# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![Civil\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d78d45/32.png) [@Civil\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Civil_Guy)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2007, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peter-jackson-to-produce-hobbit-movie/430473/41 "2007-12-19T03:43:57Z")
The lack-of-females can maybe be handled by, erm, inventing some love interest for Bilbo that never made it into J.R.R’s books. Well, yes, it would be a literary travesty, but is that a box-office bad thing? Seems that if they can fiddle with other parts of it, they might also draw out the fight with the spiders a bit. And add to Bilbo’s encounter with Gollum, and add a magical adventure in Rivendell or so, and… They’ve already shown that they won’t be particularly faithful to the books (arguably can’t be), so we can best hope that the extra parts will at least be tolerable, maybe even good. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2007, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peter-jackson-to-produce-hobbit-movie/430473/42 "2007-12-19T05:32:48Z")
[QUOTE=Terrifel] There’s several thousand years’ worth of stories in Middle-Earth to choose from, but only a very few of those include hobbits… I would hope they’d at least use some of Tolkien’s material rather than writing a completely original storyline. [/QUOTE] I kinda liked the idea that Peter Jackson threw out in one of the LOTR DVD commentaries, to do a TV series about the Ents. (They solve crimes, only very slowly.) ---
**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 19, 2007, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peter-jackson-to-produce-hobbit-movie/430473/43 "2007-12-19T05:42:49Z")
[QUOTE=muldoonthief] The problem is [Gandalf]'ll look a decade older 60 years later… [/QUOTE] More like, a decade older 80 years _earlier_. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2007, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peter-jackson-to-produce-hobbit-movie/430473/44 "2007-12-19T05:50:25Z")
[QUOTE=Civil Guy] The lack-of-females can maybe be handled by, erm, inventing some love interest for Bilbo that never made it into J.R.R’s books. Well, yes, it would be a literary travesty, but is that a box-office bad thing? Seems that if they can fiddle with other parts of it, they might also draw out the fight with the spiders a bit. And add to Bilbo’s encounter with Gollum, and add a magical adventure in Rivendell or so, and… They’ve already shown that they won’t be particularly faithful to the books (arguably can’t be), so we can best hope that the extra parts will at least be tolerable, maybe even good. [/QUOTE] Well, I’'m going to hope for a different rationale. The LotR movie were so incredibly successful while being reasonably faithful to the books, though I am really hoping that Fran and Philippa keep their filthy mitts off this script, you might think that the powers that be will have the balls to go against conventional wisdom and not insist on some contrived female role or love interest. If there was ever a case where the creative people have the credibility and certainty of financial success to make such a demand this is it. ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2007, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peter-jackson-to-produce-hobbit-movie/430473/45 "2007-12-19T06:02:59Z")
[QUOTE=Terrifel] Another wild possibility, totally off the top of my head: in the theatrical release of LOTR, the death of Saruman and Wormtongue was not depicted. [/QUOTE] Yeah, but the expanded version available on DVD did have Saruman’s death, and he never made it out of Isengard. Not a choice I was enamored of, but given the lack of time to show the Scouring, I can see Jackson wanting to tie off that thread. ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2007, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peter-jackson-to-produce-hobbit-movie/430473/46 "2007-12-19T06:09:23Z")
[QUOTE=drm] 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) [/QUOTE] I love this idea. ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2007, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peter-jackson-to-produce-hobbit-movie/430473/47 "2007-12-19T13:01:56Z")
Put me down for Vegas and car chases. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2007, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peter-jackson-to-produce-hobbit-movie/430473/48 "2007-12-19T13:24:08Z")
[QUOTE=BMalion] Put me down for Vegas and car chases. [/QUOTE] I’ve tried and I’ve tried, but I can’t properly put you down for Vegas and car chases without insulting you outside the Pit. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2007, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peter-jackson-to-produce-hobbit-movie/430473/49 "2007-12-19T13:24:21Z")
[QUOTE=Morgyn] Yeah, but the expanded version available on DVD did have Saruman’s death, and he never made it out of Isengard. [/qUOTE] :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2007, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peter-jackson-to-produce-hobbit-movie/430473/50 "2007-12-19T13:37:46Z")
Sorry but that came across as snarky – suffice it to say that I did not purchase the extended editions for that exact reason (and people scoff at the idea that it would be foolish to shoot the Scouring) ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2007, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peter-jackson-to-produce-hobbit-movie/430473/51 "2007-12-19T13:50:04Z")
Will this be done as a short feature? Sailboat ---
**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 19, 2007, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peter-jackson-to-produce-hobbit-movie/430473/52 "2007-12-19T15:08:44Z")
Two Tolkien movies, filmed simultaneously? I’m guessing it will be many things, but one of them is not “short.” ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2007, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peter-jackson-to-produce-hobbit-movie/430473/53 "2007-12-19T15:14:29Z")
I heard it from a reliable source that Smaug will be played by Angelina Jolie. ---
**Author:** ![Terrifel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c68b51/32.png) [@Terrifel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terrifel)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2007, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peter-jackson-to-produce-hobbit-movie/430473/54 "2007-12-19T15:19:01Z")
[QUOTE=Morgyn] Yeah, but the expanded version available on DVD did have Saruman’s death, and he never made it out of Isengard. Not a choice I was enamored of, but given the lack of time to show the Scouring, I can see Jackson wanting to tie off that thread. [/QUOTE] BUT! Saruman is a wizard! Perhaps… it was all an e-LEW-sion! It’s _MAGIC!_ Or maybe he regenerates 1 HP/round unless damaged by fire or acid! Okay, perhaps not. Anyway, it’s probably unlikely that Christopher Lee would be too keen on reprising the role after being edited out of ROTK. BUT! What if it’s not SARUMAN, but his BROTHER? His long-lost twin brother Sarudave, separated at birth? Only Sarudave is EVEN MORE EVIL! He’s back in town, gunning for the killers of his brother! It’s payback time! _And this time… it’s personal!_ ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2007, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peter-jackson-to-produce-hobbit-movie/430473/55 "2007-12-19T15:26:29Z")
his evil twin sister Saruwoman, played by Bjork! ---
**Author:** ![Terrifel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c68b51/32.png) [@Terrifel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terrifel)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2007, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peter-jackson-to-produce-hobbit-movie/430473/56 "2007-12-19T15:29:45Z")
[QUOTE=Terrifel] BUT! What if it’s not SARUMAN, but his BROTHER? His long-lost twin brother Sarudave, separated at birth? [/QUOTE] It occurred to me post-edit window that there are probably SDMB members named “Dave” or variants thereof. “Sarudave” is not a reference to any of them. The character of Sarudave, all licenses and merchandising rights thereto are administered solely by the literary estate of Barry Tolkien. ---
**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 19, 2007, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peter-jackson-to-produce-hobbit-movie/430473/57 "2007-12-19T15:57:08Z")
[QUOTE=Sailboat] Will this be done as a short feature? [/QUOTE] Ba dum bum. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2007, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peter-jackson-to-produce-hobbit-movie/430473/58 "2007-12-19T16:10:51Z")
[QUOTE=Terrifel] BUT! Saruman is a wizard! Perhaps… it was all an e-LEW-sion! It’s _MAGIC!_ Or maybe he regenerates 1 HP/round unless damaged by fire or acid! [/QUOTE] [junior mod] No matter how cute you are about it, you’re not supposed to call anyone a troll in this forum. [/jm] 😛 [sub]Yes, I know[/sub] ---
**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 19, 2007, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peter-jackson-to-produce-hobbit-movie/430473/59 "2007-12-19T16:25:48Z")
Maybe they’ll flesh out Radagast the Brown in this one. He got mentioned in The Hobbit, and made a brief appearance in FOTR, being a buddy to eagles and all. The White Council’s attack on Dol Gulder ought to be good material for such a project, too. That’ll mean face time for not only Gandalf, but Saruman, Galadriel, Elrond, and Cirdan too! And maybe Glorfindel. ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2007, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peter-jackson-to-produce-hobbit-movie/430473/60 "2007-12-19T16:30:34Z")
[QUOTE=BMalion] I hope Otto Preminger is available to play Thranduil! 😃 [/QUOTE] Well, he was once quoted as saying he’d stick around to reprise his role in any future remakes “even if it takes a _haandred yeeeeeeeaars_.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peter-jackson-to-produce-hobbit-movie/430473.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peter-jackson-to-produce-hobbit-movie/430473.md?page=4)