Official The Hobbit thread

[Nirvana]

God damn you, Newline...for being so damn cheap and greedy

God damn you, J.R.R. Tolkien...Even from the grave, you still control your trust to ruin every fanboys dream

And damn you, God...for not being real

 

[jaguarr]

I thik Greedy is the proper word Jag.

Toe-may-toe....toe-mah-toe...

jag

 

[Timstuff]

God damn you, J.R.R. Tolkien...Even from the grave, you still control your trust to ruin every fanboys dream

Tolkien sold the move rights for the equivelent of about $5,000, so I don't think he was in the same camp that his family is in, of wanting to stand in the way of the movies getting made in any way possible. I do not believe they deserved to get stiffed by New Line, because that is just plain wrong since they were obligated by contract to pay, and that is just plain immoral.

However, even though I am a Tolkien fan, I lost a lot of respect for the Tolkien estate with how they regarded Peter Jackson's work before it made 5 billion bucks. They did not officially endorse the project, and in some ways they actually tried to but in and cause trouble for it. They wouldn't even let Peter Jackson build a Lord of the Rings museum in Wellington, just because they wanted to prove to him that they were still the jackasses holding the keys to the franchise.

 

[Rezzo]

Del Toro on Hobbit Lawsuit
Film's possible director speaks out.

Earlier this week, the estate of author J.R.R. Tolkien sued New Line Cinema over profits from the studio's Oscar-winning, blockbuster Lord of the Rings trilogy, a move that cast doubt on the possibility of their feature film adaptation of Tolkien's The Hobbit. The estate is seeking a court order giving them the right to terminate any rights New Line may have to make films based on other works by Tolkien, including The Hobbit.

Guillermo del Toro was in talks to direct both The Hobbit and a follow-up film when the suit was filed. Now the filmmaker has spoken out about the pending litigation.

"I heard that, but I'm quite zen about those things," Del Toro told EmpireOnline.com. "Since that news broke, I have not exchanged a single phone call with my lawyer or my manager or anyone. They talk about it and I have received some emails, but, as far as I'm concerned, until I'm on board I should not worry about it. I read about it, but there's nothing I can do about it. This week seems to be the lawsuit week in Hollywood."

Del Toro also reiterated that he's not yet signed, sealed and delivered to direct The Hobbit. "I wish it was definite, but it isn't," the filmmaker explained to Empire. "It's still in talks, there are still a lot of 'T's to cross and 'I's to dot. It's certainly not certain yet…But, as far as I'm concerned, [if it was definite] I would be packed in ten seconds."

Well I wonder how all this will turn out.

 

[Rezzo]

Sir Ian McKellen on The Hobbit Films

Will Sir Ian McKellen reprise his Oscar-nominated role of Gandalf in "The Lord of the Rings" prequels The Hobbit and its sequel? McKellen says it's pretty likely on his latest official E-Post:

Q: So has it come to pass, good Sir McKellen? Shall the dreaming masses with their musty books and their blackened pipes at long last hear those immortal words issue from under that famous nose? "Yes, yes, my dear sir-and I know your name, Mr. Bilbo Baggins. And you do know my name, though you don't remember that I belong to it. I am Gandalf, and Gandalf means me! To think I should have lived to be good-morninged by Belladonna Took's son, as if I was selling buttons at the door!" Looking about, I find I share the same hopes as millions of others, so I ask, a single query in a chorus... Will you again be our Gandalf in "The Hobbit" now that the deal is settled?

A: Yes I will, if Peter Jackson and I have anything to do with it, he being the producer and me being, on the whole, a very lucky actor. I've just read your quote out loud - fabulous speech.

Q: Have you been approached yet by Peter Jackson or anyone else about reprising your wonderful role as Gandalf for the two upcoming "Hobbit" movies. I read that principal photography begins in 2009, and I can't imagine those movies without you!

A: Encouragingly, Peter and Fran Walsh have told me they couldn't imagine The Hobbit without their original Gandalf. Their confidence hasn't yet been confirmed by the director Guillermo del Toro but I am keeping my diary free for 2009!

Warner Bros.' New Line is planning 2010 and 2011 releases for the two films

I couldn´t imagine anyone else as Gandalf.

 

[The_Vision]

Ian Mckellen is Gandalf

Cant wait for this movie D

 

[BloodyWolverine]

The better question is who will play Gollem for Doug Jones is Del Toros body actor just as Andy is Peter Jacksons.
My guess is Doug will do the body work and Andy will do Voices for Gollem and Smaug unless they get someone really good for Smaug voice.
My money would be on Jeremy Irons if i were casting or Ron Perlman for Del Toro loves that guy.

 

[odiin]

Or.... He'll just get Andy Serkis.

 

[Jackasscoley15]

Or.... He'll just get Andy Serkis.

Agreed, it would be a crime to not let Serkis reprise Gollum.

 

[Nirvana]

Exactly, the way I see it, Andy Serkis, Ian McKellen, Hugo Weaving and Ian Holm are definitely back.

 

[BloodyWolverine]

yeah agree for what director would refuse those actors in your movie. But Del Toro has his favorite actors too but he could cast Bard and Legolas father and lets not forget Thorin and 12 other dwarves.

 

[odiin]

It's not because of who they are that he won't replace them. He won't replace them because those roles have already been cast.

 

[FaT_tONle]

They better start filming this thing by 09... or else we'll be looking at recasts down the line to maybe not getting this film for another ten years or longer.

 

[odiin]

I agree with you. Ian Mckellen, unfortunately, isn't going to live for ever. Same reason its kind of irritating that they had to push back starting on Magneto.

 

[BloodyWolverine]

Christopher Lee played Dooku and Saruman at 81 years old. Ian has afew year left one would hope.

 

[odiin]

Yeah, but everyone's different. One person could live to be 100 and another could barely make it out of their 20s as all unfortunately learned the hard way here. The fact that one of their biggest stars, the guy that will be the biggest bridge between The LotR trilogy and the Hobbit movies is already pushing 70 should be cause for them to not play around with this one.

 

[FaT_tONle]

Yeah I agree with Odiin... although wasn't Lee still jumping and spinning around in the light saber battle in Clones and Sith... it wasn't the hardest stunts to pull off but for an eighty year old? That's pretty impressive... I didn't notice a stunt double either. But Mckellan will be shot if they wait another three to four years... gotto get this done for a winter 2010... simple as that. Maybe do the prequel movie by 2011... keep them Holiday releases.

 

[Hush]

Ahh I fear not these stage actors seem to live forever. If Sir McKellen passes I would offer up Patrick Stewart as a good enough replacement.

 

[Nirvana]

I believe Ian McKellen can hold on a bit longer. He seems to be doing good at his age. Chris Lee...Jesus, that's another story. That man will live forever.

 

[BloodyWolverine]

Christopher Lee probably made a deal with ole lucifer himself for after all he did play Dracula did Lee.

 

[DocHoliday]

Ian is Gandalf....

 

[Jackasscoley15]

Yeah I agree with Odiin... although wasn't Lee still jumping and spinning around in the light saber battle in Clones and Sith... it wasn't the hardest stunts to pull off but for an eighty year old? That's pretty impressive... I didn't notice a stunt double either.

Dude, Lee barely performed any of the lightsaber stunts in either film. They had a stunt double with make-up on and at times CGI'd Lee's face onto the doubles head.

 

[DocHoliday]

Dude, Lee barely performed any of the lightsaber stunts in either film. They had a stunt double with make-up on and at times CGI'd Lee's face onto the doubles head.

'Tis true.

 

[BloodyWolverine]

Well yes i know that as well. But he did do the wire work when he and Ian were having that wizard slobber knocker in Fellowship of the ring

 

[FaT_tONle]

Dude, Lee barely performed any of the lightsaber stunts in either film. They had a stunt double with make-up on and at times CGI'd Lee's face onto the doubles head.

Probably... I mean other than the clear CGI scenes it did look like Lee though. Not like even the double went crazy other than the light saber speed... couple of jumps and spins is all I can remember... that's some of the few visuals Lucas got right if that was a CGI face plastered on someone because it fooled me.