Official The Hobbit thread

[Argyle of Sock]

Sooooo haaappppyyyy!

Best early Christmas present ever!

 

[jnmx2000]

i suspect that jackson isn't directing because of the lovely bones and TinTin. I could see him doing it after the lovely bones and let steven direct the first TinTin while jackson is directing the hobbit and after the hobbit jackson can direct the next TinTin. But i'd rather just see jackson direct the hobbit over anything else right now

 

[Rac]

Aww, fck. Well I hope they find someone good to direct (=no Raimi).

Remember, Tim Burton executive produced Batman Forever but that still didn't turn out to be good. It's all about the director, all about.

 

[The Lizard]

I still say that the entire Hobbit story (even including Beorn, who got left out of the 1977 TV cartoon version), could easily fit into a 2 1/2 hour movie.

This two-parter thing seems a bit unneccessary, but we'll see...

 

[DACrowe]

Well this is good news. I guess New Line and Jackson realized they both stand to make more money by making the movie than not.

As for a new director, Sam Raimi is an excellent director who could bring child like wonder to The Hobbit without some of the bloatedness. Yeah, SM3 did not live up to expectations but it wasn't a bad movie either and was overstuffed by producer input. I just laugh how fanboys were excited at the prospect after the overlypraised SM2 but now bemoan his name in good bandwagoning fashion with the overlyscrutinized SM3. I'm not saying Raimi is my first choice but he is a very solid choice and has the same asethetic sense as Jackson in how to shoot action sequences and suspense which is not surprising considering their backgrounds in horror (and ED > DA).

Oh well, either way good news, except for the fact that it is getting cut in two. A story that can be told in 2-2:30 hours gettingg stretched to 4-6 hours is a bad idea, methinks.

 

[Denny67]

The One Ring continues to rule them all.
New Line Cinema and Peter Jackson have made nice in their blood fued over The Lord of the Rings royalties, paving the way for the Oscar-winning filmmaker to oversee an epic version of The Hobbit.
"I'm very pleased that we've been able to put our differences behind us, so that we may begin a new chapter with our old friends at New Line," Jackson said in a statement Tuesday. "We are delighted to continue our journey through Middle Earth."

Jackson and his on- and offscreen partner Fran Walsh sued New Line in 2005, claiming the studio cooked the books and seriously shortchanged the couple for a franchise that looted $3 billion at the worldwide box office and won a clutch of Oscars.

The filmmaker had even issued a statement saying the ill will would keep him from shooting The Hobbit, the J.R.R. Tolkein adventure about Bilbo Baggins and his ring-discovering, dragon-conquering quest that serves as a launchpad for the LOTR series. And to the chagrin of fans, New Line boss Bob Shaye said he'd find someone else to direct.
The project festered in development and faced an uncertain future, especically with would-be stars like Ian McKellen, who received an Oscar nod for playing LOTR's Gandalf, a part that figures prominently in The Hobbit, publicly stated their support for Jackson.

But fans held out hope as MGM honcho Harry Sloan said he was committed to brokering a truce between the warring parties and bring The Hobbit to the big screen. MGM has a big stake in the film's success, because the studio controls the distribution rights.
"Peter Jackson has proven himself as the filmmaker who can bring the extraordinary imagination of Tolkien to life and we full heartedly agree with the fans worldwide who know he should be making The Hobbit," Sloan, MGM's chairman and CEO, said Tuesday.
In September, a key ruling in the case went against New Line, with many observers predicting it would end the impasse between Jackson and the studio.

All the while, New Line has seen its own fortunes falter. Its latest expensive fantasy gamble, The Golden Compass, has underperformed at the box office and the studio has yet to greenlight the other two films in the prospective trilogy.
Financial terms of the settlement were not disclosed, but all parties expressed happiness the row was over.
"We are very pleased we have been able to resolve our differences, and that Peter and Fran will be actively and creatively involved with The Hobbit," said Shaye. "We know they will bring the same passion, care and talent to these films that they so ably accomplished with The Lord of the Rings." "Now that we are all in agreement on The Hobbit, we can focus on assembling the production team that will capture this phenomenal tale on film," Sloan added.

It is not clear what specific roles Jackson and Walsh will play. The joint press release simply says the couple, who also produced and cowrote LOTR, will serve as executive producers of The Hobbit and "manage the production."

Jackson already has his hands full, shooting his adaptation of The Lovely Bones and with Tintin on the docket for next fall, so he apparently won't helm The Hobbit. There's no word on who will adapt The Hobbit, which will be divided into two parts for the big screen.
Likewise, no casting has been announced. Of the key actors in LOTR, only McKellen, Ian Holm (Bilbo) and Andy Serkis (Gollum) figure in The Hobbit's storyline.

Once those details get ironed out, production will begin "as soon as possible." Like LOTR, both halves of The Hobbit will be shot simultaneously. Principal photography is tentatively set for a 2009 start, with MGM and New Line splitting the costs and sharing distribution duties.
The first film is slated for 2010 and its sequel in theaters the following year.

E-Online

 

[ALP]

Aww, fck. Well I hope they find someone good to direct (=no Raimi).

Remember, Tim Burton executive produced Batman Forever but that still didn't turn out to be good. It's all about the director, all about.

This is what I was thinking.

* Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh will serve as Executive Producers of two films based on The Hobbit. New Line will manage the production of the films, which will be shot simultaneously.


Eh, it won't even be A Wingnut production.

 

[Backdrifter]

Managing is not the same as the services performed by a production company. They will still need a production company and its obviously going to be Wingnut.

 

[Storm22]

At first I was a bit disappointed that Jackson won't be directing but I'd say he's so passionate about the material that he will be heavily involved as producer so that's a good thing. I'm really happy The Hobbit is going ahead. It'll be interesting who they get to direct.

 

[TheVileOne]

It's good they set the deal up. But there is no one to write it now in the middle of a strike. No script can be written or approved now.

I'm a little disappointed Jackson isn't directing, but OH well, still good news.

Next thing they need to do is lock up Ian McKellan. He ain't getting any younger.

 

[BloodyWolverine]

My guess is these hobbit films will be a prequel set up to really link well with the LOTR. Cause i believe Jackson had the vision in mind of having the Hobbit 2 films to better set up the Fellowship of the ring and Bilbos deteration more so and the begining of the Saurons fortress being built.

 

[Sam Fisher]

Expect at least 20 more DVD editions of LOTR around the time this comes out.

 

[Captain Dumas]

It's good they set the deal up. But there is no one to write it now in the middle of a strike. No script can be written or approved now.

I'm a little disappointed Jackson isn't directing, but OH well, still good news.

Next thing they need to do is lock up Ian McKellan. He ain't getting any younger.

Well, since the strike is only the Writers Guild of America Jackson and co. could write it, as they are from New Zealand.

 

[TheVileOne]

Nope. Jackson and Walsh are both WGA members. The WGA has affiliates in New Zealand.

Once again, NO SCRIPT CAN BE WRITTEN WHILE THERE IS A STRIKE ON HAND.

What's going on right now? The producer's union are trying to push a war of attrition with WGA. Now the union is seeking to make individual deals with the studio so they can go back to work. Producers' union says they are drawing at straws, yadda, yadda, yadda.

 

[BloodyWolverine]

WGA Will have to break at some point do to not just writers being out of work. Alot of people are being unemployed. People like prop makers and model crafts men to grips.
No movies and tv mean no money for anyone. The producers have the ball and the WGA knows it thats why they are trying to go to individual people.
Trust me writers can make deals to make such a big movies as this. I am certain that teh production aspect will be settled before casting beings. Also movie doesn't start being filmed rumored until 2009. This is the contract and production part now.

 

[Mr. Credible]

the LOTR movies sucked... hard. i can't stress this enough.

i honestly don't see how another two movies (or roughly 8 or 9 hours) of people walking around could appeal to anyone, let alone such a wide fan base.

plus, you know that they'll release the super-duper-mega-blah-blah versions of the first three films to commemorate this release... ugh.

 

[블라스]

Holy chocolate covered DOG LIPS!

I am so happy

 

[War Party]

Mr. Credible continues to be one of my favorite posters. (sarcasm)

 

[BloodyWolverine]

He's intitled to his opinion but i disagree it too me was film making at its best. Maybe Credible has attention span issues.

 

[EdRyder]

Its a celebration *****s!
[YT]OfUQSXMNXf4[/YT]

t: t:

 

[LostSon88]

So I guess they're going through with those initial rumors of TWO Hobbit films where one movie will basically be "The Hobbit," and the followup will be an original idea using Tolkien's footnotes of Middle Earth History to fill in the story.

Should be interesting...

 

[Timstuff]

The only people who are benefiting from the strike are the idiots going onto reality TV shows and game shows and winning thousands of dollars. The studios need to just pay the writers and get it over with.

 

[TheVileOne]

The WGA are negotiating with individual studios now. It was the producers union that wouldn't play ball. The producers union felt what they offered the writers was a good deal.

You want to know why I think New Line made this deal and worked it out with Jackson?

Look at the terrible season they are having. Rush Hour 3 was a big disappointment for them. Shoot 'Em Up bombed. Then Golden Compass bombed. It's not looking good for them now.

So they really needed to be saved by the LOTR franchise.

 

[LastSunrise1981]

the LOTR movies sucked... hard. i can't stress this enough.

i honestly don't see how another two movies (or roughly 8 or 9 hours) of people walking around could appeal to anyone, let alone such a wide fan base.

plus, you know that they'll release the super-duper-mega-blah-blah versions of the first three films to commemorate this release... ugh.

Because they were great films? Films that are on such a high level that it'll be a while before another film can even match it in terms of greatness and perfection?

Trust me, it'll be a while before ANY film manages to top LOTR in terms of storytelling, acting, and visual wise. LOTR, in my opinion, is one of the huge films that manage to get everything right with what they intended to capture from the beginning. It had suspense, action, romance, comedy, and drama which ultimately balanced perfectly with one another and Jackson created a marvelous universe that was very realistic looking.

I truly feel LOTR is what I would consider to be a perfect trilogy.

 

[TheVileOne]

Which if a third Bale/Nolan Batman movie happens will take that crown Last Sunrise.