I'm still waiting for my Silmarillion animated feature with Tim Curry as Melkor and BRIAN BLESSED as Eru Illuvatar.
What about Christopher Lee
I don't think Saruman was in the Hobbit, so no Dracula Ansem the Wise Dr. Wonka Mr. Lee this time around.
Sir McKellen coming back is great, though.
Only a rumor for now. So I'm going to stick with the longer date as to not be disappointed.
Sorry to derail, but have they announced if the other recurring character actors have signed on? Ian McKellen has. What about Christopher Lee, Hugo Weaving, and even Cate Blanchett?
Andy Serkis is almost definitely coming back for Gollum.
Hugo Weaving is strong possibility.
Weaving talking about The Hobbit here: http://www.hitfix.com/blogs/2008-12-6-motion-captured/posts/hugo-weaving-talks-about-his-return-as-elrond-in-the-hobbit
I don't recall Galadriel or Sarumann appearing in the Hobbit at all. They could probably have a Legolas appearance, even though he wasn't in the book, considering his Father Thranduil is in it.
Yeah, I don't remember them being in the book either, but there were a few news sources after Ian was confirmed to see if the other people would be as well. Technically, they would be alive during this time, so I wouldn't be surprised if they had a non-speaking cameo somehow. Plus, you know…not sticking to the books verbatim along with being 2 movies.
Yeah, I don't remember them being in the book either, but there were a few news sources after Ian was confirmed to see if the other people would be as well. Technically, they would be alive during this time, so I wouldn't be surprised if they had a non-speaking cameo somehow. Plus, you know…not sticking to the books verbatim along with being 2 movies.
If I remember right, there's going to be few or more scenes that weren't in the book. They would include at least Aragorn if I recall.
"But it was all right, everything was all right, the struggle was finished. He had won the victory over himself. He loved Big Brother."
Sort of wonder if Gimli's dad (I think it's Gimli's dad) is going to be played by the guy who did Gimli? (well…at least both had dwarves)
I own the DVDs but never saw any of the LOTR movies (inherited them from my pop when he passed)...but I really don't know if I like the idea of a "movie to bridge what Tolkien didn't write" idea unless it just uses stuff which weren't in the books.
Besides, they got Magneto so they got the one returning character that matters.
Y'know, Negima WAS awesome…
For the first 18 volumes.
Aaaannnnnnd, Guillermo Del Toro drops out of the project. FUCK.
http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2010/05/30/36920-guillermo-del-toro-departs-the-hobbit/
Not completely, but it's rather disheartening after reading how ecstatic he was to direct it.
Saruman wasn't in The Hobbit, but I think Radagast might be featured at some point since either he or Gandalf or someone was flirting around with Dol Gulder or something at the time. I've forgotten.
The only people I'd care to be back are the actor who played Bilbo in Fellowship, Gandalf and Golumn. They're the only characters fro the prequel who were hold-overs into the LOTR anyway.
…
Also tangent...the poll on the site above pisses me off. Something that grates me to no end is how people don't really seem to care for giving new talent a chance and just want established names to keep serving them entertainment. Jackson would never have become so famous if not for Fellowship, which he was lucky to land, and here I see people so quick to want him to direct this film over someone else. Fellowship was my favourite of the novels and I wasn't WOW-ed by the movie like a lot of people were, but Jackson improved dramatically with each film and by RotK he really deserved the praise he was getting since Fellowship.
The Harry Potter films might have had mixed results but I'll be darned if the shifting directors didn't allow for people to get exposed.
WE NEED FRESH BLOOD
I'M A VAMPIRE RAWR
Aw, that is disappointing news. I was really looking forward to seeing him direct the movie. Hopefully they will find someone who will do a fantastic job with the same passion that Jackson and Del Toro seem to have.
well i'm a bit dissapoitned. one thing that i hate when it comes to movies that are multiples like lotr, star wars, harry potter, pirates of the carribean, ect. you know trilogy's and the like is that i hate when they replace an actor or actress.
while this is neither, it is a director, the same can be applied as well. Each director has his own style and will do the same scene in different ways. it woudl hav been nice to have lotr and hobbit fell like they are all the same movie adn not be so different like some of the harry potter movies, or how technology changed star wars movies so differently.
Lord of the Rings is technically one story and the movies were filmed all at once like one big movie. The Hobbit is a different book in a different time period that was created before most of the ideas in LOTR were even conceived, so some variation is perfectly acceptable, especially considering how much time has passed since LOTR was made.
Without deviation from the norm, progress is not possible. - Frank Zappa
Freakin' James Cameron
James Cameron’s Advice To GDT On The Hobbit: “Get Out Of That Thing”
August 14th, 2010 by Earl | Source: Herald Sun | Discuss | 6 Comments and 5 Reactions
In an article by Australia’s Herald Sun about the re-release of James Cameron’s Avatar in 3D later this month and his upcoming producing role on GDT’s next directorial project At The Mountains Of Madness, there’s some very interesting information on James Cameron’s thoughts on GDT directing The Hobbit.
“I was telling him for a long time to get out of that thing because there is only room for one captain on the ship,” Cameron says. “Instinctively I knew that Peter was going to take over and do the movie. Guillermo, to his credit, didn’t listen to me and wanted to do continue and had some great designs – and I have seen all the designs. Of course he would have done a spectacular job, but don’t we want to see Peter do it? He should do it and Guillermo should do his thing. That’s what I told both of them – you should just stay in your corners.“
Speaking of the designs for The Hobbit, it might be good to recall that in an interview with James Cameron by Ain’t It Cool News last August on the then to-be-released Avatar, there was mention of James Cameron having seen WETA’s designs for The Hobbit. A snippet from that article reads:
Cameron mentioned that he’d seen some of their [WETA's] design work on THE HOBBIT and that it really is the original trilogy world created by Weta and Peter Jackson, but with a slight influence of Guillermo del Toro’s style. Cameron said the two styles mix perfectly together.
Back then, GDT used to frequent our message boards, and joined in our discussion about the AICN article. Here’s what he had to say:
For what is worth: Jim and I have been dear friends for over 17 years now. But that has not prevented us being very critical of each other’s work through the years. Just so you know- he would NEVER declare anything like this if he didn’t feel that way. What he saw were very strong designs and maquettes: GOBLINS and their environment, SMAUG (fully designed but without final color / texture), SPIDERS OF MIRKWOOD, MIRKWOOD, STONE TROLLS, WARGS, IRON HILL DWARVES, GUNDABAD ARMY, THRANDUILL’S THRONE ROOM etc, etc and he was delighted. This for me, as his friend, and as a filmmaker, meant a whole lot. You will / may disagree at the end of the process but, I assure you, this IS his opinion.
This reminds me. Various DW and other sites have been stating that Sylvester McCoy is to play Bilbo in this.
I hope it's true. McCoy is the pwn
Oh hey, I do videos on figures and manga and stuff: https://www.youtube.com/thatmanhismerch
I have not heard any official news on his casting yet, still just rumors. Still, sometimes rumors are true…
i think this movie will never get fucking made
 
I think it will…someday....maybe I will have kids to take to it...
This movie better be goddamn good.
Or else …?
I will be disappointed, of course.
Smaug better be voiced by Chris Sabat.
@Tijnn.:
I will be disappointed, of course.
It's easy to forget a good film after a summer of smelly turds like we've been subjected to. I don't doubt that it'll be a good film though…just hold on to your short-swords.
Back the fuck up.
There's a Mountain of Madness adaption being made?
Fucking hell I didn't know James Cameron was producing AtMoM. Dammit he should just go die in a ditch somewhere.
@Cyan:
Back the fuck up.
There's a Mountain of Madness adaption being made?
Yes. AND BY MOTHERFUCKING GUILLERMO DEL TORO 
!!!
Complicating things since 2009.
I don't think it'll be Andy Serkis since he's going to be Gollum. Besides, that's one of their golden opportunities to get another big name in there without having to worry about appearance.
How the heck did they get that far in debt? Do they have politicians in their finance department?
Without deviation from the norm, progress is not possible. - Frank Zappa
Sylvester McCoy has enjoyed a return to his home town of Dunoon in his role as this year’s Chieftain at Cowal Highland Gathering, first reported here. He told the local paper, the Argyllshire Standard, that he is in talks for a major role in the upcoming feature film The Hobbit which is due to start filming in 2011. "I am being cast in The Hobbit," he told the paper, "We're currently in negotiations - there are two of us under consideration. It's not the Bilbo role, but could be bigger."
So yeah. Just throwing this here =3
looks up
Hmm, dude looks like Johnny Cash…
@robbybedfart:
Because they're like 4 billion dollars in debt. Yes, with a b.
They can't get the next Bond film off the ground either.
If you can't afford to make a guaranteed franchise moneymaker like the Hobbit or Bond… there's a problem.
Keep in mind that they only have international distribution rights to The Hobbit while Warner Brothers owns the local distribution and production rights through New Line. Worst comes to worst and they have to have immediate cash, they can sell the international distribution rights back to Warner Brothers. If anything, they're probably going to try to extort as much money as possible out of them for those rights.
How the heck did they get that far in debt? Do they have politicians in their finance department?
This seems to happen to MGM every twenty to thirty years or so. In the late '60s, they nearly floundered after a decade of either major hits or massive flops (they tended to make massive films that would either earn more money than every other film they made combined or would lose more money than the rest of their lineup could make), but were saved by a real estate developer who turned their massive studio backlot 3 into condos and who sold most of the props at auction.
In '86, they were bought by Ted Turner, who quickly sold them again, but who kept their film, television, and animation libraries. That's at least part of what is killing them now. Most studios can make some quick cash by releasing their old material on DVD or even selling it off to another group, but MGM can't do that for the most part as the bullk of their most high profile products (The Wizard of Oz and their animation) along belong to Time Warner.
Far as I can tell, right now their problem is that their only real major assets are James Bond and the distribution rights to The Hobbit. Besides the two Bon films, I can't really think of any successful films that they've made over the past few years.
Complicating things since 2009.
Finally some solid news on casting!
http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2010/10/21/39468-meet-your-hobbit-cast/
Martin Freeman – Bilbo Baggins Richard Armitage – Thorin Oakenshield Aidan Turner – Kili Rob Kazinsky – Fili Graham McTavish – Dwalin John Callen – Oin Stephen Hunter – Bombur Mark Hadlow – Dori Peter Hambleton – Gloin
Freeman is great coice for Bilbo, and he even looks like a young Ian Holm.
The rest are all unknowns to me… but then, so was most of the cast in the original trilogy at the time, and thats BETTER than getting a big name.
I still forsee problems juggling 12 dwarves, storywise.
@RobbyBevard:
Freeman is great coice for Bilbo, and he even looks like a young Ian Holm.
I read this post first and immediately started thinking of Morgan Freeman…
That would be awesomely weird.
"But it was all right, everything was all right, the struggle was finished. He had won the victory over himself. He loved Big Brother."
More news, Cate Blanchett is confirmed to return :
Without deviation from the norm, progress is not possible. - Frank Zappa
Martin Freeman better not let this take priority over Sherlock. I'd rather him do more than that any day.
@RobbyBevard:
Freeman is great coice for Bilbo, and he even looks like a young Ian Holm.
The rest are all unknowns to me… but then, so was most of the cast in the original trilogy at the time, and thats BETTER than getting a big name.
I still forsee problems juggling 12 dwarves, storywise.
I agree, he does look like he fits the role quite well.
Wondering if John Rhys-Davies will return to play another dwarf…. XD
More news, Cate Blanchett is confirmed to return :
I hope this doesn't screw up the original story too much, I feel like its just an excuse for fan service. But why Legolas? Not enough androgyny in The Hobbit I guess?
Kind of excited to see the movies, but I just hope Jackson knows what he's doing =/
*** PlasticStar5 Instagram***
Adding Legolas is understandable, I think he can easily be one of the unnamed Mirkwood Elf characters shown in the book.
And it'll be interesting to see Graham McTavish as Dwalin.
But honestly it annoys me that this is going to be a two-part movie. Of course it's a nice way for the studio to double their earnings but doesn't make any sense plotwise.
I agree, he does look like he fits the role quite well.
Wondering if John Rhys-Davies will return to play another dwarf…. XD
Considering the sheer hell and misery the makeup process put him though… probably not.
I hope this doesn't screw up the original story too much, I feel like its just an excuse for fan service. But why Legolas? Not enough androgyny in The Hobbit I guess?
They're expanding the material to two movies and pulling from the Slmarillion. In any event, Legolas's father is in the Hobbit, so he MIGHT be playing him… (he has aged ten years after all...) or that aside, it'd make sense for Legolas to be hanging out in the general area sheerly to provide some continuity. As long as he's just within the one part of the story and doesn't randomly join the traveling group.
Kind of excited to see the movies, but I just hope Jackson knows what he's doing =/
I think he earned that trust after the original trilogy. For all its flaws and re-imaginings and re-workings of material, he kept pretty true to the core of the material. He ad more than a few excesses, but I can't really imagine anyone else doing much better all in all.
Have they mentioned exactly what they're pulling from the Silmarillion for this?
@Cyan:
Have they mentioned exactly what they're pulling from the Silmarillion for this?
To pad it out to two movies when the actual book is about right for a 90 minute-2 hour movie? A lot I'd imagine.
Luthien and Beren seems a likely bet considering how they tie into the Aaragorn/Arwen material and Elrond, as well as Sauron, and its a backstory that actually gets a lot of prominence in LotR proper. But really there's no telling.
I do wonder if marketing will needlessly slam the LotR logo onto whatever the titles of it end up being.
@RobbyBevard:
Considering the sheer hell and misery the makeup process put him though… probably not.
They're expanding the material to two movies and pulling from the Slmarillion. In any event, Legolas's father is in the Hobbit, so he MIGHT be playing him... (he has aged ten years after all...) or that aside, it'd make sense for Legolas to be hanging out in the general area sheerly to provide some continuity. As long as he's just within the one part of the story and doesn't randomly join the traveling group.
I think he earned that trust after the original trilogy. For all its flaws and re-imaginings and re-workings of material, he kept pretty true to the core of the material. He ad more than a few excesses, but I can't really imagine anyone else doing much better all in all.
Ok, I understand a little better now, and I feel less worried about it. I actually did enjoy how he did LoTR. Especially the extended versions, they take more from the books. I think The Hobbit will turn out to be awesome just like the others, I just didn't think about why they would add Legolas and Galadriel in there at first. But now that you guys mention The Silmarillion, it does make more sense.
I could never finish that book, btw. It was waaay too drawn out, moreso than the LoTR books, lol.
*** PlasticStar5 Instagram***
It's way shorter though, I've read it a few times and finish in a couple of days <.<
It's also about as exciting as reading a history book. Granted it's a history book of a magical ancient world, but dry none the less.
The Silmarillion wasn't finished though and was cobbled together from Tolkien's notes by his son. Had it been finished, it would have been a lot more polished than it was. On the other hand, that roughness makes it read more like actual legends since there are a few contradictions or differences in the storyline.
I thought this movie franchise was gonna be like a massively successful worldwide franchise?
Then I see it has an actor from EastEnders in it (Rob Kazinsky) and a little-know (albeit good) actor named Richard Armitage. Seems strange casting.
Hmm, I had hoped Del Toro would be doing this. But anyhow, I'm just around getting into Lord of the Rings. (I tried it before but it couldn't sustain my interest) but hoping to get into it this time round - so I'll probably go see this when it's out.
I thought this movie franchise was gonna be like a massively successful worldwide franchise?
It is and it will be.
The first films were largely unkowns that had only been in random junk, with a couple of well knowns scattered throughout.
Trilogy gave them all careers and made them A-listers.
Some of them have very quickly thrown it away in the time since though.
I absolutely prefer having never heard of an actor before, it means its easier to accept them as the character. There's very few actors versatile enough or willing to totally change who they are between films (voice, accent, look, type of character) so that you can't actually tell or aren't thrown by it being the actor.
Oooh we're talking about the Silmarillion? Yeah I never finished that one either, it is very dry, though I hear some parts of it are much more interesting if yo can get to it.
I thought this movie franchise was gonna be like a massively successful worldwide franchise?
Then I see it has an actor from EastEnders in it (Rob Kazinsky) and a little-know (albeit good) actor named Richard Armitage. Seems strange casting.
LotR was full of unknowns that became stars after being in the movie- Legolas was Orlando Bloom's first movie role. Dominic Monaghan was barely known for starring in a British TV show. I was really into the production of LotR when it was being made, and when they announced the casting, I didn't recognize a single name other than Ian McKellan. They gave bigger name actors to the minor roles, mostly.
Edit: Robby beat me too it
And yes, when it comes to stories like this, you really want actors who absorb themselves into the characters. Someone like Tom Hanks just plays Tom Hanks, if you know what I mean.
Without deviation from the norm, progress is not possible. - Frank Zappa
Legolas was Orlando Bloom's first movie role.
Orlando Bloom is the luckiest actor alive.
Basard stumbled right out of theatre school into LotR and PotC, the two biggest most popular film trilogies in decades, in spite of his inability to act. Rings that was okay because he was one character among dozens… but he was one of the three main characters in Pirates!
Has he done anything else besides accidentally being in the biggest blockbusters ever?
o stories like this, you really want actors who absorb themselves into the characters. Someone like Tom Hanks just plays Tom Hanks, if you know what I mean.
Yeah, I get what you mean - this is why I just can't stand Michael Caine, despite his apparent 'national treasure' status. Every movie he's in he has the uses the same voice, same appearance, "Appows an Peyaars Guvna!" :getlost:
@RobbyBevard:
Orlando Bloom is the luckiest actor alive.
Basard stumbled right out of theatre school into LotR and PotC, the two biggest most popular film trilogies in decades, in spite of his inability to act. Rings that was okay because he was one character among dozens… but he was one of the three main characters in Pirates!
Has he done anything else besides accidentally being in the biggest blockbusters ever?
If you mean films, he's done a few. If you mean films worth noting, only ones worth mentioning are Troy and Kingdom of Heaven. If you mean films that are actually decent, then no.
I was really into the production of LotR when it was being made, and when they announced the casting, I didn't recognize a single name other than Ian McKellan. They gave bigger name actors to the minor roles, mostly.
As I've pointed out before, it's odd to think how the series would have turned out if Sean Connery hadn't turned down the offer to play Gandalf. As is, the most famous actor in the film is Christopher Lee and he's only in the series for about fifteen or twenty minutes in all of his appearances combined.
I have to admit that I'm surprised that you didn't recognize more names than Ian McKellan though. Elijah Wood received a lot of hype as the next big thing up until The Good Son and North wrecked his career as a child actor and Sean Astin was also fairly well known as a child actor for The Goonies.
Sean Bean was also rather famous for his role as Sharpe and had also been the villain in Goldeneye. John-Rhys Davies didn't have name recognition, but a lot of people were familiar with his voice and face from the Indiana Jones films.
Complicating things since 2009.
