The Hobbit films

'"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
Information
Director	Peter Jackson[1]
Producer	Peter Jackson Fran Walsh Carolynne Cunningham[1]
Writer	Guillermo del Toro Peter Jackson Fran Walsh Philippa Boyens[2]
Starring	Martin Freeman Richard Armitage Ian McKellen
Music	Howard Shore
Distributor	MGM New Line Cinema
Released	The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey: December 14, 2012[1] The Hobbit: There and Back Again: December 13, 2013[1]
Country	New Zealand United States United Kingdom
Language	English
Budget	US$500 million
Website	Official Blog
IMDb	IMDb Profile

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey^[1] and The Hobbit: There and Back Again^[1], known collectively as 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]

Contents 1 Plot 2 Issues concerning production 2.1 Directorship 2.2 Christopher Tolkien's lawsuit with Newline Cinema 2.3 Industrial dispute in New Zealand 3 Filming 4 Technical details 4.1 3D 4.2 48 frames per second 5 People involved 5.1 Confirmed cast 6 Trailer 7 Gallery 8 Production videos 9 See also 10 External links 11 References

[edit] Plot

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Adventure and The Hobbit: There and Back Again are expected to follow the plot from J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit. The stories presented in both films will, however, include events, locations and characters not found within the novel upon which the films are based, drawing from tales written by J.R.R. Tolkien elsewhere.

According to a Warner Bros. press release for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Adventure:

The adventure follows the journey of title character Bilbo Baggins, who is swept into an epic quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor from the fearsome dragon Smaug. Approached out of the blue by the wizard Gandalf the Grey, Bilbo finds himself joining a company of thirteen dwarves led by the legendary warrior, Thorin Oakenshield. Their journey will take them into the Wild; through treacherous lands swarming with Goblins and Orcs, deadly Wargs and Giant Spiders, Shapeshifters and Sorcerers.

Although their goal lies to the East and the wastelands of the Lonely Mountain first they must escape the goblin tunnels, where Bilbo meets the creature that will change his life forever… Gollum.

Here, alone with Gollum, on the shores of an underground lake, the unassuming Bilbo Baggins not only discovers depths of guile and courage that surprise even him, he also gains possession of Gollum’s “precious” ring that holds unexpected and useful qualities … A simple, gold ring that is tied to the fate of all Middle-earth in ways Bilbo cannot begin to know.''
—Warner Bros. Press Release^[5]

[edit] Issues concerning production

[edit] 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.^[6] 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.^[6] In late 2007 it was confirmed that Jackson would not direct, but would be an executive producer for two Hobbit movies.^[7] 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.^[8]

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]

[edit] 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]

[edit] 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]

[edit] Filming

Back-to-back filming for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Adventure and The Hobbit: There and Back Again began 21 March 2011.^[4]

[edit] Technical details

[edit] 3D

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Adventure and The Hobbit: There and Back Again are being filmed in 3D using RED Epic cameras.^[16]

[edit] 48 frames per second

Breaking with conventional techniques, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Adventure and The Hobbit: There and Back Again are being filmed by capturing 48 frames per second.^[16]

[edit] People involved

• Production - New Line Cinema^[17]
• United States Distribution - Warner Brothers^[17]
• International Distribution - MGM^[17]
• Director - Peter Jackson^[17]
• Second Unit Director - Andy Serkis^[18]
• Producers - Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, and Carolynne Cunningham^[17]
• Co-Producer - Philippa Boyens^[17]
• Executive Producers - Ken Kamins and Zane Weiner^[17]
• Writers - Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, and Guillermo del Toro^[17]
• Director of Photography - Andrew Lesnie^[17]
• Production Designer - Dan Hennah^[17]
• Conceptual Designers: Alan Lee and John Howe^[17]
• Composer - Howard Shore^[17]
• Make-up and Hair Designer - Peter King^[17]
• Costume Designers - Ann Maskrey and Richard Taylor^[17]
• Design and production of weaponry, armour, and prosthetics - Weta Workshop overseen by Richard Taylor^[17]

[edit] Confirmed cast

Actor	Role
Richard Armitage	Thorin[17]
John Bell	TBA[5]
Cate Blanchett	Galadriel[17]
Orlando Bloom	Legolas[20]
Jed Brophy	Nori[17]
Adam Brown	Ori[17]
John Callen	Óin[17]
Billy Connolly	Dáin Ironfoot[21]
Benedict Cumberbatch	Smaug[22]
Luke Evans	Bard[22]
Martin Freeman	Bilbo Baggins[17]
Stephen Fry	The Master of Lake-town[23]
Ryan Gage	Alfrid[23]
Mark Hadlow	Dori[17]
Peter Hambleton	Glóin[17]
Ian Holm	Older Bilbo Baggins[24]
Barry Humphries	Goblin King[22]
Stephen Hunter	Bombur[17]
William Kircher	Bifur[17]
Christopher Lee	Saruman[25]
Evangeline Lilly	Tauriel[22]
Sylvester McCoy	Radagast the Brown[26]
Ian McKellen	Gandalf[17]
Bret McKenzie	Lindir[26]
Graham McTavish	Dwalin[17]
Mike Mizrahi	Thráin[17]
James Nesbitt	Bofur[17]
Dean O'Gorman	Fíli[19]
Lee Pace	Thranduil[19]
Mikael Persbrandt	Beorn[27]
Andy Serkis	Gollum[17]
Conan Stevens	Azog[23]
Ken Stott	Balin[17]
Jeffrey Thomas	Thrór[17]
Aidan Turner	Kíli[17]
Hugo Weaving	Elrond[26]
Elijah Wood	Frodo Baggins[17]

[edit] Trailer

[edit] Gallery

Pictures from the production of The Hobbit films

Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins in Bag End.   Sir Ian McKellen as Gandalf the Grey   Gandalf in Bag End   Martin Freeman and Sir Peter Jackson on the set of Bag End.   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.

[edit] Production videos

[edit] See also

• The Hobbit
• The Hobbit (1966 film)
• The Hobbit (1977 film)
• 'The Hobbit (1968 radio series)
• The Hobbit (1979 radio series)
• Images of The Hobbit films
  • Images of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

[edit] External links

• TheHobbit.com (official website)
• TheHobbitBlog.com (official blog)
• Peter Jackson's Facebook page

[edit] References

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5} "Titles and Release Dates Announced", 31 May 2011, The Hobbit Blog (accessed 21 December 2011)
2. ↑ Shawn Adler, "Guillermo Del Toro Says 'Hobbit' Script Is Coming Together 'Magically'", 07 October 2008, MTV (accessed 21 December 2011)
3. ↑ Shawn Adler, "'Hobbit' Films Will Be One 'Continuous Journey,' Promises Guillermo Del Toro", 10 July 2008, MTV Movie Blog (accessed 21 December 2011)
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} "Hobbit filming finally under way", 21 March 2011, BBC News Online (accessed 21 December 2011)
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} "THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY", Warner Bros. Canada (accessed 09 February 2012)
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1} Director sues over Rings profits
7. ↑ Jackson to produce Hobbit movies
8. ↑ Transcript of An Unexpected Party
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. ↑ ^{16.0 16.1} Peter Jackson, "THE HOBBIT, Production Video #4", 04 November 2011, Facebook (accessed 10 February 2012)
17. ↑ ^{17.00 17.01 17.02 17.03 17.04 17.05 17.06 17.07 17.08 17.09 17.10 17.11 17.12 17.13 17.14 17.15 17.16 17.17 17.18 17.19 17.20 17.21 17.22 17.23 17.24 17.25 17.26 17.27 17.28 17.29 17.30 17.31 17.32 17.33} Peter Jackson, "Production begins in New Zealand on The Hobbit", 20 March 2011, Facebook (accessed 21 December 2011)
18. ↑ "Andy Serkis to serve as Second Unit Director", 08 April 2011, The Hobbit Blog (accessed 21 December 2011)
19. ↑ ^{19.0 19.1 19.2} Peter Jackson, "Casting news!", 30 April 2011, Facebook (accessed 21 December 2011)
20. ↑ Peter Jackson, "Ten years ago,...", 27 May 2011, Facebook (accessed 21 December 2011)
21. ↑ "Billy Connolly lands dwarf role in The Hobbit", 09 February 2012, BBC News (accessed 09 February 2012)
22. ↑ ^{22.0 22.1 22.2 22.3} Peter Jackson, "The Hobbit Casting Update", 19 June 2011, Facebook (accessed 21 December 2011)
23. ↑ ^{23.0 23.1 23.2} Peter Jackson, "Casting News for The Hobbit", 19 May 2011, Facebook (accessed 21 December 2011)
24. ↑ Peter Jackson, "One comment that...", 22 April 2011, Facebook (accessed 21 December 2011)
25. ↑ "Christopher Lee will star in the Hobbit prequel", 08 February 2011, The Telegraph (accessed 21 December 2011)
26. ↑ ^{26.0 26.1 26.2} Ian McKellen, "2 Elves and another Wizard", 10 May 2011, Ian McKellen's website (accessed 21 December 2011)
27. ↑ "Persbrandt den bäste för jobbet", 30 April 2011, AFTONBLADET (accessed 21 December 2011)

Licensed film adaptations of J.R.R. Tolkien's works

The Hobbit (1966) · The Hobbit (1977) · The Lord of the Rings (1978) · The Return of the King (1980) · The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) · The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002) · The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) · The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012) · The Hobbit: There and Back Again (2013)