The Hobbit Movie Thread

[Daddy Darth]

I was starting to worry about the future of this one! PJ looks to be fighting pretty hard to get it to stay in New Zealand.

 

[Evil Agent]

There's a movie site I frequent that has been pushing for Freeman as Bilbo for almost two years now, so they're giddy with excitement.

Oh, I think it's been even longer than two years. I think Freeman is perfect in many ways (looks like a hobbit, looks like Ian Holm, and he's very funny). The only thing I'm not sure about, though, is that Freeman's humor is usually much more subtle and low-key (e.g. in The Office) and not as manic/insane as Bilbo can sometimes be. He may have to work on that a little bit. Otherwise, I'm thrilled (especially considering the other rumored contenders, like Daniel "Harry Potter" Radcliffe).

As for whether the film stays in NZ... I sure hope so (especially for the Hobbiton scenes, considering they've already re-built the entire Hobbiton set!). However, I'm also still hoping for Christopher Lee to play Saruman, but Lee has said he won't travel to NZ due to his old age and health... but if the production came to the UK, they might be able to make it work.

 

[Evil Agent]

Casting so far...

So here's what we have so far:

Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins

Richard Armitage as Thorin Oakenshield

Aidan Turner as Kili

Rob Kazinsky as Fili

Graham McTavish as Dwalin

Stephen Hunter as Bombur

Mark Hadlow as Dori

Peter Hambleton as Gloin

John Callen as Oin
(no photo available)

Lots of unknowns so far... which is great. In fact, many of the LOTR cast was unknown at the time (i.e. Orlando Bloom!).

There are still 5 dwarf roles to go, plus Beorn and Bard and Thranduil. Hopefully Gandalf and Gollum will still be played by Ian McKellen and Andy Serkis.

 

[DailyRich]

Don't forget the voice of Smaug.

 

[Loerwyn]

Don't forget the voice of Smaug.

Hash to be Shean Connery, don't you think sho?

 

[Evil Agent]

Don't forget the voice of Smaug.

Speculation is that Bill Nighy may be Smaug's voice.

 

[Daddy Darth]

Well looks like The Hobbit will stay in New Zealand. I am glad thats over. Now will they ever make this movie. I feel like I have been waiting for this and GRR Martins next book for about 100 years.

 

[Banger]

Bill Nighy would be a great Smaug.

 

[harrynia]

Well I can bet that this movie is really going to be a great hit. It really has an awesome story.

 

[Evil Agent]

The Return of the Cast

There has been a substantial amount of Hobbit news in the last few days. Jackson has managed to sign and secure several LOTR cast members. We now have confirmation from Ian McKellen, Andy Serkis, Elijah Wood (yes), and now... Christopher Lee! This is great news, considering Lee's return was thought unlikely due to his age and unwillingness to travel.

Cate Blanchett has also been confirmed for a while now, and Orlando Bloom is rumored to be returning but hasn't signed yet.

NOTE: All 13 dwarves are also cast, as well as Beorn and even Drogo Baggins (Frodo's dad!).

 

[3rdI]

There has been a substantial amount of Hobbit news in the last few days. Jackson has managed to sign and secure several LOTR cast members. We now have confirmation from Ian McKellen, Andy Serkis, Elijah Wood (yes), and now... Christopher Lee! This is great news, considering Lee's return was thought unlikely due to his age and unwillingness to travel.

Cate Blanchett has also been confirmed for a while now, and Orlando Bloom is rumored to be returning but hasn't signed yet.

NOTE: All 13 dwarves are also cast, as well as Beorn and even Drogo Baggins (Frodo's dad!).

Right on minus Ian McKellen who I think did a horrible job playing Gandalf. As much as I love Jackson's interpretation on film I have serious issues with the portrayal of Gandalf. I believe Jackson even admitted to moving some of the focus away from Gandalf and onto Aragorn in The Return of the King. Irked the hell out of me though when Jackson had Aragon make the decision to ride to the Black Gates which was absolutely not how it went down in the books. That was Gandalf's call. LOTR was basically a chess match between Gandalf and Sauron. Jackson wrote and McKellen portrayed Gandalf as a feeble old man.

Stoked to see Lee is back he should have been Gandalf in LOTR.

 

[Evil Agent]

Gotta disagree with you there. McKellen is one of my favourite actors, and is a perfect Gandalf in my opinion... although Jackson did show a little more of his softer side, and less of his cranky side...

...which is why I'm happy that the Gandalf of the Hobbit is Gandalf the Grey, not White. Gandalf the Grey is the more interesting (and funny) wizard.

The more controversial decision so far has been to include Elijah Wood.

 

[3rdI]

Gotta disagree with you there. McKellen is one of my favourite actors, and is a perfect Gandalf in my opinion... although Jackson did show a little more of his softer side, and less of his cranky side...

...which is why I'm happy that the Gandalf of the Hobbit is Gandalf the Grey, not White. Gandalf the Grey is the more interesting (and funny) wizard.

The more controversial decision so far has been to include Elijah Wood.

Thats cool man. Just didn't like the way he portrayed Gandalf as weak. Tolkien wasn't in the business of throwing fireballs around D&D style but Gandalf was a bad sob. McKellen didn't capture that. Did a bit better with Gandalf the White but even then he didn't capture the power and presence of the character.

 

[Loerwyn]

The more controversial decision so far has been to include Elijah Wood.

I've heard, because of how The Hobbit is going to be two films long with extra material stuff not in the book, that Frodo may be used as a framing device.

Might have read it on Werthead's blog, but I could be wrong.

 

[NickeeCoco]

Cate Blanchett has also been confirmed for a while now, and Orlando Bloom is rumored to be returning but hasn't signed yet.

He was offered $1 million dollars for a two minute cameo.

I wish I was offered that. Must be nice.

 

[saintjon]

Good lord, is he ever not worth it IMO. Maybe they could just cg him snowboarding his way through a battle of five armies frame on some unlikely piece of weaponry or other...

I'm kind of soured on this whole thing...

There's been so much screwball development hell bs for what, ten years now? I was really interested in seeing what Guillermo del Toro would do with this. The whole thing just bums me out. Wake me up when this thing's in theaters. Half of those actors don't look the slightest bit dwarf-like to me either. Props to Mark Hadlow though I guess.

Edit: Yeah I just checked the OP and it's kind of depressing that Juzzz (where are you man?) started this thread 6 years ago. Has anyone ever said, "You know, I'm really glad that movie had Orlando Bloom in it." Okay maybe people... maybe women have said that. Has anyone ever said, "You know, Orlando Bloom was even more believable than usual as a blacksmith in this movie." He was fine in Fellowship, other than that I can't say I've ever really been blow away by the guy.

 

[Evil Agent]

Don't be depressed! Those 10 years of development hell sure sucked, but now it's finally happening... for REAL! Filming starts next month!

I'm sure PJ will make some of the same mistakes he did with LOTR, but in all honesty I think he'll do a better job than GDT would have.

 

[Loerwyn]

I think he'll do a better job than GDT would have.

Same. Don't get me wrong, I liked the Hellboy films, but they were so disconnected from the comics that I've begun to like them less and less.

GDT is good at "Oh, Gods, my brain just melted" films - Neither The Hobbit nor LotR are like that, and I think GDT's talent would be wasted on the films - And the source material, in return, would be wasted on him.

 

[saintjon]

I disagree. The Hobbit is more of a "magical mystery tour" sort of story than the Lord of the Rings, which is more of a sweeping epic and as such I think it's the kind of story that GDT has more of a gift for. Furthermore, I already have pretty good idea of how the films will look if Peter Jackson does them, now I'll never know what sort of visuals we will be missing out on with the goblin king, Mirkwood, the halls of Thranduil... Smaug's lair. Bums me out.

Like I said wake me up when this thing hits theaters.

 

[Sonja Ravenscroft]

I understand "familiar characters" from LOTR-from a non LOTR reader pov.

But (IMO) Wood as Frodo "introducing" the story, Gladariel being in there to connect them, I'm not a big fan of it, but I understand what they are trying to do.

They're trying to essentially make Hobbit and LOTR one long narrative. Jackson deserves the chance to do this without judgement, he pulled off LOTR nicely, and while GDT would have been an interesting vision, Jackson makes perfect sense to "finish" it with The Hobbit-at the very least the "familiar" characters will be consistent with the LOTR.