Peter Jackson to be involved in Hobbit movie after all

[Teresa Edgerton]

The latest news on The Hobbit: New Line and Peter Jackson have resolved their differences, he and Fran Walsh will be involved in the production of the film (actually two movies), but no decision has been made as to who will direct.

Jackson, New Line Settle; 'Hobbit' Moves Forward - Entertainment News Story - WSB Atlanta

 

[Overread]

*celebrates*
Thanks for the news!
*awaits the arrival of the new film*
this is going to take years isn't it - I can hardly wait days

 

[Dean F. Wilson]

Here's the full announcement at TheOneRing.net

PETER JACKSON AND NEW LINE CINEMA JOIN WITH MGM TO PRODUCE “THE HOBBIT†| Hobbit Movie News and Rumors | TheOneRing.net™ | The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings Movie News and Rumors

The official blog is here:

The Hobbit: The Official Movie Blog

We should see more updates there.

As far as the whole director debate, this still could be PJ. As Executive Producers he and Fran have the authority to choose the writers, directors, etc. Fran is definitely going to write it (with PJ, of course, particularly for battle scenes), but I'm not sure PJ will be able to direct, given how much he has on his plate at this moment. That said, I'm certainly praying and hoping, and you never really know.

Either way, it's good news for fans

-D

EDIT: Oh, as for dates, the plan is basically:

2008 - pre-production
2009 - principal photography/filming (both films back to back)
2010 - post-production and release of The Hobbit
2011 - post-production and release of The Hobbit sequel (Unfinished Tales, etc., material).
So it's actually beginning immediately, and it'll be done far quicker than LOTR was, but then half the work is already done, since they know what the world looks like, who the actors should be, etc. I'm sure Fran is starting immediately with the script too. We should also get video diary updates.

 

[Pyan]

Hmm....mixed reactions.
On one hand, he made a more than acceptable LotR...but he's not entirely free of the vice of adding things to the plot, in the fond belief that he knows better than the author of the original book.

 

[Marky Lazer]

Well, he's gonna produce it, yeah? How about screenplay and directing?

 

[Dean F. Wilson]

Have a look at this interview for more details:

MGM CEO Harry Sloan talks 'Hobbit' | Movie Biz, The Hobbit | Hollywood Insider | EW.com

It looks like Peter and Fran are definitely going to write the screenplay (afterall, both are Executive Producers, and Fran had the biggest involvement with the writing). I'm sure Phillipa Boyens might be considered, but they may also consider other writers. Of course, there's the writer's strike to deal with first, but I'm sure they'll start mulling ideas around if not actual start writing it yet.

As for directing, I have some doubts that he'll direct the first, but it seems that he might do the second. You never know, however. He's producing Tin Tin, as far as I know, not directing it, so he may find the time to devote to The Hobbit. Even if he doesn't direct either of them, however, I'm sure he'll appoint a very good director and still ensure his creative vision is intact.

I'm a huge fan of the LOTR films. I don't think they could have been made any better. Remember, film is a different medium to book, and there are going to be changes. Most of the additions are excellent, in my opinion, and well in line with Tolkien's work. Now, Peter Jackson does know better than Tolkien when it comes to making a Lord of the Rings film. If I want Tolkien's work "as is", then I read the books. If I want a film adaption (adaption being the key word here, not replica, etc.), I'll watch PJ's work.

-D

 

[TK-421]

X-Mas has come a week early folks!

Now, if Ian McKellan could only play Gandalf (a role he has said in past interviews he would like to play again).

 

[tangaloomababe]

I heard this and am pleased, Peter Jackson did such a great job with LOTH, my only wuery why is it two movies, The Hobbit is not a huge book, is this a marketing strategy?

 

[manephelien]

The Hobbit will be shown in the first film more or less in its entirety as far as I know. However, there's lots of material in Unfinished Tales and other books edited by Christopher Tolkien and published after JRRT's death.

This is great news!

 

[j d worthington]

I've got to admit to something of a mixed reaction, myself. On the one hand, there is a lot to admire about the LotR films, and yes, they probably are as good as you can get with film concerning that book. On the other hand, I can't agree that all of the changes or added material was in line with Tolkien's work -- some portions were, to me, anything but; some of them were downright silly and took me right out of the film, in fact.

That said... at the moment, I think Jackson is probably the best to tackle this thing (at least, the best I can think of); I just hope that he doesn't get too manic with some aspects of it... I quite shudder -- and not pleasantly -- when I think what might be made of "Flies and Spiders", for instance, or Bilbo's conversation with Smaug....

 

[Foxbat]

Well, personally, I was very pleasantly surprised by Jackson's handling of LOTR but hated his King Kong remake.

Hopefully The Hobbit will bring out Jackson's best skills once more (as in LOTR).

I live in hope

 

[ice.monkey]

No adaptation is ever going to be perfect and please everybody. Jackson et al, in my opinion, overall did a good job with the LOTR films. Yes, there was 'artistic licence' and yes there were parts I wish he'd never introduced. But overall, I thoroughly enjoyed them as films based on the books.

At least Jackson is a known quantity now as far as adapting Tolkiens works are concerned. If someone else had taken the helm I think an abortion would've been produced. They would've wanted to have put their 'stamp' on it and probably try to upstage Jackson's LOTR films. Having Jackson on board for The Hobbit and the following movie has to be a good thing. You know what you're going to get and if you enjoyed the LOTR movies you're pretty much guaranteed to enjoy these.

Personally, I'm looking forward to them a great deal.

 

[Pyan]

Most of the additions are excellent, in my opinion, and well in line with Tolkien's work.

Sorry, Dean, I can't agree with you there.....I can't see how omitting the entire "Scouring of the Shire" section can possibly be in line with JRRT's work, let alone magical battles between Gandalf and Saruman, Aragorn falling over cliffs and getting lost, or Arwen being chased by nine Nazgul....

 

[Overread]

omitting the entire "Scouring of the Shire" section

my only major gripe with his work -

 

[Dean F. Wilson]

Originally Posted by Dean F. Wilson
Most of the additions are excellent, in my opinion, and well in line with Tolkien's work.

Sorry, Dean, I can't agree with you there.....I can't see how omitting the entire "Scouring of the Shire" section can possibly be in line with JRRT's work, let alone magical battles between Gandalf and Saruman, Aragorn falling over cliffs and getting lost, or Arwen being chased by nine Nazgul....

Firstly, isn't the omission of the Scouring of the Shire an omission, not an addition?

Secondly, do you honestly think that would have worked in a film? Again, try to understand the difference between the mediums. It was an anti-climatic scene. I enjoyed the scene, but it just doesn't work in terms of film. Sooner or later a writer needs to understand that they can't adapt a film and have it play out exactly like the book.

Thirdly, there was animosity between Gandalf and Saruman, and we know the latter imprisoned the former. Do you think he just said "get to the top of my tower" and Gandalf did so willingly? I think it makes sense that Gandalf would try to get out, and since both are wizards, do you really expect this would happen without magic? Tolkien actually doesn't tell us much about what happened here. He lives it up to us to decide the details. The film version is Jackson's decision on those details, and I think that this scene is well in line with the written material. Even Christopher Lee thought it was a great addition, and he's a big Tolkien fan.

Okay, as for Aragorn falling over the cliffs, I'll give you that one. The Two Towers had more than its fair share of artistic license, and I'm not happy with all the changes, additions, or omissions. However, I understand why most of them were made, and I still believe most of them work well and don't defy Tolkien's vision.

Lastly, Arwen replaces a certain elf (which I understand fans miss), but there are so many characters in the films in the first place, it'd be madness to include him, considering his role is fairly limited. What was missing in LOTR was female characters, so it makes sense to give one character's role to another. This is a shift of roles, but it's still within line with Tolkien's work.

As for the Hobbit films, it looks like PJ won't be directing either unless they're delayed further. So we can possibly expect some difference, but with the continuity of vision that PJ producing it will bring.

-D

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

Thirdly, there was animosity between Gandalf and Saruman, and we know the latter imprisoned the former. Do you think he just said "get to the top of my tower" and Gandalf did so willingly? I think it makes sense that Gandalf would try to get out, and since both are wizards, do you really expect this would happen without magic? Tolkien actually doesn't tell us much about what happened here. He lives it up to us to decide the details.

I always wondered why Gandalf would submit tamely -- which is the impression one gets from the books. But, in fact, there are obviously holes in Gandalf's account of what happened between him and Saruman.

Aragorn falling off the cliff was just nonsense. Expanding Arwen's role did make sense. Slipping her in near the beginning instead of Glorfindel struck me as a very good way to do it, and I also liked it later when Elrond narrated that little flash-forward to what her life would be after Aragorn's death. Otherwise, I think they handled a good idea (giving Arwen more of a presence) badly.

However, off the top of my head, I can't think of any holes (you will pardon the expression) in the plot of the Hobbit that the screenwriters would be so mightily tempted to fill in -- except what Gandalf and the White Council were up to with the Neuromancer while Bilbo and the Dwarves were having their problems elsewhere, but this is something I would love to see, if they did it well.

Oh ... and they could do a flashback to Gandalf's previous trip to Dol Gulder, where he got the map from Thrain. I'd like to see that, too.

I've always been curious about those two episodes.

 

[Dean F. Wilson]

I agree wholeheartedly with you, Teresa. I found a lot of Arwen's scenes in the films somewhat cringeworthy, but others do work (like those you mentioned above). I tend to "switch off" when I see Liv Tyler though

I'm also really interested in seeing what happens with the Necromancer and the White Council. I think they could do this really well. It was kind of "tacked on" at the end of The Hobbit, and feels like an excuse to get rid of the powerful Gandalf so Bilbo can be the hero, so developing these scenes (especially in light of LOTR) would be wonderful to see.

I could imagine the whole second film revolving around the Necromancer (perhaps that may be the film title?), with Gandalf's first trip early on, the Council, etc., and ending with the attack (as a final battle, mirroring the end battle of The Hobbit). I'm just wondering if they'll have any rights issues with taking any material from Unfinished Tales, etc., since they don't have film rights for those books.

Hopefully we'll be getting video updates as the project progresses.

-D

 

[Majimaune]

X-Mas has come a week early folks!

Now, if Ian McKellan could only play Gandalf (a role he has said in past interviews he would like to play again).

I see no reason why he wouldn't. My question is who will be Bilbo?

 

[TK-421]

I hope it is Ian Holm. He was a good Bilbo. A little makup and he's a young Bilbo again.

 

[Majimaune]

And some strings. He had strings pulling his face back in the little part he played young Bilbo.