Official The Hobbit thread

[rdh007]

Let's see. If Bilbo is 50/130 years spent on Middle Earth and most men live to 75, that would make his equivalent age 28.8. The question is, how much did the ring lengthen his life? Let's say most hobbits live to be 100 (which as I recall is not out of the ordinary), then 50 in hobbit years would equal 37.5. So they need to find someone about 37, which would mean they'd have been born in 1971.
Hmmmmmmmmmmmm
Now, I'm not a big fan necessarily (though I loved the Brit Office), but age-wise and as long as my math isn't completely off, he's a winner.

 

[Han-Solo]

Ron Pearlman should do Smaug

 

[Jackasscoley15]

GDT: Patience on real Hobbit News

http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2008/07/05/29150-gdt-patience-on-real-hobbit-news/

Guillermo Del Toro has taken a break from his super busy schedule promoting ‘Hellboy II: The Golden Army‘ (in Theaters July 11th) to post on TheOneRing.net forum with a message of patience on Hobbit News:

With rare exceptions, expect a lot of “no news” news to pop up everywhere “about the Hobbit”.

Some may try and be controversial with headings, some may try to spin old news into looking a little more recent. Some may even create a “scoop” feeling. But the bottom line is simple: There are no more news to report.

That said, being on the HBII junket tour, many a question will have to do with “The Hobbit” and the answer that will be given will be pallid variations on themes already familiar to TORN readers.

Please be patient. In just a few weeks, progress will actually occur and we will have some tidbits to gear up-

Yours Truly

GDT

I ... need ... news...

 

[DarknessOfDeath]

*catches breath*

No casting calls on who is reprising their role, aside from Ian McKellan?

 

[Rage]

I don't know if he's been mentioned...but Jack Black is my first choice for Bilbo.

He's in his mid to late 30s.

He's short. He's round.

He's worked with PJ

He's a comedic actor who can play it serious when needed.

And he looks like a hobbit!!

Rage

 

[Jackasscoley15]

I don't know if he's been mentioned...but Jack Black is my first choice for Bilbo.

He's in his mid to late 30s.

He's short. He's round.

He's worked with PJ

He's a comedic actor who can play it serious when needed.

And he looks like a hobbit!!

Rage

 

[nocomics]

I don't know if he's been mentioned...but Jack Black is my first choice for Bilbo.

He's in his mid to late 30s.

He's short. He's round.

He's worked with PJ

He's a comedic actor who can play it serious when needed.

And he looks like a hobbit!!

Rage

No thanks,like someone with a little more acting credability. How bout the actor who played Bilbo in LoTr trilogy,it would add consistancy to the story..

 

[Jackasscoley15]

Exclusive: Guillermo del Toro on 'Hellboy II' and 'The Hobbit'

http://www.premiere.com/features/4642/exclusive-guillermo-del-toro-on-hellboy-ii.html

Hobbit stuff starts at the end of page 3:

The buzz around del Toro this summer will be nothing compared what's coming his way when he begins work on The Lord of the Rings prequel, The Hobbit. After years of chatter about The Hobbit's big screen future, producer Peter Jackson and New Line officially announced in April that del Toro would direct two films based the Tolkien classic. The second film will lead directly into The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.

"The first film will stand on its own, and the second will be a transition and fusion with Peter's world," he says (while, no doubt, a breathless Middle Earth fan contingency listens). "I plan to change and expand the visuals from Peter's, and I know the world can be portrayed in a different way. Different is better for the first one. For the second, I have the responsibility of finding a slow progression and mimicking the style of Peter."

It's a daunting project, to say the least, and del Toro, who read the book at age 11, isn't taking it lightly. He's moving his family to New Zealand and will start working on the screenplay over the next few months.

"I tried to read the trilogy when I was younger and failed miserably, and started reading it again this year," says del Toro. "The Hobbit came out of a very personal side of Tolkien, and I keep thinking of his experiences going through World War I. He went into it as a proper Englishman and saw a side of the world that was horrifying to him, and he came back in a different way."

The Internet is humming with rumors that Wanted star James McAvoy will take on the lead role as Bilbo Baggins, but del Toro says that's not the case — at least not yet. No new roles have been filled, though del Toro does declare, "I love [McAvoy's] work... He has a great sensibility."

"Discussions about casting are general at this point," he says. "It's impossible to cast a movie before you write the screenplay. After you write it, you can see who might work for certain roles and who wouldn't."

As for directing it, del Toro is going in with Hellboy-size guns ablaze.

"When the call came and asked if I would pledge half a decade of my life to do The Hobbit, I said ****ing yes."

Sounds like a man ready to make an impression. Again.

 

[DarknessOfDeath]

I read that days ago. I'm not so sure about Jack Black...

I dunnno...

 

[Rage]

Yeah...not a conventional pick I know. But he looks like a hobbit and I think that he would work well in the role.

As for Ian Holm playing Bilbo again...he's sadly, just too old.

Rage

 

[DarknessOfDeath]

Ian Holm may be old... but that Freeman dude would be a decent choice as a younger Bilbo Baggins... Or that James guy perhaps.

 

[Rage]

I agree that Freeman (the Office) would also be a great choice for the role. I think that whoever they cast needs to be short. I know that you will say that they can make them look smaller with visual effects and tricks...but this movie will have Bilbo among 12 dwarfs. So if you cast Bilbo as an actor of 5'6...then you can cast all your dwarfs at 6'0 + and not need to do any visual effects trickery when they are all together as a group.

Rage

 

[DarknessOfDeath]

true... Indeed Dwarfs are taller than Hobbits, hehe.

 

[Jackasscoley15]

'I want my preciousss role again' says Andy Serkis

Lord of the Rings star Andy Serkis has revealed he would love to play Gollum again in the film being made of The Hobbit.

But in an exclusive interview with KOS Media, Serkis, 44, revealed, “nothing is signed and sealed”.

The King Kong star also spoke about his role as Captain Haddock in a movie trilogy about the comic book character Tintin, being directed and produced by Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson.

He talked to KOS Media just days before filming at Dickens World in Chatham this weekend for a possible new TV series.

Serkis said he was keen to reprise his most famous role as the creature Gollum in the new film being directed by Guillermo del Toro and produced by Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson.

“Nothing is signed and sealed,” he said. “Gollum and Gandalf are in The Hobbit and whoever says I am in it for sure is assuming it has all been done and dusted.

“But you never know in this industry. It would be fantastic to play Gollum again. He is a wonderful character and I enjoyed playing him in the Lord of the Rings. There’s more to be got out of him and more fun to be had.”

Comparing Jackson and del Toro as directors, he said: “I know Peter Jackson inside out now after King Kong, which was amazing fun, and Lord of the Rings.

“They are both complete visionaries. I know Guillermo will bring a fresh set of eyes to the story, which is greatly loved. As a combo, Guillermo and Peter will be awesome.”

Mexican Del Toro directed cult films such as Pan’s Labyrinth, Blade II and Hellboy. As well as The Hobbit, which is due out in 2011, he will direct a film chronicling events in the gap between that story and what happens in The Lord of The Rings.

Asked if he is knocking on doors to make sure he gets the part, Serkis said: “The actual nuts
and bolts of being approached through my agent will come fairly soon I would imagine.
“It would be strange if Gollum wasn’t there and it would be strange I would imagine if they didn’t ask me to do it. So I am secretly assuming I will be.”

Serkis starts filming the first Tintin movie in Los Angeles in September.

He said: “This is being created using what is now called performance capture. You wear a funny black suit covered in white balls so the camera captures your performance, rather than your acting.

“It is a style that has become popular – I love it. I used it in King Kong and as Gollum. It is a superb way of working because it liberates you as an actor – you can play anything you want in it.

“It’s down to how you interpret a role and you can completely transform yourself.
“Beowulf was done like this. The filming doesn’t take too long, but post-production takes a while.”

Some reports say Tintin is going to be more dark and sinister than the comics by Belgian Hergé, real name Georges Remi.

Serkis said: “I am not quite sure which way it is going to go. It’s going to be a real adventure story – the characters are really well written and well drawn.

Serkis came to Dickens World
to appear in a show provisionally called Newgate, which is described as The Sopranos set in 1700s London. If the pilot is a success, it could lead to a 13-part series.

He plays villainous Jonathan Wild in a pilot directed by Audrey Cooke, who has directed episodes of TV series including The Bill, Holby City, and Brookside.

The pilot will be taken to America in the hope a backer can be found to finance the series.
Serkis will be next seen in a BBC adaptation of Charles Dickens’ Little Dorrit, with Maidstone-born Mackenzie Crook of The Office and Pirates of the Caribbean fame.

 

[DarknessOfDeath]

Thats great news that he would like to reprise his role as Gollum... and heres hoping for more news in the coming months on who will be joining the ranks.

 

[Jackasscoley15]

This news saddens me

Looks Like Christopher Lee Might Not Return to Middle-Earth

Christopher Lee attended the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival this week, and our friends from Rushblogg, Karsten and Eirik, were on hand to talk to him. Of all the attendees, Meinich was the only one who asked Lee about his involvement in The Hobbit. Lee's answer came as quite a surprise -- first, he's adamant that he won't be appearing in The Hobbit, because as we all know, Saruman isn't in the book. This comes as no surprise -- Lee is a Tolkien purist (thank goodness!) and he won't allow himself to be shoehorned in, even if Peter Jackson and Guillermo del Toro were interested in doing so.

But what about the much discussed second film, which would likely deal with the Council of Wizards? That's a location problem. Lee isn't interested in filming in New Zealand again because it is simply too far away, for too long of a time. You can hear the tiredness in his voice -- and perhaps a bit of regret too.

That doesn't mean Lee isn't interested in being in The Hobbit at all, however! He'll appear in the film as long as he can stay in London, and there's a character he's quite keen to play. Or rather, voice. Someone very large, with a penchant for gold...

Head on over to RushBlogg and watch their video of Lee. It's a fantastic clip, and listening to him talk about Saruman, Return of the King, the Council of Wizards, and much more. It's like story-time. I could listen to him talk about Middle Earth for hours.

[YT]5qGFbBNnodw[/YT]

 

[FaT_tONle]

He's too old... he can't be doing this stuff forever... I mean the guy still has what it takes but we are talking about another 2-3 years. They waited too long... we should have had this film for 2008. I think we are going to lose the majority of the cast IMO.

 

[Marvolo]

Lee is an amazing actor who I have great respect for. As such, I am content with his decision. The man gave us two wonderful films, and a bit more if you count ROTK EE. I say let him take a break. He deserves it. However, if he is willing to do the voice of Smaug I would be more than happy.

 

[The_Vision]

I love Christopher Lee, one of my favorite actors ever

Rewatched the trilogy over the weekend, now i cant wait for the Hobbit

 

[DarknessOfDeath]

We should all do a LOTR marathon at the same time

 

[chamber-music]

With Del Toro directing I'm willing to bet Luke Goss will turn up playing an elf or something

 

[Rage]

I'll bet that both Ron Pearlman and Doug Jones will end up playing roles in the Hobbit movies. Should be really interesting to see Del Toro's vision of the Hobbit.

Rage

 

[GhostPoet]

I'll bet that both Ron Pearlman and Doug Jones will end up playing roles in the Hobbit movies. Should be really interesting to see Del Toro's vision of the Hobbit.

Rage

Oh yeah, at the very least you know Doug Jones will be in it. He's a MASTER and what he does...no question.

 

[Rac]

Del Toro said he a role for Perlman.

 

[DarknessOfDeath]

Sir Ian McKellen confirms return (again), loves director choice

July 22nd, 2008 by Compa_Mighty


Forummer diedye posted this piece of news from Empire:

Speaking at a special screening of The Dark Knight at London’s Imax cinema on Monday night, he [Ian McKellen] said: “Well, I haven’t had the contract yet but it’s everyone’s intention that I play Gandalf so yes, I will be returning to the role. Although it’s not until 2010, I’m very much excited about returning.

When asked about del Toro and the look of the movie, Sir Ian answered:
Well, if you’re not going to have Peter Jackson, who else can handle the job? To get an international film-maker of his standing who adores the original trilogy, well I don’t think you could possibly find a better

replacement, I think the look will be very much as it was, Weta is still involved, it’s still the same workshops, the same designers, I’ll be there, Andy Serkis (now confirmed to return as Gollum) will be there and Peter Jackson will still be around - not that he’ll interfere too much - so it’ll seem like the old family is getting back together again.

So there you go, further confirmation of several things: no one has been officially cast yet (nothing is signed), Sir Ian and Andy Serkis are to return, everyone’s on board with Guillermo del Toro and the look of the movie is expected to be relatively similar to that of the trilogy.

Source: OneRing.net