The Hobbit

[Bromptonboy]

Sir Ian McKellen has updated his blog with a post about preparing for filming of Peter Jackson's "The Hobbit."
Today I was in various places which are all the same place.
I was on flat land the Maori called Whataitai until renamed in 1872, Miramar, or "Behold the Sea," which is indeed nearby.
I was in Stone Street Studios in the heart of a modern suburb, with some light industry.
In fact, I was in an old paint factory, which I knew ten years back as the main film studio for The Lord of the Rings.  Inside was the new set for Bag End, including a bedroom and pantry.
And I was there too, in Hobbiton, with a semi-circle of dwarves and Bilbo, their reluctant host.  I was at the cast's first joint rehearsal where Peter Jackson, with Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens, invited our comments on their script so far.  This is as close to bliss as an actor can get.  Facing three Oscar-winning screenplay writers who genuinely want us actors to contribute.  AND there were piles of snacks on the coffee tables: fresh fruit, NZ cheese, Minties.
Two of the cast have forsworn deserts during Lent.  Not me, not yet.  At lunch I took seconds of the flourless chocolate cake and sour cream.

[Bromptonboy]

The official Hobbit blog now live
Posted: 20 Mar 2011 05:45 AM PDT

The same day as production starts, the official Hobbit blog has also gone live.
Updated by "The Hobbit Team", its first post features a photo (which we featured last month) of the cast including Martin Freeman who plays Bilbo Baggins, surrounded by the actors cast as the company of dwarves.
We'll be keeping an eye on the blog and updating you daily with all news relating to the movies.
The official Hobbit blog now live is a post from: The Hobbit Movie
       

[Bromptonboy]

Yesterday Warner Bros named Kiwi actors Jeffrey Thomas and Mike Mizrahi for the roles of dwarf kings Thror and Thrain (Source: The Dominion Post: To be confirmed!).
There have been several casting announcements since Martin Freeman was confirmed as the lead in October last year.
A spokeswoman for the production unit said only that everyone was "very excited" to get started on filming.
Source: stuff.co.nz

[Bryancd]

Love the updates, keep them coming!

[Meds]

Peter Jackson on The Hobbit set :D

[Meds]

And another one from his Facebook page

[Bryancd]

And another one from his Facebook page

Awesome! It's a great composite of the interior set with the actual film location outside the door. We stood inside the door of Bags End looking out over the Shire at the site. It's really just a hokle in the side of the hill with a fake door and windows!

[Meds]

You mean its not real !!!!!!!!!! sniff sniff,

[Bromptonboy]

Liv Tyler when asked about whether she had been cast in the upcoming Hobbit movies, said:
"I haven't heard from anybody."  She also didn't know that filming began today.
When she was informed there would be additional casting, she wasn't optimistic of her chances though expressed keenness to join old colleagues and said she would "love to go back to New Zealand".

[Bromptonboy]

Saiorse Ronan 'hopeful' for Itaril role
Posted: 26 Mar 2011 08:06 AM PDT

Production on "The Hobbit" is already under way in  New Zealand with a diverse cast. But don't rule out the possibility of a star of a previous Peter Jackson film winding up in the two-part epic.
Saiorse Ronan, the breakout "Atonement " actress who worked with Jackson on the 2009 spiritual drama "The Lovely Bones,"  says that while her much-rumored casting in the fantasy franchise isn't "confirmed," she's optimistic that she'll be starring amid the dragons and wizards.
"Pete is adding a lot of characters in the film adaption," she said. "Hopefully they have a part for me."
Ronan said she hasn't yet read the "Hobbit" script but did read the J.R.R. Tolkien original and found herself enraptured.
"It's magical and it's a fantasy, but the characters in this story are also so real," she said. "Bilbo's such an insecure man. He's comfortable in his life but he's kind of reaching out for something else even though he won't admit it."
Saoirse has long been rumoured for the part of new character Itaril which we first told you about last January and she recently said if it were offered, she would take the part. The casting call that went out described the part as:
ITARIL – female, A woodland Elf, this character is one the Silvan Elves. The Silvan Elves are seen as more earthy and practical. Shorter than other elves, she is still quick and lithe and physically adept, being able to fight with both sword and bow. Showing promise as a fighter at a young age, ITARIL was chosen to train to become part of the Woodland King's Guard. This is the only life she has ever expected to live, until she meets and secretly falls in love with a young ELF LORD. This role will require a wig and contact lenses to be worn. Some prosthetic make-up may also be required. LEAD. AGE: 17-27.
Source: latimes.com
Saiorse Ronan 'hopeful' for Itaril role is a post from: The Hobbit Movie
       

Hobbit film-makers may lose permission to film
Posted: 25 Mar 2011 11:16 AM PDT

The Hobbit film-makers are about to lose permission to film in Hobbiton, the location that bookends JRR Tolkien's classic tale – though that does not mean their quest is finished.
Documents issued under the Official Information Act show a crew of up to 450 were scheduled to descend on Hobbiton, near Matamata, for up to three weeks in February and March this year.
That was delayed after director Sir Peter Jackson required surgery for a perforated stomach ulcer.
Matamata-Piako District Council corporate and legal services manager Michelle Hawthorne said resource consent required that filming be completed by the end of next month.
"If 3 Foot 7 wants to film after this date they will need approval from council to do so, they have not applied to council yet, although I understand they are aware of this requirement," she said. A traffic management plan, needed for resource consent, had still not been approved by the council.
To shoot as planned next summer the production would have to get a new resource consent.
Source: stuff.co.nz
Hobbit film-makers may lose permission to film is a post from: The Hobbit Movie
       

[Bromptonboy]

Billy Boyd dreams of a cameo role in The Hobbit
Posted: 31 Mar 2011 05:36 AM PDT

LORD of the Rings star Billy Boyd has revealed his dream of a cameo role in prequel The Hobbit has been shot down... but he plans to gatecrash the set anyway.
The Glaswegian actor played Pippin in the movie trilogy and hoped he could appear in the new two-parter – set 60 years earlier – as the character's father.
His hopes were boosted when it was reported that fellow hobbit Elijah Wood would reprise his role as Frodo in the opening sequence of the first movie.
But Billy now admits a return is unlikely, although that won't stop him teaming up with Elijah and Dominic Monaghan for a nostalgic set visit.
Billy, 42, said: "No, I wouldn't think anything will come of that but I am definitely going to go down there, I haven't been back since the premiere of Return Of The King.
"Most of the guys have been back for a little trip or something but I have not managed it.
"I have been talking to Dom and Elijah and we are all going to go back this year. We will all go together, like a reunion trip. We want to go and see the sets.
"And while we're there, there must be something for us. They must need a hobbit in the background somewhere. I can even put the big feet on myself!"
The award-winning trilogy had a huge impact on Billy's profile as an actor and his life off-camera.
He became firm friends with the rest of the cast over the 14 months they spent shooting the movies in New Zealand.
Source: dailyrecord.co.uk
Billy Boyd dreams of a cameo role in The Hobbit is a post from: The Hobbit Movie

[Bromptonboy]

Bret McKenzie could be going from being a Figwit in the Lord of the Rings to a big-screen presence in The Hobbit.
The Dominion Post can reveal that Sir Peter Jackson is trying to tempt the Flight of the Conchords co-star to take a role in the 3-D Hobbit films now being shot in Wellington.
It would spell a remarkable turnaround for McKenzie, who had a three-second spot as a pouting elf in the first Rings film.
A fan saw him on screen as Frodo was frantically trying to deliver the ring to Mordor and thought. "Frodo is great ... who is that?" And from that, the acronym Figwit was born.
Hobbit spokeswoman Melissa Booth did not reply to questions about McKenzie and his role in the film.
Source: stuff.co.nz
Bret McKenzie may take a role in The Hobbit is a post from: The Hobbit Movie

[Meds]

Awesome reports mate keep them coming :)

[Bromptonboy]

Saoirse Ronan on wanting to hug Gollum
Posted: 06 Apr 2011 02:00 AM PDT

If you do star in "The Hobbit," can you say something you'd be looking forward to or hope happens with the movie?
If I was hired to be in "The Hobbit," I would certainly not be playing a Hobbit. I won't have hairy feet. I don't like hairy feet, and so I'm not going to play someone with hairy feet. I don't know, we'll wait and see. They're pretty much taking everyone back from "Lord of the Rings" and sticking them into "The Hobbit" for a little while, which is so great. I think Cate's going back down and Orlando [Bloom] I think is going back down as well, so it's fun. It'll be a great reuniting party when we're—when they're all together.
Will you be scared of Gollum?
No, I'd quite like to give him a hug, actually. I really like Gollum; I think he'd like me too.
Why?
I like him because he's not afraid of speaking his opinion, you know? He isn't shy about his feelings; he will always let the ring know that that is the most important thing to him. I like that; I like that in a guy. And I think he'd like me because I appreciate him. This is ridiculous. I'm just talking really silly now.
So if the most important thing in a guy's life is his Xbox, you'd appreciate knowing that up front?
Yeah, but I don't think I would want to be with someone like that. [Laughs.] A ring is a different thing. I don't mean wedding ring! I just mean the "Lord of the Rings" rings.
Source: baltimoresun.com
Saoirse Ronan on wanting to hug Gollum is a post from: The Hobbit Movie

[KingIsaacLinksr]

xD that interview is funny.

King