The Hobbit

[shaveice]

very surprised and disappointed to read this article about how jackson will not be hired to film tolkien's "the hobbit"...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20061121/people_nm/leisure_jackson_dc

[alohabear]

They sure have BIG shoes to fill ,and not with hobbit feet.

[alohabear]

The latest news....New Line is stupid. EW report (http://www.ew.com/ew/report/0,6115,1562702_1_0_,00.html)
Peter Jackson and the Lord of the Rings franchise — the two go together like Frodo and Sam. At least they used to. Last week, Jackson and partner Fran Walsh announced on TheOneRing.net that New Line had informed them that they ''would no longer be requiring our services'' for two upcoming Tolkien-based films, The Hobbit and a LOTR prequel. Moreover, the duo said the studio is ''actively looking to hire another filmmaker.''

[Menehune Man]

What a bummer. They did great as film makers for the others. Wot's up?

[Vanguard]

I too am disappointed. I bet they'll be really surprised when the Hobbit tanks.

So I take it Sir Ian Holm and John Rhys Davies wont be in this movie either?

[alohabear]

With all the money Jackson made on the LOTR films, why can he just by the rights? Did he spend it all on King Kong?

[alohabear]

Entertainment Weekly has the lastest on this Hell On Middle Earth Report (http://www.ew.com/ew/report/0,6115,1567078_1_0_,00.html).WHAT'S THE PROBLEM?
Money. Jackson's Wingnut Films filed a lawsuit against New Line in 2005, asking the studio to fully disclose all revenue from The Fellowship of the Ring, including international box office, DVD and TV sales, and merchandise like videogames and action figures.New Line is stupid....nuff said!

[alohabear]

It is starting to get ugly.....The feud over "The Hobbit" is getting hotter and meaner.

In the most recent sturm und drang over J.R.R. Tolkien's fantasy novel, long-discussed as a project for "Lord of the Rings" helmer Peter Jackson, New Line co-chairman Bob Shaye told Sci Fi Wire that Jackson would never direct "The Hobbit" as long as Shaye is running New Line.

New Line, which released the "LOTR" trilogy, is in a public feud and lawsuit with Jackson over money the helmer says is owed him from the "Rings" pics. Trilogy grossed more than $3 billion worldwide in ticket sales alone.

"It will never happen during my watch," Shaye said of Jackson directing "The Hobbit" along with an "LOTR" prequel. New Line and MGM own the rights to both films.Looks like HELL in Middle Earth:(

Full article (http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117957128.html?categoryid=13&cs=1)

[glossyp]

Reading the article confirmed my suspicions that Shaye is trying to deflect attention from New Line's lack of transparency about the monies. It's hard to imagine anyone other than Jackson directing The Hobbit or the prequel. The phrase "Good luck with that" comes to mind if New Line thinks they can find someone who could do half the job of Jackson.

[alohabear]

Like Peter Jackson said as reported by EW magazine....Like Jaws 4 "this time it's personal".

[Random]

The phrase "Good luck with that" comes to mind if New Line thinks they can find someone who could do half the job of Jackson.
Actually, my phrase have only two words for New Line and Mr. Shaye: Screw You.

Here's hoping the agreement expires before New Line got something going, and Tolkien Enterprise can collaborate with PJ and Miramax.

(No, PJ cannot buy the right until the agreement is expired.)

[sinjin]

Maybe they based their decision after seeing the recent King Kong.

[tikiyaki]

I worked on the bonus edition DVD's for LOTR and The Two Towers as an assistant editor, and after seeing how Jackson did those movies, the Hobbit will most definitely not be as good as the LOTR trilogy. New Line are complete morons for not using Jackson. The passion and attention to detail he and the WETA workshop put into those movies was unthinkable.

The people who were in charge of LOTR at New Line are probably not the ones working on this new Hobbit project, cos' they fully supported Jackson during the making of LOTR.

Amazing what greed can do to art.

That being said, I thought King Kong was pile of crap. Being that it was one of Jackson's favorite movies, I guess his love for the movie clouded his judgement in what makes a good movie. The King Kong story was just not that interesting, and Jack Black was the wrong guy for that movie.

[glossyp]

That being said, I thought King Kong was pile of crap. Being that it was one of Jackson's favorite movies, I guess his love for the movie clouded his judgement in what makes a good movie. The King Kong story was just not that interesting, and Jack Black was the wrong guy for that movie.
That is an interesting insight. I wondered how he could do LOTR so perfectly and then KK was horrible. Lack of perspective caused by love for the story.

[Hellbent]

For some reason I was reminded of this (http://youtube.com/watch?v=iMf93RCoUxk)

Have you seen The Star Wars Holiday Special (http://youtube.com/watch?v=CgRkE7cA5mA)? From what I heard the studio wanted to milk the cash cow and didnt use Lucas and this is what they came up.

[Composite 2992]

Looks like New Line gave Middle Earth the middle finger.

[Random]

That being said, I thought King Kong was pile of crap. Being that it was one of Jackson's favorite movies, I guess his love for the movie clouded his judgement in what makes a good movie. The King Kong story was just not that interesting, and Jack Black was the wrong guy for that movie.
Well, King Kong is not my favorite as a franchise, though the original is barely tolerable to watch, only to be ruined by the 70's modern take.

So, what was wrong with PJ's version?

[Random]

Maybe they based their decision after seeing the recent King Kong.
So they refused to disclose their accounting book for auditing because KK flopped???

That's a pretty weak and lame defense.

[buzz1941]

So they refused to disclose their accounting book for auditing because KK flopped???

That's a pretty weak and lame defense.

Actually, King Kong is the 36th top-grossing movie of all time:

http://www.boxofficemojo.com/alltime/world/

[Composite 2992]

Actually, King Kong is the 36th top-grossing movie of all time:

http://www.boxofficemojo.com/alltime/world/

But what was the NET?

[Menehune Man]

I wonder if any progress has been made, and if so... in what "direction". :rolleyes:

[Random]

I wonder if any progress has been made, and if so... in what "direction". :rolleyes:
Without Peter Jackson, it's gonna be the wrong direction.

[alohabear]

I found this interesting....On the eve of what is expected to be the biggest Spider-Man yet, Entertainment Weekly learns that director Sam Raimi is seriously interested in directing The Hobbit, a choice that could potentially leave Spidey 4 without a director — and, says Kirsten Dunst, a leading lady.Although I want to see the Hobbit made, IMO... this could spell disaster for BOTH movie franchises, neither could work without Jackson or Raimi.


SOURCE (http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20035161,00.html)

[Random]

Best for Sam Raimi to stick with the Spider-Man[/i franchise or if he's bored, do another [i]Army of Darkness sequel.

IMSNHO, no one but Peter Jackson should do Hobbit. No one, Mr. Shaye.

[alohabear]

Here's the latest news on this much wanted film:a bitter feud between Rings director Peter Jackson and New Line Cinema co-chairman Robert Shaye — may finally be nearing resolution. For once, there's reason to be cautiously optimistic. At this writing, no agreements have been announced and details of the negotiations are sketchy (neither New Line nor Jackson's camp would comment to EW on any aspect of this story), but sources close to the talks tell us that they're detecting a lot less frost in the air, and that a deal may be reached that could help usher J.R.R. Tolkien's maiden Middle-earth masterpiece to screens before the end of the decade. Cross your fingers!

Source (http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20142132,00.html)http://img2.timeinc.net/ew/covergallery/img/2007/oct122007_958_lg.jpg

[Bob P]

It's all about cash. I'm betting they're planning in filming in Cali and cutting WETA and the NZ crew out entirely. New Line's looking to funnel the money to their regular players & the perceived failure of KK is giving them the tool they needed. Sheesh, they're hanging him for one movie that wasn't even that bad. Even Spielberg has had his share of box-office 'flops'. Dare I say AI? 1941? & while Empire of the Sun was a good movie, it was far from Box Office magic. The only reason Jackson got the LOR trilogy in the first place is no one thought it would be any kind of success - now that it is, they want the franchise owned by an 'insider'.

[Random]

It's all about cash. I'm betting they're planning in filming in Cali and cutting WETA and the NZ crew out entirely.
This can get political considering the jobs it will bring to Cali in the production of the film.

Though I doubt PJ is hanging out WETA to dry. That's like GL making new live-action Star Wars TV series without ILM.


New Line's looking to funnel the money to their regular players & the perceived failure of KK is giving them the tool they needed.
Although I'm a firm believer of giving someone a second chance, I am wary of the sudden turnabout gesture by New Line and Mr. Shaye.

Better to let the production contract to expire and have New Line try to bid all over again with other competitors.

[kiwidiva]

Jackson to make Hobbit
By TOM CARDY - The Dominion Post | Wednesday, 19 December 2007

Peter Jackson has won the battle for Middle-earth and is to make The Hobbit.

The Oscar-winning Wellington film-maker and Hollywood studios New Line Cinema and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios announced today that they had resolved their legal dispute. Jackson and partner Fran Walsh will serve as executive producers on two Hobbit movies.

Pre-production will begin as soon as possible and both will be shot simultaneously, tentatively in 2009. The Hobbit is likely to be released in 2010 and the sequel in 2011.



Full story here... http://www.stuff.co.nz/4328957a10.html

[Glen Miyashiro]

Sequel? He's making two Hobbit movies?! I'm guessing that they've realized that you can't cram the entire story into one 2-hour (or even 3-hour) movie, so it's being split in two. I wonder where the dividing line will be drawn?

[kiwidiva]

I don't know where they'll draw the line but hopefully, it'll be somewhere that doesn't make us feel like we're left hanging... like The Golden Compass!

I'm disappointed that Jackson won't be directing.

[helen]

He's making two Hobbit movies?! I'm guessing that they've realized that you can't cram the entire story into one 2-hour (or even 3-hour) movie, so it's being split in two. I wonder where the dividing line will be drawn?

Maybe one of the movies would expand on the creation of the ring itself, maybe Gollum before he encountered the ring, or about Middle Earth itself.

[Random]

I'm disappointed that Jackson won't be directing.
QFT. Unless he has a prodege director under his wing for some time.

[Zovo]

Seems odd that they would cite one bad movie as the reason they don't want him on another one. . . You know, considering all the questionable films he worked on prior to LotR.

Phantasm
Dead Alive
etc.

Maybe one of the movies would expand on the creation of the ring itself, maybe Gollum before he encountered the ring, or about Middle Earth itself.

They really shouldn't mess with it, IMO. Tolkein's classics are fine the way they are, no reason to go out and create story just to make a few bucks. If they wanna do another Tolkein movie after the Hobbit they should do Silmarillion.

[kiwidiva]

You know, considering all the questionable films he worked on prior to LotR.

Phantasm
Dead Alive
etc.


:D Hahahahaha... I always forget about all those pre-LOTR flops! And then King Kong was pitiful... but Middle Earth is what Jackson does best so I do wish he was in the Director's Chair... ;)

[Random]

I honestly don't know which Phantasm film he did, but AFAIK, New Line did not distribute Dead Alive (original title Braindead) in the US.

They can cite King Kong (2005) because New Line put money into that one.

[alohabear]

Maybe one of the movies would expand on the creation of the ring itself, maybe Gollum before he encountered the ring, or about Middle Earth itself.The buzz is the second movie will involve a story that links the Hobbit with the LOTR trilogy. What the Sequel Might Look Like

MGM’s original idea seems to have been to make The Hobbit in two parts. That would make sense. Of course, Tolkien’s first novel is shorter than Rings, but a lot had to be left out of the trilogy in the adaptation. The Hobbit breaks into two almost equal halves, with the break coming where Gandalf leaves Bilbo and the Dwarves at the edge of Mirkwood. Making two three-hour parts would allow the filmmakers to adapt the book without eliminating much of anything. Despite its episodic quest/journey form, The Hobbit is actually quite carefully structured, and there are no incidents that can simply be eliminated as neatly and cleanly as, say, the Tom Bombadil portion of Rings.

Still, the announcement is for a one-film adaptation and a sequel that takes place before the action of Rings. That’s a gap of sixty years, years about which Tolkien left only the sketchiest of indications. Such events as we know of come primarily from mentions in Appendices A and B and in exposition given by Gandalf in the “Shadow of the Past” chapter in Rings and by various characters at the Council of Elrond. On TORN, Corvar has helpfully summarized what those events are:

* The White Council meets to discuss The Necromancer (aka Sauron)
* The White Council (including Saruman and Gandalf) attack The Necromancer’s stronghold at Dol Guldur. This is to prevent Sauron from searching the river for the Ring. Sauron abandons Dol Guldur and takes up residence in Mordor.
* Gollum leaves the mountain, searching for the “thief” Baggins.
* Sauron declared himself openly, starting to gather power to Mordor.
* Aragorn searches the wilds for Gollum.
* Aragorn’s engagement to Arwen.
* Frodo’s birth.
I'm glad it's being made.

SOURCE (http://www.kristinthompson.net/blog/?p=159)

[Vanguard]

I hope a lot of the actors will be able to reprise their roles, like Ian McKellan and Christopher Lee :p

[Random]

Don't they have to take Christopher Lee out of cold storage? :p

Just kidding. I, an old-timer, shouldn't make fun of older old-timers.

[alohabear]

Don't they have to take Christopher Lee out of cold storage? :p

Just kidding. I, an old-timer, shouldn't make fun of older old-timers.LOL! He's thawing as we speak....Dick Clark has been thawing since Halloween and should be ready tonight:eek:

[Random]

Sorry, I no can make fun of America's Oldest Teenager since he had a stroke that hasn't given back complete mobility and speech (as in before the stroke).

[alohabear]

The latest from EW .....It's back to Middle Earth for Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, and the boys from New Line. Finally, the years of disputes have ended, and the partners (including co-producer and co-distributor MGM) are gearing up for two new Hobbit movies. EW investigated, talking to the parties behind the negotiations to uncover how everything got resolved, and to get an idea of what viewers can expect of these adaptations of J.R.R. Tolkien's original literary masterpiece. Here's the lowdown:

Jackson and his life/creative partner Walsh have always envisioned the big-screen adaptation of The Hobbit as two movies. The first would deal with the 80-year old novel. The second, imagined entirely by Jackson and Walsh, would link the conclusion of The Hobbit to the start of the first Lord of the Rings book, The Fellowship of the Ring. New Line and Jackson will develop the properties over the next year with hopes of entering into pre-production by 2009 for a 2010 and 2011 release. No writers, including Jackson, Walsh, and their longtime partner Philippa Boyens, have been commissioned. (None can be, because of the strike.) It's a go Folks:)


SOURCE (http://hollywoodinsider.ew.com/2007/12/its-back-to-mid.html)

[Random]

Yeah, alohabear. It's old news, courtesy of Kiwidiva.

I'm still waiting who will direct the films. So far, PJ is only taking the executive producer role.

[kiwidiva]

http://www.stuff.co.nz/4379195a1860.html

Guillermo del Toro is in talks to direct back-to-back instalments of JRR Tolkien's The Hobbit, which is being co-financed by New Line and MGM.

[Random]

Correction: I'm still waiting for PJ to officially direct the films. :p

[kiwidiva]

Correction: I'm still waiting for PJ to officially direct the films

No matter who "officially" directs the films - PJ will be the "unofficial" director - IMO ;)

[Random]

No matter who "officially" directs the films - PJ will be the "unofficial" director - IMO ;)
Only if it peeved del Toro from doing his job as a director. ;)

[alohabear]

New lawsuit could mean more delays to the return to Middle-Earth....
The estate of "Lord of the Rings" creator J.R.R. Tolkien is suing the film studio that released the trilogy based on his books, claiming the company hasn't paid it a penny from the estimated $6 billion the films have grossed worldwide.

The suit, filed Monday, claims New Line was required to pay 7.5 percent of gross receipts to Tolkien's estate and other plaintiffs, who contend they only received an upfront payment of $62,500 for the three movies before production began.It could be a while before Bilbo's tale can be told...Auwe!


Source (http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/02/11/financial/f115544S35.DTL&tsp=1)

[Menehune Man]

New lawsuit could mean more delays to the return to Middle-Earth....
It could be a while before Bilbo's tale can be told...Auwe!

Let Gandalf know. He'll fix it! :D

[Random]

It could be a while before Bilbo's tale can be told...Auwe!
Or they may not be shown, if the plaintiff wish to order an injunction on the production.

Somebody's head is going to roll in New Line's office.

[alohabear]

Or they may not be shown, if the plaintiff wish to order an injunction on the production.

Somebody's head is going to roll in New Line's office.With all the billions they made,why even take it to court? I agree, heads will roll

[Random]

With all the billions they made,why even take it to court?
Because New Line execs are hoping to get away with all the money. But that would mean bad publicity.

Hell, I'm at a point where New Line should have their LOTR/Hobbit film option yanked from them.

[alohabear]

Finally some good news...LONDON (AP) - Ian McKellen will again take up the robes of Gandalf the Wizard in the cinematic adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's fantasy classic "The Hobbit," a British film magazine reported Wednesday.

But McKellen's publicist warned that final arrangements were yet to be made.

"Of course he wants to do it, but nothing's been agreed or signed," Clair Dobbs said.

Empire magazine's Web site quoted McKellen as saying that director Guillermo del Toro told him he would again be playing the white-haired wizard.

"He confirmed that I would be reprising the role," the magazine quoted McKellen as saying. "Obviously, it's not a part that you turn down, I loved playing Gandalf."At least they started pre-production. Sir Ian is 68 years old, so hurry up before he drops dead!



Source (http://apnews1.iwon.com//article/20080430/D90CD8GG0.html)

[Vanguard]

Finally some good news...At least they started pre-production. Sir Ian is 68 years old, so hurry up before he drops dead!

It's just too bad they couldn't get the other Sir Ian (Holm) to reprise his role as Bilbo.

[kiwidiva]

Sir Ian is 68 years old, so hurry up before he drops dead!


My friend just ran into Sir Ian (McKellen) at a train station in London. I asked her if she asked him about the Hobbit and here's what she had to say...

yeah, he told us that he will be back in NZ in 2010 to film the Hobbit....he told us that Guillermo del Toro, the guy that directed The Orphanage and Pans Labrinyth (he's Mexican) will be moving his family to NZ for 5 years, for the Hobbit!...Sir Ian was really nice, very down to earth.....

So, there you go! Straight from the horses mouth... well... kinda... 2010 still seems like it's a long way off!