"The Hobbit" films get titles and release dates

Tue May 31, 2:07 am ET

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) – Peter Jackson's two upcoming movies based on J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Hobbit" have been given official names and release dates.

The first of the two films, which are currently being filmed back-to-back in New Zealand, "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey," arrives in theaters on December 14, 2012.

The sequel, opening December 13, 2013, will be known as "The Hobbit: There and Back Again." Both will be released through Warner Bros.

The two prequels to Jackson's "Lord of the Rings" trilogy follow the adventures of Bilbo Baggins -- to be played by Martin Freeman, with Ian Holm reprising his role as the elder Bilbo -- in his quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor from the dragon Smaug.

The sprawling cast includes a number of other "Rings" veterans: Ian McKellen as Gandalf the Grey; Cate Blanchett as Galadriel; Orlando Bloom as Legolas; Christopher Lee as Saruman; Hugo Weaving as Elrond; Elijah Wood as Frodo; and Andy Serkis as Gollum.

Peter Jackson starts filming on "The Hobbit"

Cameras roll on 'The Hobbit' films in New Zealand

Peter Jackson – Photo: AP

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Cameras started rolling Monday on director Peter Jackson's production of "The Hobbit," following months of delays on the prequel to his Oscar-winning "Lord of the Rings" trilogy.

Hollywood studio funding problems, a threatened actors' boycott and ulcer surgery for Jackson have plagued pre-production on the $500 million, two-movie project.

The director posted a studio news release on his website Monday saying production has commenced in New Zealand on the much-anticipated project.

British actor Martin Freeman will star as hobbit Bilbo Baggins alongside Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Cate Blanchett and Orlando Bloom in twin movies of J.R.R. Tolkien's fantasy novel about a short, hairy-footed hero.

The films are expected to take up to two years to make, with the first timed for release in late 2012.

"The Hobbit" is a prequel to "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy by Tolkien that Jackson helmed to blockbuster film success in 2001-03, winning best-picture and best-director Oscars for the finale.

Jackson underwent surgery last month for a perforated stomach ulcer, pushing back the start of filming at least by several days.

Last October, New Zealand changed labor laws and tipped in extra tax breaks for Hollywood studios MGM and New Line Cinema to ensure the Hobbit films would be made in the country.

The changes mean actors and others working on the films will be hired as contractors not employees. The union had wanted local actors and other production workers to be hired as full-fledged employees on union contracts.

New Zealand received a huge boost to its tourism and film-making industries from "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy.

Freeman, whose films include "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" and "Hot Fuzz" but who may be best known from Ricky Gervais' "The Office" television comedy, has said playing Baggins is the role of a lifetime.

More News on "The Hobbit"

It's Official: Ian McKellen to Return as Gandalf in 'The Hobbit'

6:04 PM 1/10/2011 by Borys Kit

Tim Whitby/Getty Images

Ian McKellen has signed on to return as wizard Gandalf in The Hobbit, the two-pic adaptation of the J.R.R. Tolkien novel being directed by Peter Jackson.

The dealmaking on Hobbit for a slew of Jackson veterans from his Lord of the Rings trilogy has been coming fast and furious and comes on the heels of  Andy Serkis finally inking his deal to reprise Gollum.

The Hobbit book introduced Gandalf and Gollum, with both characters going on to become part of literature’s most popular characters. Gandalf sets the adventure going in the story and appears throughout the novel. Gollum appears in a chapter that has gone on to be one of the most memorable in all of fantasy literature.

 

Elijah Wood signed his deal to return as Frodo last week, and Cate Blanchett will play Galadriel once again. Orlando Bloom has an offer to return as elf archer Legolas, though it’s too early to tell if a deal will be made.

McKellen, who was nominated for an Oscar for his portrayal of Gandalf, has spent recent years doing mostly voice work for film and TV, although he did star in the remake of AMC's The Prisoner. His last major film role was in 2006’s X-Men: The Last Stand.

 

Hobbit starts shooting Feb. 14 in New Zealand.

 Ian McKellen held out on The Hobbit because he's old, not because he wants more money 

(A.V. Club) -- There were those who greeted the news of Ian McKellen’s late-stage signing on to The Hobbit as a holdout calculated to wring a larger payday out of a bunch of naïve movie folks, folks from a Hollywood where values are… different, who just wanted to tell a story about a squat man and his magical ring, and a slick small-towner like Ian McKellen was trying to take ’em for all they were worth. Not so! McKellen explained via his personal blog, which he has, that the delay was simply a matter of timing and his own advancing years, saying, “All I had to decide was what to do with the time that is given me.” As such, his main concern was being able to do other things during the 18 months that “Gandalf is needed on set,” while also “wondering was Gandalf what I most wanted to do, more than a new play for instance or indeed a new part? Sequels aren’t necessarily as rewarding to act in as their originals.”

Clearly bored of money, at one point McKellen even asked himself, “Could I let Gandalf go? Would anyone else care if I did? Elsewhere, does anyone care that Michael Gambon was not the first to play Dumbledore?” (We’re pretty sure that someone does—but the dude died, so what are they gonna do?) Anyway, after being assured that he could “easily escape from Middle Earth,” McKellen committed—although he adds, “I’m 71 and fit: though at my age who knows what accident is 'round the next corner?” Well, best to retreat to the comforting stability of The Hobbit production then. [via Deadline] 

Orlando Bloom also likely to appear in The Hobbit

(A.V. Club) -- After yesterday’s report that Cate Blanchett would reprise her Lord Of The Rings role as elf queen Galadriel in The Hobbit, many pointed out that Galadriel does not actually appear in The Hobbit, suggesting that Peter Jackson may be including familiar characters from one of the most popular film trilogies of all time simply as a way of hedging his bets. Further evidence: Orlando Bloom is reportedly close to signing a deal to return to Middle Earth as arrow-slinging elf Legolas, and Deadline reports his appearance comprises “more than a cameo.”  Of course, Tolkien fans would tell you that this is really just a quibble, as although his character was not introduced in the book, Legolas would have had to be alive during the events of The Hobbit, and that Tolkien would surely have included him if he knew that someday he’d help Peter Jackson make another buttload of money.
Besides, with no Legolas, to whom will people dedicate their Hobbit YouTube tribute videos? Martin Freeman?

Martin Freeman is Finally Confirmed for The Hobbit, Plus a Breakdown of Actors Playing the Dwarves

Fans of BBC’s The Office, rejoice. Martin Freeman is now actually, really, 100 percent officially confirmed to play Bilbo Baggins. According to Peter Jackson, “Despite the various rumors and speculation surrounding this role, there has only ever been one Bilbo Baggins for us.” I wish he would have told us that before we spent all that time speculating and spreading rumors. But that’s not all! The list of actors playing each of the film’s many dwarves have been announced as well. Get to know them as Movieline breaks it down after the jump.

1. Richard Armitage as head dwarf Thorin Oakenshield

If you’re a fan of British Television, you may know Armitage from MI5, Robin Hood, and North and South. Also, according to Jackson, Armitage “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.”

 

2. Aidan Turner as Kili
Again, If you’re a fan of British television, you may know this Irish actor from The Clinic and Being Human. Otherwise, you probably do not know him. Sorry. Jackson has faith though, saying, “He 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.”

 

3. Rob Kazinsky as Filli
More British television! Kazinsky had a long running part on the show East-Enders, which fans of Ricky Gervais’ Extras should be familiar with. Says Jackson: “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.” More significantly though, Kazinsky is also a champion sword fighter.

 

4. Graham McTavish as Dwalin
McTavish played that tough-as-nails bald mercenary that fought on Stallone’s team in the last Rambo and had a recurring role in season four of Lost (as Desmond’s drill sergeant in “The Constant”) as well as the TV show Red Dwarf. He also does a lot of video game voice-over work.

5. John Callin as Oin
You may know Callin as the voice of Sonimax in Power Rangers Jungle Fury. Or you may not. As of now, a Google image search for him brings up a number of pictures of John Calvin, the leader of the Protestant reformation.

 Okay, enough. It keeps going like this. Rounding out the dwarves: Stephen Hunter will play Bombur, Peter Hambleton will play Gloin, and New Zealand Stand-up Comic Mark Hadlow will play Dori. 

Kudos to Jackson for giving relatively unknown actors a shot. Looks like most of the absurd budget on this one will actually go to what’s on screen and not just paying huge actor salaries.

The film will be split up into two parts and will be released in December 2012 and December 2013.

[via The Wrap]

Guillermo del Toro Talks Hobbit

For a long time, fans of J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings trilogy—or, more accurately, Peter Jackson's film adaptation—were full of speculation as to whether the trilogy's precursor, The Hobbit, would ever come to the big screen; then, after the film was announced, over who would direct it. Now that Pan's Labyrinth director Guillermo del Toro has officially signed on for the project—reportedly to be filmed as two separate movies—speculation shifts to exactly what the films will look like compared to Tolkien's vision, and Jackson's standard-setting trilogy.

Del Toro joins in the speculation himself in a new Q&A with Middle-Earth fans, posted at the MTV Movies Blog. Of particular interest to Christian moviegoers is a question about whether del Toro will be "exploring any theological or spiritual themes" in the films. Del Toro answered: "I believe The Hobbit is a narrative that contains characters that are very symbolic of certain human traits. Obviously, pride and greed are easily found in Smaug the Dragon. Then the humble, sort of a sturdy moral fiber that Bilbo has very much represents the idea that Tolkien had about the little English man, the average English man. The dwarves represent other qualities, the elves represent other qualities and, like, in any fairy tale or fantasy narrative that is worth it, all these characters conform to a view of the world that is spiritual, ethical and moral. I think that this morality, this spiritual tale, will play a [large] part in the movie."

The director also notes the enthusiasm he has for working with actors Viggo Mortensen, Cate Blanchett, Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, and Orlando Bloom—though he can't say anything for sure at this point. He also notes his desire to make Ian Holm—who played Bilbo Baggins in the trilogy—to be involved with the new films in some capacity.

In an interview with The Defamer, however, del Toro makes clear that there will not be two Hobbit films unless a substantial story can be devised to bridge Tolkien's novel with the Lord of the Rings storyline. Says del Toro, "we believe there is a second movie … if we find it, we will shoot it."

Wood ready to reprise Frodo for "Hobbit"

Attention Cate Blanchett, Viggo Mortensen, Orlando Bloom, and Sean Astin: You’ve gone “There.” Now get ready to go “Back Again” - at least according to Elijah Wood’s conversations with “Hobbit” maestro Peter Jackson.

“I haven’t spoken to him directly about it [but] I’ve e-mailed him, and as far as I know the two films that they’re doing, one will be ‘The Hobbit’ and another will take place between the 60 years that happened between ‘The Hobbit’ and ‘The Lord of the Rings,’” the once and future Frodo enthused to MTV News, possibly confirming rumors that the second planned film would not be a Part II, but instead a narrative bridge.

Which means plenty of opportunities for all the stars of “LOTR” to reprise their famous characters in some capacity. None more so, perhaps, than Wood himself, who would arguably be a central figure along with Gandalf, Aragorn, Galadriel, and Gollum in any connecting story.

For his part, Wood, who next stars as a conscripted citizen in “Day Zero,” is positively thrilled at the possibility.

“If I’m asked to go back and revisit that character and it makes sense, I would love to. I would absolutely love to,” he said.

True, hard-core Tolkien aficionados could tell you that not much is known about Frodo in the intervening years between “The Hobbit” and “LOTR,” excepting, of course, his parents’ deaths and some conversations and journeys with Bilbo which are alluded to in the later legendarium.

That makes it all the more a guarantee that Wood would return, he declared.

“Nothing was really written with Frodo involved in it. That was sort of an ancillary tale outside of ‘Lord of the Rings.’ I can’t imagine that they [Jackson, Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens] would write great reams of information regarding my character,” he said of necessary invention outside of Tolkien’s established canon. “But if he [Frodo] should show up, it would actually be the perfect way to revisit because it could be small enough that I could go back and have a nice sort of reunion with the memories that I have of the experience.”

As an actor, Wood is excited about the possibility of returning with Jackson to the world of Middle-earth. But he’s even more excited, he said, as a fan.

“It’s a great triumph [that Peter is involved.] I think that’s really important that the same team that worked on the [earlier] films [work on “The Hobbit”], the same effects team, that it be shot in New Zealand. I think that it’s important that Ian McKellen is cast as Gandalf, just so that there’s a synergy between the films,” he insisted. “I think people want it to exist in the same world. So at least now we are assured that it will be done through that same lens, which is great. It’s exciting.”

Spider Man's Raimi to helm Hobbit?

'Hobbit' Forming?
Sam Raimi says he's open to directing the ''Lord of the Rings'' prequel, which could leave ''Spider-Man 4'' without a director -- and, perhaps, its Mary Jane
By Adam Markovitz

On the eve of what is expected to be the biggest Spider-Man yet, Entertainment Weekly learns that director Sam Raimi is seriously interested in directing The Hobbit, a choice that could potentially leave Spidey 4 without a director — and, says Kirsten Dunst, a leading lady.

Raimi's name has been floated in connection with The Hobbit ever since a very public dustup between Peter Jackson and New Line chairman Bob Shaye left the Lord of the Rings prequel without a director. Raimi went on the record for the first time about his potential involvement in the project during an exclusive interview with EW's Steve Daly for the magazine's Summer Movie Preview issue, on newsstands Friday: ''Peter Jackson might be the best filmmaker on the planet right now. But, um, I don't know what's going to happen next for me right now. First and foremost, those are Peter Jackson and Bob Shaye's films. If Peter didn't want to do it, and Bob wanted me to do it — and they were both okay with me picking up the reins — that would be great. I love the book. It's maybe a more kid-friendly story than the others.'' (If Raimi were to take on a complex, intense project like The Hobbit — the rights to which New Line/MGM only has for a limited amount of time — it could force Columbia to either push back its production schedule for Spider-Man 4 or find a new director for the franchise.)

Dunst says she hadn't heard any rumors about Raimi and The Hobbit until EW raised the subject in an interview. She says she can't imagine returning for Part 4 without both her director and her costar: ''It's disrespectful to the whole team, I think, to do that. And audiences aren't stupid. It'd be a big flop without me, Tobey, or Sam. That would really not be the smartest move. But they know that already. [Sony chief] Amy Pascal would never do that.'' Maguire has already expressed his ambivalence about returning for another sequel.

Sony's President of Production Matt Tolmach tells EW that the studio is cautiously optimistic about retaining the team that launched the Spidey franchise so spectacularly: ''Listen, we're making Spider-Man 4. Our hope, dream, and intention is to do it with Sam. But I don't have a crystal ball.''