of delays. If Ian McKellan walks off, the movie won't even be worth making anymore, IMO.

**Manwë Súlimo** · June 26th 2010, 01:23 AM

Well, it's finally happened. PJ is going to be the director of The Hobbit. I'm actually very glad at this news because I never liked the idea of del Toro taking over.

http://www.newser.com/story/93851/pe...he-hobbit.html

Lord of the Rings fans, rejoice: The Hobbit will be directed by Peter Jackson himself, Deadline reports. Jackson is negotiating a deal with Warner Bros, New Line, and MGM, and the studios are reportedly willing to spend big on a two-part Hobbit picture from J.R.R. Tolkien's most accomplished interpreter.

There have been hints that Jackson, who was always an executive producer on The Hobbit, would take over after Guillermo del Toro quit as director—for one, none of the other highly qualified directors looking to join the project, such as David Yates and Neill Blomkamp, were approached. Also, Jackson and his wife/collaborator Fran Walsh will review casting decisions next week—a step a director would want in on.