# The Hobbit Is a GO!!!!
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hobbit-is-a-go/446787
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [April 25, 2008, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hobbit-is-a-go/446787 "2008-04-25T01:51:08Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)
#### Post date: [April 25, 2008, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hobbit-is-a-go/446787/21 "2008-04-25T17:57:52Z")
> [@GDT on TORN](#):
>
> GDT: You know, I traveled to New Zealand just a little while ago, and one of the main reasons for going was to sit down and talk about the second film. ‘The Hobbit’, the book, is really one self-contained film, so for the second movie we sat down and worked it out. When we did this we got really excited because this second film is not a ‘tag on’, it’s not ‘filler’, it’s an integral part of telling the story of those 50 years of history lost in the narrative. There will be certain things that we will see from the first movie but from a different point of view, but it will feel like a volume, in the 5 volumes of the entire story. It will not feel like a bridge, I’ve been hearing it called ‘a bridge film’, it’s not, it’s an integral chapter of the story, and I think we’re all on the same page.
Hmm, I smell Aragorn backstory.
---
### Author:  [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)
#### Post date: [April 25, 2008, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hobbit-is-a-go/446787/22 "2008-04-25T18:05:38Z")
The problem with a Hobbit movie is we’ve already seen most of it in LOTR. The Shire, Hobbits, Dwarves, Gandalf, trolls, magic ring, Rivendale, fighting orcs underground, Gollum, eagles, wargs, giant spiders, more elves. All would just feel like reheated left overs from LOTR. The only thing new in the Hobbit is the dragon (which would be pretty cool) and Beorn (also cool).
Also, unlike LOTR, the main characters are all basically inter-changable dwarves. It’s going to be hard to get the audience to care about, or even be able to differentiate between them.
GDT and Jackson are both great film makers, so maybe they’ll pull it off, but to me this still feels like making a movie because its such an irresistible money making opportunity (ROTK made a _billion_ dollars!) rather then because anyone actually has a good plan to make a good film out of it. The idea of a “interlude” film just strengthens this idea.
---
### Author:  [@HubZilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HubZilla)
#### Post date: [April 25, 2008, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hobbit-is-a-go/446787/23 "2008-04-25T19:01:07Z")
[QUOTE=freekalette]
Guillermo Del Toro to direct
[/QUOTE]
Why isn’t Peter Jackson directing it?
---
### Author:  [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)
#### Post date: [April 25, 2008, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hobbit-is-a-go/446787/24 "2008-04-25T19:13:58Z")
[QUOTE=squeegee]
Hmm, I smell Aragorn backstory.
[/QUOTE]
All that walking in the woods he does, no wonder.
---
### Author:  [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)
#### Post date: [April 25, 2008, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hobbit-is-a-go/446787/25 "2008-04-25T19:15:44Z")
Are the Necromancer and Sauron one and the same? I’m still unclear on that point.
Also, in a general sense, how often is it (usually) from the time the director signs until the first frame of film is shot?
---
### Author:  [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)
#### Post date: [April 25, 2008, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hobbit-is-a-go/446787/26 "2008-04-25T19:41:08Z")
[QUOTE=HeyHomie]
Are the Necromancer and Sauron one and the same? I’m still unclear on that point.
[/QUOTE]
Yes, but that didn’t become clear until after the events of the Hobbit.
---
### Author:  [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)
#### Post date: [April 25, 2008, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hobbit-is-a-go/446787/27 "2008-04-25T19:43:50Z")
[QUOTE=Simplicio]
Also, unlike LOTR, the main characters are all basically inter-changable dwarves. It’s going to be hard to get the audience to care about, or even be able to differentiate between them.
[/QUOTE]
And there are no **female** characters in the whole book!
---
### Author:  [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)
#### Post date: [April 25, 2008, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hobbit-is-a-go/446787/28 "2008-04-25T19:49:52Z")
[QUOTE=BrainGlutton]
And there are no **female** characters in the whole book!
[/QUOTE]
What, have you forgotten Lobelia and the nameless serving girl in Bree? 😃
---
### Author:  [@Mrs.Cake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mrs.Cake)
#### Post date: [April 25, 2008, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hobbit-is-a-go/446787/29 "2008-04-25T21:03:29Z")
You don’t know - maybe some of the dwarves _are_ female.
---
### Author:  [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)
#### Post date: [April 25, 2008, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hobbit-is-a-go/446787/30 "2008-04-25T21:57:01Z")
I’m kind of glad it’s not PJ to be honest. I was getting weary of the schmaltz.
-FrL-
---
### Author:  [@Indistinguishable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indistinguishable)
#### Post date: [April 25, 2008, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hobbit-is-a-go/446787/31 "2008-04-25T22:04:35Z")
[QUOTE=Frylock]
I’m kind of glad it’s not PJ to be honest. I was getting weary of the schmaltz.
-FrL-
[/QUOTE]
Aha! I see what happened here[…](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=465513)
---
### Author:  [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)
#### Post date: [April 25, 2008, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hobbit-is-a-go/446787/32 "2008-04-25T22:05:26Z")
[QUOTE=HubZilla]
Why isn’t Peter Jackson directing it?
[/QUOTE]
He’s busy. After New Line told him (and the world) that they’d _never ever ever_ allow him to participate in **The Hobbit** in any way, shape, or form, ever in the future of the world and middle-earth, cross their hearts and hope to die, PJ took on some other projects. And he’s not willing to postpone them to direct **TH** but he thinks he can produce it while he’s directing his other stuff.
---
### Author:  [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)
#### Post date: [April 25, 2008, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hobbit-is-a-go/446787/33 "2008-04-25T22:25:43Z")
[QUOTE=Qadgop the Mercotan]
He’s busy. After New Line told him (and the world) that they’d _never ever ever_ allow him to participate in **The Hobbit** in any way, shape, or form, ever in the future of the world and middle-earth, cross their hearts and hope to die, PJ took on some other projects. And he’s not willing to postpone them to direct **TH** but he thinks he can produce it while he’s directing his other stuff.
[/QUOTE]
Crosses fingers and hopes for “Meet the Feebles II: Even Feebler”
---
### Author:  [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)
#### Post date: [April 25, 2008, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hobbit-is-a-go/446787/34 "2008-04-25T23:02:20Z")
[QUOTE=What Exit?]
They could also mine some of the stories of the Silmarillion.
[/QUOTE]
No they won’t (alas). The Tolkien estate has total control over anything from the Silmarillion and have been very clear in their opposition to any adaptation of same. Yeah I’d love to see a new series centered around Beren and Luthien and their struggles against Sauron, but it ain’t going to happen unless Chris Tolkien and co. have a radical change of mind.
---
### Author:  [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)
#### Post date: [April 25, 2008, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hobbit-is-a-go/446787/35 "2008-04-25T23:10:50Z")
[QUOTE=Indistinguishable]
Aha! I see what happened here[…](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=465513)
[/QUOTE]
😉😛
---
### Author:  [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)
#### Post date: [April 25, 2008, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hobbit-is-a-go/446787/36 "2008-04-25T23:16:39Z")
[QUOTE=HeyHomie]
Also, in a general sense, how often is it (usually) from the time the director signs until the first frame of film is shot?
[/QUOTE]
Time frame ranges between two weeks and never.
---
### Author:  [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)
#### Post date: [April 25, 2008, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hobbit-is-a-go/446787/37 "2008-04-25T23:24:04Z")
PJ is currently working on “The Lonely Bones” and is directing one of the Tintin movies.
Brian
---
### Author:  [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)
#### Post date: [April 27, 2008, 9:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hobbit-is-a-go/446787/38 "2008-04-27T09:39:06Z")
Guillermo del Toro’s [first interview](http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2008/04/25/28747-guillermo-del-toro-chats-with-torn-about-the-hobbit-films/) about his plans for _The Hobbit_.
Continuity seems to be the key word.
---
### Author:  [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)
#### Post date: [April 27, 2008, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hobbit-is-a-go/446787/39 "2008-04-27T12:37:34Z")
Some specualtion on the 2nd movie from [Userfriendly](http://ars.userfriendly.org/cartoons/?id=20080427).
---
### Author:  [@freekalette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freekalette)
#### Post date: [April 27, 2008, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hobbit-is-a-go/446787/40 "2008-04-27T14:14:19Z")
[QUOTE=What Exit?]
Some specualtion on the 2nd movie from [Userfriendly](http://ars.userfriendly.org/cartoons/?id=20080427).
[/QUOTE]
I would pay to watch that! Well, provided they gesticulate with their ands when they talk. They’re my favorites from LOTR.
[Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hobbit-is-a-go/446787.md?page=1)
[Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hobbit-is-a-go/446787.md?page=3)