The Hobbit finds a director

[Sarkus]

He really does look old in that video, and it makes me worried about his appearance in The Hobbit. Hopefully they'll make it work somehow.

Yeah, that's not looking like something he's going to be able to pull off.  I guess it's inevitable given how long it's taken for them to get The Hobbit going, but sad.

Why does he need to be in the hobbit? Damn it, I need to re-read the books. I don't remember him making any appearances.

Because they are padding the story by exploring what Gandalf was up to when he was gone during Bilbo's adventures.  That includes Gandalf and the White Council (which is lead by Saruman) leading an attack against Sauron.  So the assumption is that Saruman played an active role in that, something that Lee doesn't seem like he will be quite up to.

While Lee is officially supposed to play Saruman, earlier even he said he wasn't sure he wanted to reprise the role due to the need to travel to New Zealand, though he was interested in doing Smaug's voice.  From what I've read elsewhere it sounds like Lee may not be required to go to New Zealand at all, which is probably a concession to his age and health.  The question is whether they do some body double stuff or if they just make his role smaller.  But it's going to be odd if they portray Gandalf and others fighting Sauron while Saruman isn't around. 

[TiLT]

His voice still sounds right, so they could probably use a body double with him doing voiceovers.

[metallicorphan]

i dunno,he was in Star Wars II+III and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory(the films i have seen anyway)since LOTR,and he hadn't looked much different really,although that was 2005


I started to read The Hobbit again last night,remembered about 'Bilbo's Trolls' that you first hear Bilbo talking about to the Hobbit children at his party in 'Fellowship' and then see the actual trolls still petrified* when Frodo has been stabbed by the Mordor blade,so it will be good seeing that and seeing the connection when watching all 5 films together

*do they use the word petrified in LOTR universe for something being turned to stone,or have i been playing to much Final Fantasy?

[Gryndyl]

*do they use the word petrified in LOTR universe for something being turned to stone,or have i been playing to much Final Fantasy?

Any Final Fantasy is too much 
And I can't recall 'petrified' ever being used in anything Tolkien related. Think Tolkien always just wrote "turned to stone".

[cheeba]

That includes Gandalf and the White Council (which is lead by Saruman) leading an attack against Sauron. 

Er, is this true to Tolkien? Not that I care much about Tolkien, really, but wasn't Sauron during The Hobbit just kinda lazing around, maybe just starting to build the army?

[CeeKay]

That includes Gandalf and the White Council (which is lead by Saruman) leading an attack against Sauron. 

Er, is this true to Tolkien? Not that I care much about Tolkien, really, but wasn't Sauron during The Hobbit just kinda lazing around, maybe just starting to build the army?

according to Wiki:

Sauron finally resurfaced with increased strength in 2460. About the same time, the long-lost Ruling Ring was finally recovered from the River Anduin, found by a hobbit[38] named Déagol. His relative[39] Sméagol killed him for the Ring, and was eventually corrupted into the creature Gollum. Banished by his family, he took the Ring, which he called his "Precious," and hid in the Misty Mountains.

In 2850, Gandalf made a second attempt to spy out Dol Guldur. Stealing into the stronghold, he was finally able to confirm the identity of its lord, later reporting to the White Council of Elves and Wizards that Sauron had returned. Saruman, hoping thereby to acquire the One Ring for himself, dissuaded the Council from acting against him.

Eventually, the Wizards and chief Elves combined to put forth their might, and drove Sauron out of Mirkwood in 2941. During the White Council's delay he had, however, prepared his next move, and was willing to abandon Dol Guldur.

Just before Sauron fled Dol Guldur, the Hobbit Bilbo Baggins, on an improbable adventure with a party of Dwarves, stumbled across the Ring deep within the Misty Mountains. After his quest was over, Bilbo brought the Ring back to Hobbiton in the Shire. Decades later, he passed it on to his heir, Frodo.

[metallicorphan]

I know this isn't the nicest thing to say,seen as though over 100 people are dead,but i wonder if the recent Earthquake in New Zealand has put this production start back again..i am guessing that it has ...maybe depending on which Island they were to be filming on i guess

[Nonnahob]

He really does look old in that video, and it makes me worried about his appearance in The Hobbit. Hopefully they'll make it work somehow.

Yeah, that's not looking like something he's going to be able to pull off.  I guess it's inevitable given how long it's taken for them to get The Hobbit going, but sad.

Why does he need to be in the hobbit? Damn it, I need to re-read the books. I don't remember him making any appearances.

Because they are padding the story by exploring what Gandalf was up to when he was gone during Bilbo's adventures.  That includes Gandalf and the White Council (which is lead by Saruman) leading an attack against Sauron.  So the assumption is that Saruman played an active role in that, something that Lee doesn't seem like he will be quite up to.

While Lee is officially supposed to play Saruman, earlier even he said he wasn't sure he wanted to reprise the role due to the need to travel to New Zealand, though he was interested in doing Smaug's voice.  From what I've read elsewhere it sounds like Lee may not be required to go to New Zealand at all, which is probably a concession to his age and health.  The question is whether they do some body double stuff or if they just make his role smaller.  But it's going to be odd if they portray Gandalf and others fighting Sauron while Saruman isn't around. 

I wasn't sure if they'd touch much on the white council stuff. They've left considerable amounts of content out of the three movies - I could see them leaving that bit out as it's backstory and not 100% crucial to the main telling of the hobbit.

[CeeKay]

Maybe they'll add in Tom Bombadil with a scene shown after the credits of the second movie are done rolling.

[Nonnahob]

Maybe they'll add in Tom Bombadil with a scene shown after the credits of the second movie are done rolling.

That'd fit in LOTR: Fellowship of the Ring. He doesn't do anything in The Hobbit!

Also, this was one of the most disappointing omissions for me. Bombadil is one of my favorite characters from Tolkiens library.

[CeeKay]

At least I didn't add he'd be casting fireballs at goblins 

[metallicorphan]

Maybe they'll add in Tom Bombadil with a scene shown after the credits of the second movie are done rolling.

That'd fit in LOTR: Fellowship of the Ring. He doesn't do anything in The Hobbit!

Also, this was one of the most disappointing omissions for me. Bombadil is one of my favorite characters from Tolkiens library.

I wasn't that fussed about Bombadil,but his wife sounded as though i would of liked to of seen her ...oh and i would of liked to of seen the Barrow-Wrights...but the 'Burning of the Shire' is still the most disappointing omissions for me,what a great end to the book and a great mini comeback for Saruman..the film ending was limp to say the least

[Sarkus]

I know this isn't the nicest thing to say,seen as though over 100 people are dead,but i wonder if the recent Earthquake in New Zealand has put this production start back again..i am guessing that it has ...maybe depending on which Island they were to be filming on i guess

I don't think they've said anything, but another delay would be expensive as many or most of the actors are already in New Zealand.  Wellington, which is where Jackson's main studios are at, was not affected nor was the Hobbiton set area.  They probably plan on doing some filming on the South Island, which is where Christchurch is located, but I don't think they did anything in the immediate area in the first film.  The bigger impact would probably be on behind the scenes stuff, as they used the New Zealand army (and they are obviously busy at the moment) and whatever other services they would have hired from the south island's biggest city.

[TiLT]

Maybe they'll add in Tom Bombadil with a scene shown after the credits of the second movie are done rolling.

That'd fit in LOTR: Fellowship of the Ring. He doesn't do anything in The Hobbit!

Also, this was one of the most disappointing omissions for me. Bombadil is one of my favorite characters from Tolkiens library.

I wasn't that fussed about Bombadil,but his wife sounded as though i would of liked to of seen her ...oh and i would of liked to of seen the Barrow-Wrights...but the 'Burning of the Shire' is still the most disappointing omissions for me,what a great end to the book and a great mini comeback for Saruman..the film ending was limp to say the least

Meh, I never felt like the Scouring worked very well. The main plot in the story is already over and done with at that point, so these extra two chapters just end up diminishing the climax at Mount Doom. It wasn't even a significant part of the book, just a very small detour at the end, yet I've seen tons of people complain that it was "half of Return of the King", which is nonsense. I realize why Tolkien wrote this part, but I just don't feel like it works very well.

[Scuzz]

Maybe they'll add in Tom Bombadil with a scene shown after the credits of the second movie are done rolling.

That'd fit in LOTR: Fellowship of the Ring. He doesn't do anything in The Hobbit!

Also, this was one of the most disappointing omissions for me. Bombadil is one of my favorite characters from Tolkiens library.

I wasn't that fussed about Bombadil,but his wife sounded as though i would of liked to of seen her ...oh and i would of liked to of seen the Barrow-Wrights...but the 'Burning of the Shire' is still the most disappointing omissions for me,what a great end to the book and a great mini comeback for Saruman..the film ending was limp to say the least

Meh, I never felt like the Scouring worked very well. The main plot in the story is already over and done with at that point, so these extra two chapters just end up diminishing the climax at Mount Doom. It wasn't even a significant part of the book, just a very small detour at the end, yet I've seen tons of people complain that it was "half of Return of the King", which is nonsense. I realize why Tolkien wrote this part, but I just don't feel like it works very well.

I missed that part not being in the movie but it is easy to understand why it was not included, especially considering the length of the movie.

[CeeKay]

They had to make room for the 27 endings somehow.

[Sarkus]

They had to make room for the 27 endings somehow.

I get why those who'd never read the books might be annoyed by the endless endings, but compared to the book the thing ends comparatively quickly.

[CeeKay]

OneRing.net has possible titles for the films:

The Hobbit: There and Back Again

The Hobbit: An/The Unexpected Journey

[metallicorphan]

OneRing.net has possible titles for the films:

The Hobbit: There and Back Again

The Hobbit: An/The Unexpected Journey

I approve

'An Unexpected Journey' please

[TiLT]

If they use those two titles (which I approve of), I'd hope they use them in the opposite order from what you listed, CeeKay.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey followed by The Hobbit: There and Back Again.

The titles make more sense that way.

[CeeKay]

If they use those two titles (which I approve of), I'd hope they use them in the opposite order from what you listed, CeeKay.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey followed by The Hobbit: There and Back Again.

The titles make more sense that way.

yeah, I just cut and pasted them from the link.  they definitely make more sense reversed.

[Moliere]

Filming begins.

[CeeKay]

Filming begins.

   

[metallicorphan]

the cast do some posing,it's funny seeing Aiden Turner(Being Human UK) in bottom left with a beard





looking at the cast it's a Who's Who for British TV fans(which i am not really one of..a fan that is)
really depressed to see that James Nesbitt is in it,you guys probably haven't heard of him but he is always in some shitty ITV drama mini series here in the UK,who is very annoying but most British housewives love him

and as Sarkus said a few pages ago Sylvester McCoy IS playing Radagast the Brown

get this >>>Smaug is rumoured to be voiced by Leonard Nimoy,who i think would be perfect!!!..or maybe he will re-release The Ballad of Bilbo Baggins

[Nonnahob]

the cast do some posing,it's funny seeing Aiden Turner(Being Human UK) in bottom left with a beard





looking at the cast it's a Who's Who for British TV fans(which i am not really one of..a fan that is)
really depressed to see that James Nesbitt is in it,you guys probably haven't heard of him but he is always in some shitty ITV drama mini series here in the UK,who is very annoying but most British housewives love him

and as Sarkus said a few pages ago Sylvester McCoy IS playing Radagast the Brown

get this >>>Smaug is rumoured to be voiced by Leonard Nimoy,who i think would be perfect!!!..or maybe he will re-release The Ballad of Bilbo Baggins

Radagast has a really small role in the story, so no huge news there I guess. I like the idea of Leonard Nimoy as Smaug though, I think the voice would fit well.

[Blackjack]

If you dare to visit Facebook, couple small pix of Jackson on the set...
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Peter-Jackson/141884481557

[Scraper]

I think the guy playing Bilbo is perfect. I think he will be able to pull the role off nicely. Also Nemoy would be great as Smaug.

I just wonder how they are going to work Frodo into this movie and however they do it I hope they don't destroy the lore. I can see Legolas fitting into the story during the wood elf section, but Frodo seems like a stretch. Unless the movie starts with Bilbo back in the shire telling his story to Frodo.

[TiLT]

I think the guy playing Bilbo is perfect. I think he will be able to pull the role off nicely. Also Nemoy would be great as Smaug.

I just wonder how they are going to work Frodo into this movie and however they do it I hope they don't destroy the lore. I can see Legolas fitting into the story during the wood elf section, but Frodo seems like a stretch. Unless the movie starts with Bilbo back in the shire telling his story to Frodo.

I've said it before, but I can't imagine them doing it any other way than having Frodo be the narrator for the story, reading from Bilbo's memoirs. Perhaps he's entertaining an audience, perhaps not.

[Sarkus]

I think the guy playing Bilbo is perfect. I think he will be able to pull the role off nicely. Also Nemoy would be great as Smaug.

I just wonder how they are going to work Frodo into this movie and however they do it I hope they don't destroy the lore. I can see Legolas fitting into the story during the wood elf section, but Frodo seems like a stretch. Unless the movie starts with Bilbo back in the shire telling his story to Frodo.

I've said it before, but I can't imagine them doing it any other way than having Frodo be the narrator for the story, reading from Bilbo's memoirs. Perhaps he's entertaining an audience, perhaps not.

Spoiler for Hiden:

That's exactly how it's being done.

[CeeKay]

If you dare to visit Facebook, couple small pix of Jackson on the set...
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Peter-Jackson/141884481557

OMG, they shrunk Pete!

[EngineNo9]

The first behind the scenes video blog leading up to the first day of filming.  All I can say is that my excitement level is   

[metallicorphan]

just about to post this,Bag End and Rivendell look exactly the same,i can't wait for this

[Bullwinkle]

It looks like Benedict Cumberbatch, who plays Sherlock on Sherlock will be joining his Watson in The Hobbit, according to AICN.

[metallicorphan]

I just read The Hobbit last month(i am now half way through The Two Towers),and i am trying to think who he could play,maybe as Bard

Spoiler for Hiden:

the Bowman who killed Samug

...doubtful,but who knows,the character isn't listed on IMDb

looking on IMDb,i have noticed that Stephen Fry is the master of Laketown and Drogo Baggins character is listed(which i think we may of discussed already can't remember)

[Sarkus]

OMG, they shrunk Pete!

This recent picture of Jackson is interesting in comparison.

[CeeKay]

OMG, they shrunk Pete!

This recent picture of Jackson is interesting in comparison.

OMG, they really did shrink Pete! 

[CeeKay]

From Peter Jackson's facebook page:

Ten years ago, Orlando Bloom created an iconic character with his portrayal of Legolas. I'm excited to announce today that we'll be revisiting Middle Earth with him once more. I’m thrilled to be working with Orlando again. Funny thing is, I look older—and he doesn’t! I guess that's why he makes such a wonderful elf.

[metallicorphan]

Peter Jackson has started doing 20 questions on his Facebook page

here is Question 1

he also has a picture up of the White Council attacking Dol Guldor,which PJ describes  

For the first image of Gandalf, Elrond and Galadriel brandishing an array of fearsome Elvish weapons

Spoiler for Hiden:

 

[Bullwinkle]

First pic of Freeman as Bilbo:



Click for link.

[metallicorphan]

nice,you can see how Frodo was related