The Hobbit

[Meds]

LOl i cant wait to see the pictures of the making of this, another fab geeky film to look forward to. :D

[Geekyfanboy]

The Hobbit Casting Announced!
Source: New Line/Warner Bros.
October 21, 2010

Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage, Rob Kazinsky, Aidan Turner, Graham McTavish, John Callen, Stephen Hunter, Mark Hadlow and Peter Hambleton have joined the ensemble cast of The Hobbit, it was jointly announced today by Toby Emmerich, President and Chief Operating Officer, New Line Cinema; Alan Horn, President and Chief Operating Officer, Warner Bros.; Steve Cooper, co-Chief Executive Officer of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc., and Peter Jackson.

Since The Hobbit films received a green light on October 15, pre-production has been in full swing. Set for release in December, 2012 and December, 2013, we can confirm that Martin Freeman (The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, Hot Fuzz) will play Bilbo Baggins, the hero of the story. Richard Armitage (UK TV's "MI-5" and soon to appear in Captain America: The First Avenger) is set to play Thorin Oakenshield, the leader of the Company of Dwarves which sets off to reclaim the Lonely Mountain from a thieving dragon.

"Despite the various rumors and speculation surrounding this role, there has only ever been one Bilbo Baggins for us," says Peter Jackson. "There are a few times in your career when you come across an actor who you know was born to play a role, but that was the case as soon as I met Martin. He is intelligent, funny, surprising and brave - exactly like Bilbo and I feel incredibly proud to be able to announce that he is our Hobbit."

He adds: "Richard is one of the most exciting and dynamic actors working on screen today and we know he is going to make an amazing Thorin Oakensheild. We cannot wait to start this adventure with him and feel very lucky that one of the most beloved characters in Middle-earth is in such good hands."

Rounding out the Company of Dwarves are Aidan Turner (TV's "Being Human") and Rob Kazinsky (TVs "EastEnders") who play Kili and Fili, respectively. Jackson comments, "Rob is an extremely talented young actor with a huge career in front of him, I'm thrilled that he has agreed to take on the role of Fili. Besides his talent as an actor, Rob is also a champion sword fighter; I'm looking forward to seeing the damage he can do to a horde of marauding Goblins!" He continues, "Adian is a wonderfully gifted young actor who hails from Ireland. I'm sure he will bring enormous heart and humor to the role of Kili."

The remaining dwarves will be played by Graham McTavish (Secretariat and TV's "24") as Dwalin; John Callen (TV's "Power Rangers Jungle Fury") as Oin; Stephen Hunter (TV's "All Saints") as Bombur; Mark Hadlow (King Kong) as Dori; and Peter Hambleton (TV's "The Strip") as Gloin.

Jackson notes, "Graham is a terrific actor, with a great depth of experience, which I know he will bring to the role of "Dwalin. I have worked with Mark Hadlow on many projects; he is a fantastic actor. I am thrilled to be working with both of them on these movies. He adds, "I am also proud to announce the casting of New Zealand actors as Peter Hambleton, John Callen and Stephen Hunter. Fran and I know that they will bring great depth and talent to our Company of Dwarves."

The two "The Hobbit" films are being co-produced by New Line Cinema and MGM, with New Line managing production, Warner Bros Pictures handling domestic distribution and MGM distributing internationally. Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh and Carolynne Cunningham are producing the films, with Phillipa Boyens serving as co-producer and Ken Kamins as executive producer.

Read more: The Hobbit Casting Announced! - ComingSoon.net http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=71003#ixzz132xFzCwi

[loutzee]

Martin Freeman not so sure about that casting never found him to be that good an actor still he was good in the new sherlock tv show so there is some hope.

[KingIsaacLinksr]

Is Gandalf's actor still on board with this movie?  It sounded like he was staying out until the whole New Zealand incident was fixed...(sorry, forgot his name)

King

[loutzee]

Is Gandalf's actor still on board with this movie?  It sounded like he was staying out until the whole New Zealand incident was fixed...(sorry, forgot his name)

King

Ian Mckellen I hope he is still do it ,can't see anyone else in the part now

[Bromptonboy]

Martin Freeman should be good for the role.  I wonder if Hugo will be back as Elrond?

[Feathers]

Richard Armitage is obviously a busy boy these days. Coming off the end of Robin Hood, now one of the leads in Spooks (I guess MI-5 is the rather unimaginative US title for it) and on to the Hobbit.

He's probably due a year or two off at some point.

[Meds]

Mike you know how they kill off the characters all teh time in spooks, i think we know whats happeneing at the end of those series

[Feathers]

Mike you know how they kill off the characters all teh time in spooks, i think we know whats happeneing at the end of those series

True. Just watching episode 1 of the new season now. Armitage is only in his second year but he may go by the end.

[Bromptonboy]

NEW ZEALAND REACHES DEAL TO KEEP "HOBBIT" FILMS
New Zealand reaches deal to keep "Hobbit" films
Adrian Bathgate
Reuters US Online Report Entertainment News
Oct 27, 2010 11:04 EDT
WELLINGTON (Reuters) - New Zealand will remain the home of "The Hobbit" after the government struck a US$25 million deal with Warner Bros. and promised labor law changes to stop the film studio from relocating the big-budget movie production.
A short-lived union boycott prompted Warner Bros. representatives to travel to New Zealand this week to review the studio's decision to shoot Peter Jackson's two-part adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's fantasy in New Zealand.
Fearing the loss of the project worth an estimated $500 million and damage to the reputation of New Zealand's fledgling film industry, Prime Minister John Key stepped in, negotiating a deal to keep the project that was announced late on Wednesday.
"An agreement has been reached between the New Zealand government and Warner Bros. that will enable the two Hobbit movies to be directed by Sir Peter Jackson to be made in New Zealand," Key told a news conference.
Jackson's adaptation of Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings" was shot in his home country of New Zealand and garnered major international publicity for New Zealand. Warner Bros. sold nearly $3 billion worth of tickets at the box office, and the filmmaker and his team won 11 Academy Awards in 2003, including best film.
Economists said the loss of "The Hobbit" could cost New Zealand up to $1.5 billion and the danger of losing the film brought thousands of protestors into the streets in the past week.
Key said the government would introduce legislation into parliament on Thursday to change local labor laws at the heart of the dispute over "The Hobbit" which sparked protests on the streets across the country over the past week.
TAX BREAK AND LEGAL CHANGE
The row erupted when actors' unions said the movie's producers would not allow them to negotiate a minimum wage and working conditions for their members.
Key said laws would be changed to clarify the differences between a contract worker and a movie production employee.
"We will be moving to ensure that New Zealand law in this area is settled to give film producers like Warner Bros. the confidence they need to produce their movies in New Zealand," said Key.
As part of the deal, New Zealand will also expand its film subsidy program for big budget movies, providing an extra US$7.5 million tax rebate for each "Hobbit" movie on top of the usual 15 percent.
Key said Warner Bros., a unit of Time Warner Inc, also agreed to a joint marketing deal with the New Zealand government which would promote the country as a film production and tourism destination.
The government will offset US$10 million of those costs.
Filming is expected to start in February 2011 with the first movie due for release in late 2012 and the second a year later.
"I am delighted that we have reached this result," Key said in a statement.
"Making the two Hobbit movies here will not only safeguard work for thousands of New Zealanders, but it will also follow the success of the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy in once again promoting New Zealand on the world stage."
"The Hobbit" is based on the adventures of Bilbo Baggins, a hobbit who lives in the land of Middle-earth that is filled with wizards, elves and other fantasy creatures. Bilbo goes on a quest to find treasure guarded by a dragon.
The book, first published in 1937, is the precursor to the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy that is also based in Middle-earth.
(Reporting by Adrian Bathgate; writing by Elaine Lies, Editing by Belinda Goldsmith)

[KingIsaacLinksr]

I'm not surprised at all that the Prime Minister stepped in.  If the Hobbit did not get filmed in New Zealand, it would have hurt them really hard, and in their current economic state, they cannot afford the bad rap sheet.  (Been doing research on New Zealand for school). 

Glad to hear this is going through, now, can we quit suing Peter Jackson long enough to get this film made already?!

;)

King

[Bromptonboy]

The Hobbit Movies Will Be In 3D
Posted: 30 Nov 2010 01:02 AM PST

Guillermo Del Toro said he didn't want The Hobbit shot in 3D because he wanted his Middle Earth to match the one we already know from The Lord of the Rings trilogy.
With Peter Jackson now in the directors chair though it shouldn't come as any surprise that it's just been announced he will shoot both Hobbit movies in 3D.
PJ was full of praise for 3D last year and has already said he hopes to find the time to convert his LOTR trilogy sooner rather than later.
The good news is he will be using 30 of the latest (and apparently best) RED EPIC cameras for the job.
My only worry is that Peter Jackson isn't exactly famous for releasing your standard 90 minute long movies. By the end of the 3D Avatar my eyes had had enough and that was under 3 hours long.
Jackson's King Kong was just over 3 hours, The Fellowship of the Ring and The Two Towers were 3 hours long while The Return of the King was 3 hours and 20 minutes.
Will you be watching the 3D or standard version of The Hobbit in 2012?

[Bryancd]

Has PJ decided to not make these into 2 seperate films? That was the original concept, to break the story in half, in which case their run time would be shorter very likely. And I would welcome a good 3D presentation. Was good enough for that new Harry Potter movie and I don't hear a lot of complaining about that.

[KingIsaacLinksr]

Has PJ decided to not make these into 2 seperate films? That was the original concept, to break the story in half, in which case their run time would be shorter very likely. And I would welcome a good 3D presentation. Was good enough for that new Harry Potter movie and I don't hear a lot of complaining about that.

It says in the article "both hobbit movies"

King

[Bryancd]

Good, so this should not be an issue.