The Hobbit (film series)

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"What news from the North, Riders of Rohan?" — Aragorn
This article is about a current event; it is subject to frequent revision as more information becomes available.
The name The Hobbit refers to more than one character, item or concept. For a list of other meanings, see The Hobbit (disambiguation).

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey[1] and The Hobbit: There and Back Again[1], known collectively as simply The Hobbit, are two upcoming live-action films based upon J.R.R. Tolkien's novel of the same name. They are conceived as prequels to The Lord of the Rings: The Motion Picture Trilogy with which they will form one 'continuous journey'.[3] The film will be distributed by MGM and New Line Cinema. Peter Jackson will serve as executive producer, co-writer and director for the two films. Filming began on 21 March, 2011.[4]

Plot

The Hobbit films are set to be released in December 2012 and 2013, they will cover the events in The Hobbit, and possibly Gandalf's visits to Dol Guldur. The main plot however will be of Bilbo Baggins, Gandalf and Thorin and Company as they set forth to the Lonely Mountain.

"Film Two"

Film Two has been recently revealed in an interview with Del Toro and Jackson, to be a continuation of The Hobbit. The interview which was included in Empire magazines 20th Birthday Special, expressed how the pair believed it would be better not to cram The Hobbit into one movie, but span it over two.

"We've decided to have The Hobbit span the two movies, including the White Council and the comings and goings of Gandalf to Dol Guldur"
Guillermo Del Toro[5]

This interview goes with what Jackson and Del Toro said in a web chat with fans, when it was said that the story could take place during the events of the Hobbit; because of the fact that Gandalf continually disappears in the book. Jackson said "Those gaps are great! There's a lot of stuff going on, which is distracting him".[6]

Issues concerning production

Directorship

The Hobbit as a movie has been anticipated by many fans since the release of The Lord of the Rings. Even before the pre-production began there had been and are still possible issues which could delay the production of Peter Jackson's The Hobbit. In early 2005 it came to the public attention that Jackson was suing New Line Cinema.[7] This cast doubt on whether or not The Hobbit would ever be made. Jackson later told fans that, due to the dispute, he would neither direct nor produce the film.[7] In late 2007 it was confirmed that Jackson would not direct, but would be an executive producer for two Hobbit movies.[8] It was later announced that Guillermo del Toro would direct the films, and that Jackson will be an active 'executive producer' with the possibility that he would help direct some scenes if necessary.[6]

However, on 30 May 2010 it was revealed that del Toro could no longer commit himself to direct The Hobbit films, citing the continued delays in production in his reasoning. [9] Peter Jackson later announced that he would direct both films. [10]

Christopher Tolkien's lawsuit with Newline Cinema

In May 2008 it was reported that Christopher Tolkien would ask "for 'one last crusade' against the film's producers in his long-running legal battle over money owed for the Lord Of The Rings movies."[11] On June 6, 2008, it was scheduled for him to go before a Californian judge to ask to "terminate" film rights to The Hobbit. However the dispute was later settled on 8 September 2009.[12]

Industrial dispute in New Zealand

In September 2010, the production of The Hobbit films was again delayed when the International Federation of Actors issued the following order to all members of its associated unions:

"Resolved, that the International Federation of Actors urges each of its affiliates to adopt instructions to their members that no member of any FIA affiliate will agree to act in the theatrical film The Hobbit until such time as the producer has entered into a collective bargaining agreement with the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance for production in New Zeal]and providing for satisfactory terms and conditions for all performers employed on the productions."
― International Federation of Actors [13]

This meant that Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema considered moving the production elsewhere, possibly to eastern Europe.[14] However, following talks with the New Zealand government, Warner Bros. decided to proceed as planned to film The Hobbit in New Zealand as originally planned. The New Zealand government subsequently passed legislation to amend their labour laws to ensure that production stayed in the country.[15]

Plot details

Special effects

Weta will continue their role in handling the special effects. Del Toro has stated he wishes to focus more on animatronics for the films.

"The only thing I will be pushing for more in these films that the other three are full animatronics and animatronic creatures enhanced with CGI, as opposed to CGI creatures themselves. We really want to take the state-of-the-art animatronics and take a leap ten years into the future with the technology we will develop for the creatures in the movie. We have every intention to do for animatronics and special effects what the other films did for virtual reality."
― Guillermo del Toro [16]

The film will be released in both 2D and 3D.[17]

Possible rating

In an interview with the BBC Del Toro has commented on the level of horror and violence in the The Hobbit, being, like Jackson, a director with a background in that genre.

"The intensity of the scenes of the Hobbit will have the intensity they had in the book when I was a kid reading them.

The spiders of Mirkwood are a pretty harrowing experience and facing the great goblin in the caves is quite a thrilling moment. The Battle of the Five Armies, the first encounter with Gollum - there are scary moments in the book.

But they are already there. We are not inventing or trying to do horror for horror's sake we are trying to imbue those moments of intensity in the book into the movie.
"
― Del Toro [18]

People involved

Confirmed cast

File:Hobbit Cast.jpg
'Bilbo' and the 'thirteen dwarves' (N.B. Rob Kazinsky has since been replaced by Dean O'Gorman to play Fíli).[21]
Actor Role
Richard Armitage Thorin[19]
Cate Blanchett Galadriel[19]
Orlando Bloom Legolas[22]
Jed Brophy Nori[19]
Adam Brown Ori[19]
John Callen Óin[19]
Billy Connolly Dáin Ironfoot[23]
Benedict Cumberbatch Smaug[24]
Luke Evans Bard[24]
Martin Freeman Bilbo Baggins[19]
Stephen Fry The Master of Lake-town[25]
Ryan Gage Alfrid[25]
Mark Hadlow Dori[19]
Peter Hambleton Glóin[19]
Ian Holm Older Bilbo Baggins[26]
Barry Humphries Goblin King[24]
Stephen Hunter Bombur[19]
William Kircher Bifur[19]
Christopher Lee Saruman[27]
Evangeline Lilly Tauriel[24]
Sylvester McCoy Radagast the Brown[28]
Ian McKellen Gandalf[19]
Bret McKenzie Lindir[28]
Graham McTavish Dwalin[19]
Mike Mizrahi Thráin[19]
James Nesbitt Bofur[19]
Dean O'Gorman Fíli[21]
Lee Pace Thranduil[21]
Mikael Persbrandt Beorn[29]
Andy Serkis Gollum[19]
Conan Stevens Azog[25]
Ken Stott Balin[19]
Jeffrey Thomas Thrór[19]
Aidan Turner Kíli[19]
Hugo Weaving Elrond[28]
Elijah Wood Frodo Baggins[19]

Trailer

Gallery

Pictures from the production of The Hobbit films
Nori, Ori and Dori.  
Óin and Glóin.  
Fíli and Kíli.  
Bombur, Bofur and Bifur.  
Balin and Dwalin.  
Thorin.  
Bilbo Baggins with the Dwarves.  
Bilbo Baggins with Sting.  
Bifur, Dwalin, Bilbo, Bofur and Óin in Bag End.  

Production videos

See also

External links

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 "Titles and Release Dates Announced" dated 31 May 2011, The Hobbit Blog (accessed 21 December 2011)
  2. Shawn Adler, "Guillermo Del Toro Says 'Hobbit' Script Is Coming Together 'Magically'" dated 7 October 2008, MTV (accessed 21 December 2011)
  3. Shawn Adler, "'Hobbit' Films Will Be One 'Continuous Journey,' Promises Guillermo Del Toro" dated 10 July 2008, MTV Movie Blog (accessed 21 December 2011)
  4. "Hobbit filming finally under way" dated 21 March 2011, BBC News Online (accessed 21 December 2011)
  5. Chris Hewitt, "World Excl: Jackson/Del Toro Talk Hobbit" dated 17 April 2009, Empire Magazine (accessed 21 December 2011)
  6. 6.0 6.1 Transcript of An Unexpected Party
  7. 7.0 7.1 Director sues over Rings profits
  8. Jackson to produce Hobbit movies
  9. Guillermo Del Toro departs “The Hobbit”
  10. OSCAR WINNER PETER JACKSON TO DIRECT “THE HOBBIT” IN TWO INSTALLMENTS, accessed October 24, 2010
  11. Tolkien's son plans to stop 'The Hobbit'
  12. http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118008242?refCatId=22
  13. FIA order to its members regarding the production of The Hobbit films.
  14. Peter Jackson Running Into Union Trouble on 'The Hobbit'
  15. Hobbit legislation passed in New Zealand
  16. Guillermo del Toro Chats with TORN About ‘The Hobbit’ Films!
  17. 'The Hobbit' pics to shoot in February, variety.com, accessed May 29, 2011
  18. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/newsnight/review/8084025.stm
  19. 19.00 19.01 19.02 19.03 19.04 19.05 19.06 19.07 19.08 19.09 19.10 19.11 19.12 19.13 19.14 19.15 19.16 19.17 19.18 19.19 19.20 19.21 19.22 19.23 19.24 19.25 19.26 19.27 19.28 19.29 19.30 19.31 19.32 19.33 Peter Jackson, "Production begins in New Zealand on The Hobbit" dated 20 March 2011, Facebook (accessed 21 December 2011)
  20. "Andy Serkis to serve as Second Unit Director" dated 8 April 2011, The Hobbit Blog (accessed 21 December 2011)
  21. 21.0 21.1 21.2 Peter Jackson, "Casting news!" dated 30 April 2011, Facebook (accessed 21 December 2011)
  22. Peter Jackson, "Ten years ago,..." dated 27 May 2011, Facebook (accessed 21 December 2011)
  23. "Billy Connolly lands dwarf role in The Hobbit" dated 9 February 2012, BBC News (accessed 9 February 2012)
  24. 24.0 24.1 24.2 24.3 Peter Jackson, "The Hobbit Casting Update" dated 19 June 2011, Facebook (accessed 21 December 2011)
  25. 25.0 25.1 25.2 Peter Jackson, "Casting News for The Hobbit" dated 19 May 2011, Facebook (accessed 21 December 2011)
  26. Peter Jackson, "One comment that..." dated 22 April 2011, Facebook (accessed 21 December 2011)
  27. "Christopher Lee will star in the Hobbit prequel" dated 8 February 2011, The Telegraph (accessed 21 December 2011)
  28. 28.0 28.1 28.2 Ian McKellen, "2 Elves and another Wizard" dated 10 May 2011, Ian McKellen's website (accessed 21 December 2011)
  29. "Persbrandt den bäste för jobbet" dated 30 April 2011, AFTONBLADET (accessed 21 December 2011)

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