The Hobbit movie(s) anticipation thread

[John DiFool]

Serkis is on board too now, as Gollum. Elijah Wood I fear however will prove to be a distracting non-necessity. Even Orlando Bloom's cameo as Legolas will prove to be pointless as well.

[Skammer]

I can handle Elijah/Frodo as a framing device, as long as they don't cut to or refer to him during the movie. It's not my preference, but it could work.

Glad to see McKellen and Serkis on board, too. It would have been fun to have Rhys-Davies play Gloin, father of Gimli though.

[Tanbarkie]

Originally Posted by Skammer

I can handle Elijah/Frodo as a framing device, as long as they don't cut to or refer to him during the movie. It's not my preference, but it could work.

Glad to see McKellen and Serkis on board, too. It would have been fun to have Rhys-Davies play Gloin, father of Gimli though.

I like the idea. These Hobbit films are clearly intended to be more directly tied in with LOTR than the original book was, and the Frodo scenes will enhance that, hopefully without disrupting the flow of the story proper. I'm a huge fan of Wood's performance in LOTR, though, so my perspective may be skewed - I have to admit, there's been a small part of me hoping to see him reprise the role in some form since I first completed the extended edition of "Return of the King."

[N9IWP]

An interesting opening would be to have Sam reading to Elanor (though Alaxandra Astin is 14)

Christopher Lee is back as Sauruman
http://christopherleeweb.com/

Lots of rumors at TORN. will wait for official confirmation.

Brian

[flano1]

My brother moved to NZ about 14 years ago.

Anyhow, he calls the other day to tell me that he is now a Hobbit!

They had an open casting day for extras and in my brothers words, " They were after short, round people to Hobbitise."

So there!

[carnivorousplant]

Cool!

[Eyebrows 0f Doom]

Oh man do I hope this rumor is true!

http://www.movieweb.com/news/the-hob...ther-thranduil

[Lasciel]

Originally Posted by Eyebrows 0f Doom

Oh man do I hope this rumor is true!

http://www.movieweb.com/news/the-hob...ther-thranduil

Oh man I would so die of happy if that were true. I love Tennant so very much. His accent makes me a happy person. It's like all the friendly approachable parts of Sean Connery.

I'm already happy that they're making it clear that Legolas is part of the Wood-King's court. Meh about Orly, but consistency is nice, and he didn't kill the part.

I've always thought that was the nicest through-line between Hobbit and LoTR. Sort of a nice thought, somewhere around a campfire between Rivendell and Moria, here's Legolas telling the younger hobbits all about how Bilbo and those dumb dwarves (with a comic arched eyebrow towards Gimli) crashed their dinner parties like 5 times in a night and THEN got captured by giant spiders.

Then Frodo can tell the story of how Bilbo outwitted the guards that night, and we cut to seeing Legolas being embarrassed that his folk were outwitted by a portly hobbit "thief" with some booze.

[Mahaloth]

Originally Posted by Skammer

Glad to see McKellen and Serkis on board, too. It would have been fun to have Rhys-Davies play Gloin, father of Gimli though.

Rhys-Davies will never put that makeup on again, I guarantee it. They would have to find a way to make it less irritating.

[Mahaloth]

Here is a quote from Elijah Wood on being in the movie:

We thought we were finished and the character doesn’t even exist in The Hobbit, so it was not even a pipe dream to imagine the possibility would be there for me to reprise the role of Frodo. But they’ve come up with something that I think is kind of interesting and I think very fitting that doesn’t necessarily infringe upon the integrity of the original novel. It’s great. I’m really excited.

Those [the Lord of the Rings] films marked a huge, massive experience in my life. It’s been 11 years, basically, since I went to New Zealand, so it’ll be a beautiful reunion and I’m just excited to go back and see everybody again.

I think it will be fine. I hope they get Ian Holm to be "old" Bilbo talking to Frodo. That would be awesome.

[Lasciel]

Originally Posted by Mahaloth

Rhys-Davies will never put that makeup on again, I guarantee it. They would have to find a way to make it less irritating.

That poor man was a trojan for those films. I can't even imagine the pain and suffering. I agree - there's no way in hell he's going to volunteer to do that again.

He honestly deserves an award for putting up with awful complications and remaining graceful under pressure. He was a wonderful addition to the trilogy, and I'm so glad he stayed it out, but damn. That had to have been a hellish time for him.

[Wakinyan]

Originally Posted by N9IWP

I am curious about Beorn

The Swedish actor Mikael Persbrandt is unexpectedly going to play Beorn. He is a very dedicated actor most known for his macho type of characters in Scandinavian movies, but he is also a "Dramaten actor", which is perhaps the most credibly background a Swedish actor can have. Since he most likely sees this as a once in a lifetime chance to break it internationally he'll probably do anything to make Beorn justice.

[jackdavinci]

Originally Posted by Mahaloth

Rhys-Davies will never put that makeup on again, I guarantee it. They would have to find a way to make it less irritating.

For some reason his rendition of Dwarf reminded me entirely too much of the Orko stand-in, in the He-Man live action flick.

[Mahaloth]

Loved the video update from Peter. Glad to see that production has actually begun and I can not believe that it has begun with Jackson directing.

Cool to see the sets again. Can't believe it is really happening.

[Mahaloth]

Ian Holm will play old Bilbo in the new movie as well. Cool.

[Mahaloth]

Looks like they have to find a new Fili. I wonder what happened. Perhaps he didn't want to stay out there for so long.

Robert "Fili" Kazinsky leaving the Hobbit.

[Mahaloth]

Hugo Weaving and Cat Blanchett will appear as Elrond and Galadriel again.

Don't be frightened when you see "Martin Freeman has left the Hobbit." He just means that he is going to make more Sherlock Holmes.

[teela brown]

And Stephen Fry is now onboard to play the Master of Laketown. Yay!

[Mahaloth]

Originally Posted by teela brown

And Stephen Fry is now onboard to play the Master of Laketown. Yay!

I saw that. Very cool and I'm glad he's involved.

Have they cast Bard yet?

[teela brown]

Originally Posted by Mahaloth

. . . Have they cast Bard yet?

Lemme look.

It doesn't look like it. Hmm. Would Kenneth Branagh make a good Bard?

Nor do I see Voice of Smaug cast yet.

[Baron Greenback]

Oh, wow, I hadn't been keeping up with the casting lately but am very pleased with Ken Stott (little known outside the UK I suspect, but a fine, fine actor) as Balin, and Sylvester McCoy as Radagast. Even with David Tennant no longer attached, there's still a former Doctor in the cast.

[gaffa]

Originally Posted by teela brown

Nor do I see Voice of Smaug cast yet.

Based on his work as "House" in last week's Doctor Who, the astonishingly talented Michael Sheen could do a wonderful job of it.

[gaffa]

Originally Posted by Baron Greenback

Even with David Tennant no longer attached, there's still a former Doctor in the cast.

Tom Baker could be an excellent Smaug as well.

[Mahaloth]

Originally Posted by Baron Greenback

Oh, wow, I hadn't been keeping up with the casting lately but am very pleased with Ken Stott (little known outside the UK I suspect, but a fine, fine actor) as Balin, and Sylvester McCoy as Radagast. Even with David Tennant no longer attached, there's still a former Doctor in the cast.

Wow, I did not realze McCoy was playing Radagast. That is cool that a Doctor is in it.

[Baron Greenback]

Martin (Bilbo) Freeman just revealed that his Sherlock co-star Benedict Cumberbatch has been cast in the Hobbit. He did this while Benedict was standing next to him at a UK awards show, and apparently it was supposed to still be confidential. There aren't that many unfilled slots, so I wonder who he's playing? He looks a bit like he should be playing an Elf.

[Mahaloth]

Originally Posted by Baron Greenback

Martin (Bilbo) Freeman just revealed that his Sherlock co-star Benedict Cumberbatch has been cast in the Hobbit. He did this while Benedict was standing next to him at a UK awards show, and apparently it was supposed to still be confidential. There aren't that many unfilled slots, so I wonder who he's playing? He looks a bit like he should be playing an Elf.

Wow, that is cool. I wonder if he is Bard, then. Hmmmm....

I love him in Sherlock. My wife and I are just re watching them right now.

[Bridget Burke]

Originally Posted by Mahaloth

Wow, that is cool. I wonder if he is Bard, then. Hmmmm....

I love him in Sherlock. My wife and I are just re watching them right now.

Yes, I just noticed Sherlock pop up on Netflix Streaming. Only 3 episodes--how many times will I end up watching them? (And I've used Netflix search on "Benedict Cumberbatch." A couple of Streaming options popped up.)

The Hobbit news is great! (And Doctor Watson will make an excellent Young Bilbo.)

[Mahaloth]

Titles and release dates confirmed:

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey comes out December 14, 2012

The Hobbit: There and Back Again comes out December 13, 2013

Read about it here.

[drm]

Peter Jackson answers a question or two.

[Arrogance Ex Machina]

Originally Posted by drm

Peter Jackson answers a question or two.

That sneak peek into "Gandalf, Elrond and Galadriel brandishing an array of fearsome Elvish weapons" was pretty awesome.

[Mahaloth]

Benedict Cumberbatch is voicing Smaug and the Necromancer.

He's so great as Sherlock Holmes, it is cool he can be in this too.

[teela brown]

Originally Posted by Mahaloth

Benedict Cumberbatch is voicing Smaug and the Necromancer.

He's so great as Sherlock Holmes, it is cool he can be in this too.

Brilliant! That's what I was hoping. He already has a chemistry going with Martin Freeman and I think they'll interact wonderfully.

[Elendil's Heir]

This is good news. Obviously I hope they remix Cumberpatch's voice so that he doesn't sound the same as both Sauron (the Necromancer) and Smaug.

[Bridget Burke]

After Sherlock popped up on Netflix Streaming, I checked out the two other streaming miniseries starring Benedict Cumberbatch. He played two very different guys--neither of whom was remotely like Sherlock. (Producers really like to make him suffer; Sherlock has his quirks but I get the impression he's fun to play.)

I'm betting he has the acting chops to do both voices in the Hobbit movies. He's one of those British actors who has had serious stage experience to balance his TV & film gigs.

[Mahaloth]

Originally Posted by Elendil's Heir

This is good news. Obviously I hope they remix Cumberpatch's voice so that he doesn't sound the same as both Sauron (the Necromancer) and Smaug.

They did a pretty good job with John Reys-Davies doing both Gimli and Treebeard. It actually originally bothered me that both were played by the same guy, but as I became more familiar with the movies, I forgot to even notice anymore.

[teela brown]

Originally Posted by Mahaloth

They did a pretty good job with John Reys-Davies doing both Gimli and Treebeard. It actually originally bothered me that both were played by the same guy, but as I became more familiar with the movies, I forgot to even notice anymore.

And Andy Serkis voiced one or two of those "cockney" orcs, too, in addition to Golllum. I'm interested in what Cumberbatch can do.

[N9IWP]

PJ confirms / announces some casting:
http://www.facebook.com/notes/peter-...50286515141558

Evangeline Lilly will be playing a new character—the Woodland Elf, Tauriel
Barry Humphries (Dame Edna Everage) will be portraying the Goblin King
Luke Evans as Bard and Benedict Cumberbatch as Smaug


Brian

[Wile E]

Originally Posted by N9IWP

PJ confirms / announces some casting:
http://www.facebook.com/notes/peter-...50286515141558

Evangeline Lilly will be playing a new character—the Woodland Elf, Tauriel
...

I saw this elsewhere and came in to mention it. This makes me very sad. It's like Liv Tyler as Arwen all over again. So which characters will be eliminated in order in order to give her character some lines and stuff to do?

[Mahaloth]

Our first pictures of Martin Freeman as Bilbo are in, along with a shot of Gandalf.

Some new Hobbit pics

[Mahaloth]

Does Peter Jackson look like he's gaining weight again? I see that the movie is only filming 12 days less than Lord of the Rings. I wonder why two movies are taking as long as 3 movies.

[Bridget Burke]

Originally Posted by Wile E

I saw this elsewhere and came in to mention it. This makes me very sad. It's like Liv Tyler as Arwen all over again. So which characters will be eliminated in order in order to give her character some lines and stuff to do?

Since they're making 2 movies out of one novel (plus assorted JRRT extras), why do you think they need to delete someone? It's been many years since I read The Hobbit, but I seem to recall a bunch of elves.

Oh, no, a female! The project will still pretty much be a sausage fest....

[Tanbarkie]

Originally Posted by Mahaloth

Does Peter Jackson look like he's gaining weight again? I see that the movie is only filming 12 days less than Lord of the Rings. I wonder why two movies are taking as long as 3 movies.

Just speculation on my part, but maybe it has something to do with this:

In a way, his role in The Hobbit has more technical difficulties than Lord of the Rings did, because he has scenes with 14 smaller characters...

-Peter Jackson, on Ian McKellan reprising his role as Gandalf

Since I expect Jackson to go for low-tech solutions (forced perspective, using little people, etc) whenever possible, rather than CG a giant Gandalf into scenes, I could see this adding significant time to the filming.

[N9IWP]

Pics of Oin and Gloin (and also Dori, Nori and Ori)
http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2011...old-gloin-oin/
Dori is certainly .... different

Brian

[Corner Case]

Originally Posted by N9IWP

Pics of Oin and Gloin (and also Dori, Nori and Ori)

Why do Oin, Gloin, and especially Ori look like Kelsey Grammer?

[N9IWP]

New video:
http://www.facebook.com/video/video....81557&comments

Brian

[Mahaloth]

Originally Posted by N9IWP

New video:
http://www.facebook.com/video/video....81557&comments

Brian

Here is a Youtube link to the video for those who prefer it.

So, they have blocked the filming off into 3 sections, it sounds. This is a good idea, as it allows them to film, then start post-production on one section, re-work the scripts and prepare another block, then come back and film.

Crazy, but more manageable than the first set of movies.

[gaffa]

Cool that Andy Sirkus is doing second unit directing. PJ has done very well with delegating responsibility. I've watched all the commentary for the extended versions of the 3 LOTR movies, and it was astonishing how many scenes were directed by people other than Peter.

I hope everyone makes it back for more shooting happy and healthy. Thanks for posting that video - five helicopters! I had Ride of the Valkyries running through my head ("If Peter says it's safe to surf this beach, we're gonna surf this beach!")

[Mahaloth]

Originally Posted by gaffa

Cool that Andy Sirkus is doing second unit directing. PJ has done very well with delegating responsibility. I've watched all the commentary for the extended versions of the 3 LOTR movies, and it was astonishing how many scenes were directed by people other than Peter.

Yeah, they had an insane amount of units filming on that one. Only way to get it filmed. They even gave the producer(Robert Osbourne??) a crew and had him film Boromir's death, a key scene to say the least.

[gaffa]

Originally Posted by Mahaloth

Yeah, they had an insane amount of units filming on that one. Only way to get it filmed. They even gave the producer(Robert Osbourne??) a crew and had him film Boromir's death, a key scene to say the least.

Barrie Osbourne. Peter's wife and co-writer Fran Walsh directed some scenes as well.

[Elendil's Heir]

The dwarves look... too shiny and pristine, somehow. Almost alien. Not at all how I'd envisioned them. The pics of Freeman as Bilbo are nice, though.