# Peter Jackson to produce Hobbit movie **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 18, 2007, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peter-jackson-to-produce-hobbit-movie/430473 "2007-12-18T18:17:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2007, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peter-jackson-to-produce-hobbit-movie/430473/1 "2007-12-18T18:17:09Z")
[this announcement](http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/Movies/12/18/film.thehobbit.ap/index.html) on CNN confirms that Peter Jackson will be the executive producer for the Hobbit movies, set to begin production in 2009. Looks like he’s not directing though. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2007, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peter-jackson-to-produce-hobbit-movie/430473/2 "2007-12-18T18:19:06Z")
I wonder if this means it will be of a similar style to the Lotr films. Do EPs have much input to the process? edit: the word ‘executive’ implies that he’s kind of in charge? ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2007, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peter-jackson-to-produce-hobbit-movie/430473/3 "2007-12-18T18:23:35Z")
Obligatory TORN news item (just a copy of the press release) > **[PETER JACKSON AND NEW LINE CINEMA JOIN WITH MGM TO PRODUCE “THE HOBBIT” Movie](http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2007/12/18/28150-peter-jackson-and-new-line-cinema-join-with-mgm-to-produce-%e2%80%9cthe-hobbit%e2%80%9d/)** > > December 18, 2007 ACADEMY AWARD-WINNER PETER JACKSON AND NEW LINE CINEMA JOIN WITH MGM TO PRODUCE “THE HOBBIT,” EAGERLY-ANTICIPATED FANTASY ADVENTURE EPIC NEW LINE AND MGM TO CO-PRODUCE AND SHARE WORLDWIDE DISTRIBUTION RIGHTS PETER JACKSON AND FRAN... Brian ---
**Author:** ![drm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e57/32.png) [@drm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drm)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2007, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peter-jackson-to-produce-hobbit-movie/430473/4 "2007-12-18T18:24:09Z")
The fact that he’s involved is enough for me. I Know they both have a lot on their plate right now and there is no chance of it happening, but seeing what Guillermo Del Toro and Alfonso Cuaron can do with fantasy I’d love to see either of them take a crack at it. (Pans Labyrinth, Azkaban respectively) ---
**Author:** ![clnilsen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecccb3/32.png) [@clnilsen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clnilsen)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2007, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peter-jackson-to-produce-hobbit-movie/430473/5 "2007-12-18T18:24:51Z")
[QUOTE=Antinor01] [this announcement](http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/Movies/12/18/film.thehobbit.ap/index.html) on CNN confirms that Peter Jackson will be the executive producer for the Hobbit movies, set to begin production in 2009. Looks like he’s not directing though. [/QUOTE] Just jumped over here to post this as well. Sweet! We gets our Precccioussss! ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2007, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peter-jackson-to-produce-hobbit-movie/430473/6 "2007-12-18T18:28:55Z")
I’m looking forward to meeting Thorin & Beorn. Any chance of McKellen playing Gandalf? ---
**Author:** ![Runestar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/74df32/32.png) [@Runestar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Runestar)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2007, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peter-jackson-to-produce-hobbit-movie/430473/7 "2007-12-18T18:31:15Z")
The CNN story just describes two Hobbit films that will be filmed simultaneously, but [PETER JACKSON AND NEW LINE CINEMA JOIN WITH MGM TO PRODUCE “THE HOBBIT” Movie](http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2007/12/18/28150-peter-jackson-and-new-line-cinema-join-with-mgm-to-produce-%E2%80%9Cthe-hobbit%E2%80%9D/) describes the second film as a ‘sequel’ to the Hobbit. What do you suppose they mean by that? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2007, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peter-jackson-to-produce-hobbit-movie/430473/8 "2007-12-18T18:38:33Z")
This is the best of all worlds. I am overjoyed the Hobbit will be made and I am more overjoyed it will be made in two parts. I am also happy that another director is taking on the task. Hopefully this director will be more faithful to the book and yet keep Jackson’s vision of what Middle Earth looks like. He did a awesome job of that. Jim ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2007, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peter-jackson-to-produce-hobbit-movie/430473/9 "2007-12-18T18:42:06Z")
[QUOTE=Runestar] The CNN story just describes two Hobbit films that will be filmed simultaneously, but [PETER JACKSON AND NEW LINE CINEMA JOIN WITH MGM TO PRODUCE “THE HOBBIT” Movie](http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2007/12/18/28150-peter-jackson-and-new-line-cinema-join-with-mgm-to-produce-%E2%80%9Cthe-hobbit%E2%80%9D/) describes the second film as a ‘sequel’ to the Hobbit. What do you suppose they mean by that? [/QUOTE] I suppose you could break ‘The Hobbit’ into two parts. Perhaps: part 1 - unexpected party - journey to Rivendell - crossing the Misty Mountains - Beorn + eagles - entering Mirkwood (Gandalf leaves) part 2 - spiders + elves (Mirkwood) - Laketown - Smaug - 5 armies - homecoming The only Hobbit bits I know of that could be expanded are Bilbo’s invisible adventures in the river village and Gandalf investigating the Necromancer… ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2007, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peter-jackson-to-produce-hobbit-movie/430473/10 "2007-12-18T18:44:20Z")
[QUOTE=glee] I suppose you could break ‘The Hobbit’ into two parts. Perhaps: part 1 - unexpected party - journey to Rivendell - crossing the Misty Mountains - Beorn + eagles - entering Mirkwood (Gandalf leaves) part 2 - spiders + elves (Mirkwood) - Laketown - Smaug - 5 armies - homecoming The only Hobbit bits I know of that could be expanded are Bilbo’s invisible adventures in the river village and Gandalf investigating the Necromancer… [/QUOTE] I would hope that ‘sequel’ was a misprint. There is plenty of material in the Hobbit to fill 4-6 hours on screen. It is actually faster paced than much of LoTR anyway and should actually translate better to film in many ways. Jim ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2007, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peter-jackson-to-produce-hobbit-movie/430473/11 "2007-12-18T18:46:04Z")
At least one plan was to have the 2nd movie deal with the stuff between Hobbit & LOTR Brian ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2007, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peter-jackson-to-produce-hobbit-movie/430473/12 "2007-12-18T18:47:18Z")
From Sir Ian Mckellen’s website (but dated 2006!): Several years ago, Mark Ordesky told us that New Line have rights to make not just The Hobbit but a second “LOTR prequel”, covering the events leading up to those depicted in LOTR. > **[Ian McKellen | Lord of the Rings | E-Post | FAQ | 22 November 2006](https://www.mckellen.com/epost/lotr/061122.htm)** > > Ian McKellen answers your questions about Gandalf and The Lord of the Rings trilogy of movies directed by Peter Jackson and filmed in New Zealand. ---
**Author:** ![Runestar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/74df32/32.png) [@Runestar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Runestar)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2007, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peter-jackson-to-produce-hobbit-movie/430473/13 "2007-12-18T18:53:56Z")
I don’t know - I just keep visualizing “Hobbit II: The Revenge”. “Hello, my name is Smaug the Younger. You killed my father. Prepare to die.” ---
**Author:** ![sciurophobic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cab0a1/32.png) [@sciurophobic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sciurophobic)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2007, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peter-jackson-to-produce-hobbit-movie/430473/14 "2007-12-18T19:01:24Z")
I bet they’ll incorporate _The Quest of Erebor_, which explains Gandalf’s real motives, why he chose Bilbo and how he got the dwarves to agree to take the hobbit. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2007, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peter-jackson-to-produce-hobbit-movie/430473/15 "2007-12-18T19:04:51Z")
There’s lots of unused materials from LOTR, including Aragorn’s quest for and eventual capture of Gollum, Gollum’s escape from the elves of Mirkwood. Also Gandalf’s ‘chance’ meeting with Thorin out in the Blue mountains, lots of stuff from the Dwarf and Orc wars, and Gandalf’s creeping into Dol Gulder to discover Thrain and get the key to Erebor from him. ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2007, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peter-jackson-to-produce-hobbit-movie/430473/16 "2007-12-18T19:07:13Z")
Awesome! I wonder who’ll get cast as Bilbo. I hope it’s a topnotch Brit or Aussie actor with a lot of Shakespeare under his belt. Is Derek Jacobi too old? ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2007, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peter-jackson-to-produce-hobbit-movie/430473/17 "2007-12-18T19:11:51Z")
[QUOTE=sciurophobic] I bet they’ll incorporate _The Quest of Erebor_, which explains Gandalf’s real motives, why he chose Bilbo and how he got the dwarves to agree to take the hobbit. [/QUOTE] That was my thinking, as well. There are some great insights into Gandalf’s thinking there, as well as an apt recognition that sometimes luck/chance plays a bigger role in the flow of history than we might otherwise think. I’d prefer to have Peter Jackson direct, but if he’s exec producing I hope and expect he’ll make sure the movies are something wonderful, and stylistically complimentary to his own LOTR trilogy. Filmed in NZ, perchance? Hope they’ll quickly sign up Ian McKellen as Gandalf and Hugo Weaving as Elrond. Any other casting suggestions? Bilbo (I’ve heard Martin Freeman of _Hitchhiker’s Guide_ mentioned several times) and Thorin are gonna be big roles, of course; Beorn could also be a great part for someone. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2007, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peter-jackson-to-produce-hobbit-movie/430473/18 "2007-12-18T19:32:20Z")
[QUOTE=Elendil’s Heir] Beorn could also be a great part for someone. [/QUOTE] How 'bout John Rhys-Davies? ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2007, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peter-jackson-to-produce-hobbit-movie/430473/19 "2007-12-18T19:38:22Z")
[QUOTE=Qadgop the Mercotan] How 'bout John Rhys-Davies? [/QUOTE] Rupert Boneham ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2007, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peter-jackson-to-produce-hobbit-movie/430473/20 "2007-12-18T19:38:44Z")
I’d assume that Sir Ian, Andy Serkis, and Hugo Weaving will sign on, and given the “de-aging” job they did for Sir Ian in the 3rd **X-Men** movie, that shouldn’t be an issue either. Now all we have to do is pray that it won’t be a crap-fest as PJ chooses a worthy successor. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peter-jackson-to-produce-hobbit-movie/430473.md?page=2)