Official The Hobbit thread

[craigdbfan]

Ian is officially back:

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/blogs/heat-vision/ian-mckellan-set-return-gandalf-69960

Yay! Good news indeed.

 

[Doctor Jones]

FINALLY.

I did my happy dance and it was a white version of this.

But this is fantastic news!

 

[Ponyboy]

Yes, Serkis is back too, signed & sealed.

Weaving hasn't yet signed a contract but has said he'll do it; he's not in NZ yet either at the moment. We're a go for shooting to start 2nd week of February.

 

[danoyse]

All this casting news makes me want to watch the LOTR movies again. Getting psyched for this movie now!

 

[craigdbfan]

I did my happy dance and it was a white version of this.

But this is fantastic news!

Imagined and laughing.

 

[Boom]

Now I want to know who they're going to get for Thranduil, Bard, and Smaug.

 

[Ponyboy]

That's being kept in a folder market "Top Secret"... Well at least the voice of Smaug.

 

[Boom]

Hopefully the name inside is Bill Nighy.

 

[Spider-Who?]

Ian is officially back:

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/blogs/heat-vision/ian-mckellan-set-return-gandalf-69960

oh thank god. honestly, i was getting a little worried.

 

[Octoberist]

I hope we get Bill Nighy. It seems like most of the rumored names that appeared back in October have some true, which includes Sylvester McCoy. The list included david tennant and (Gasp) Michael Fassbender!

 

[luke1234]

**** YESSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!


Best news all day.

 

[Sawyer]

Ian is officially back:

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/blogs/heat-vision/ian-mckellan-set-return-gandalf-69960

And with that, this movie is officially happening for me.

 

[Boom]

I'm thinking of the one shot in LoTR of Gandalf riding up the hill to Bag-End, with the "Concerning Hobbits" theme playing.

 

[Sgt.Pepper]

Sweet news. Now I'm more excited for the movie.

 

[Angel_Faerie]

And with that, this movie is officially happening for me.

Add Andy Serkis to that and you have my thoughts exactly

 

[Crockett]

It's great to see that McKellen and Serkis is finally onboard.

 

[Crockett]

It's great to see that McKellen and Serkis is finally onboard.

 

[Boom]

Ian McKellen speaks:

All I had to decide was what to do with the time that is given me.

I’m 71 and fit: though at my age who knows what accident is 'round the next corner? For a year or more, I have been arranging my professional commitments around the possibility of The Hobbit films starting at almost anytime. We brought the Waiting for Godot tour of Australia to New Zealand early 2010, assuming I would stay on to start shooting soon after. Then there was yet another delay: but in Wellington I met with Guillermo del Toro and later read his script for Part One, written with the LOTR writing team. It was true to the style, the fun and the romance of the trilogy.

When Peter Jackson, already producing, resumed the director’s chair, he kept me in touch with developments. A second screenplay was sent over, on the understanding that I would not talk about what I read in it.

After the ruckus over trade union expectations and unlikely rumours of filming outside New Zealand, suddenly crucial casting was announced, plus a start date in February 2011. Martin Freeman as Bilbo sounds perfect. As my agent continued to negotiate with Warner Brothers, I kept wondering was Gandalf what I most wanted to do, more than a new play for instance or indeed a new part? Sequels aren’t necessarily as rewarding to act in as their originals.

Could I let Gandalf go? Would anyone else care if I did? Elsewhere, does anyone care that Michael Gambon was not the first to play Dumbledore?

The deciding negotiation was not about money but about dates. Gandalf is needed on set over the next 18 months but with sizeable breaks when I can work on other projects. My worry that I could not easily escape from Middle Earth was lifted.

I am happy to say I start filming in Wellington on February 21 2011.

--Ian McKellen, London, January 2011

SOURCE: http://www.mckellen.com/cinema/hobbit-movie/index.htm

 

[Whiskey Tango]

What a lucky guy, he gets to wear that awesome hat again.

 

[craigdbfan]

Could I let Gandalf go? Would anyone else care if I did? Elsewhere, does anyone care that Michael Gambon was not the first to play Dumbledore?

Yes, absolutely.

 

[Boom]

I'm convinced that the earth would've imploded.

 

[craigdbfan]

I'm convinced that the earth would've imploded.

Earth imploding? Thats preposterous.

More like the whole galaxy!

 

[bullets]

It's great to see that McKellen and Serkis is finally onboard.

I think so too , I would of been really disappointed if they had to do a recast.

 

[marcvader]

Alls well on Middle Earth

 

[Jackasscoley15]

Can't wait to see some set pictures, though I'm sure they'll be scarce at first.