Oct 30 2009 John Rhys-Davies Has Left the Party (John Rhys-Davies Has Not Perished)
You will never see Sallah's face in dwarf facial appliances again. Speaking to Empire, John Rhys-Davies--Gimli of Lord of the Rings--explained that he's already declined appearing in future Tolkien adventures (though, in a parallel Sliders universe, he's probably playing every role in The Hobbit):
While Gimli doesn't appear in The Hobbit, his father Gloin does, so we asked him recently whether he'd be back for another go."I've already been asked and to be honest with you, I wouldn't. I have already completely ruled it out. There's a sentimental part of me that would love to be involved again. Really I am not sure my face can take that sort of punishment any more."
His mouth says his face can't take the punishment, but his résumé says he's just too busy making original movies for SyFy and Cinemax.
Oct 13 2009 Finally Getting Around to Making Some Sort of 'Hobbit' Movie Next Spring
Man, how long have we been waiting for a live-action Hobbit movie? Ever since we pretended to read The Hobbit for a middle school book report? Since we saw the Lord of the Rings movies? Since we again pretended we'd read The Hobbit after the Lord of the Rings movies came out? Regardless, it's been a while. So you'll be glad to know Sir Ian McKellen claims the Hobbit films will finally begin shooting in the spring:
The scripts for the two films will be delivered very soon. Then they'll be budgeted, and then they'll be cast. And they'll be going when they've always said they would be, which is next spring – March or April. Guillermo even told me at one point, 'We're going to film for 383 days.' He's got that artistic autism! Jackson's the same; they're very, very, very alike.
Hey, I think maybe I'm like Guillermo del Toro and Peter Jackson too! No one has ever quite said I have "artistic autism," but I have been called "creatively retarded"!
Sep 25 2009 There's Not Enough Money To Buy Hobbits and James Bonds!
In news that could jeopardize our future supplies of James Bond and J.R.R. Tolkien films, MGM reportedly held a conference call with bondholders (something business people do) informing them that, despite the studio's early success of dressing up dogs and dubbing funny voices over them, now they're super broke:
MGM made a desperate plea for money because the studio had missed its numbers and was going to be out of funds very soon. "The implication was that it's teetering on bankruptcy," one source told me. MGM said it needed $20M in short-term cash flow to cover overhead, and an additional $150 million to get through the end of year and continue funding its projects, and to start Peter Jackson's Hobbit.So the bondhholders said to MGM, in essence, that they were going to let the studio go bankrupt and collect their money since they'd be first in line to get paid. But Cooper explained that this would be the worst possible outcome for the creditors and the company. Because if MGM were forced into bankruptcy, then it would lose James Bond and the studio doesn't think it can stay alive without 007.
Strangely, the article makes no mention of how this could affect production of MGM's upcoming Jeeper Creepers 3: The Creeper Walks Among Us. That's still going be OK, right? RIGHT?
Jan 14 2008 'The Hobbit' Sequel To Lead Into 'Lord of the Rings'?
Elijah Wood has sent shockwaves through the geek community with the comment that, according to an email from Peter Jackson, while the first of two planned Hobbit will cover the book, the second will serve as a bridge between that and Lord of the Rings.
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 problem with this? That aside from some brief mentions of a few events that occur in the interim period, there is no actual information as to what happened between The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, meaning any film covering that span would basically be glorified fan-fiction (minus the standard fan-fic inclusion of furry erotica).
For once, can't we just be happy with what we have, and not try to bleed every bit of life out of this? If there were a story meant to be told between books, I'm sure Tolkien would have written it. Let's just make a televised Hobbit Holiday Special and call it a day. Or at least leave in the furry erotica.
Dec 18 2007 Peter Jackson Will Executive Produce 'The Hobbit', 'The Hobbit 2: Hobnobbin''
After months of litigation over money, kingship of Middle Earth, and whether Aragorn or Legolas is the dreamier warrior (come on, Jackson, did you not see Legolas slide down stairs on a shield?), Peter Jackson and New Line have finally come to an agreement that will allow him to executive produce the two planned Hobbit films.
Los Angeles, CA (Tuesday, December 18, 2007) Academy Award-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson; Harry Sloan, Chairman and CEO, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (MGM); Bob Shaye and Michael Lynne, Co-Chairmen and Co-CEOs of New Line Cinema have jointly announced today that they have entered into the following series of agreements:MGM and New Line will co-finance and co-distribute two films, “The Hobbit” and a sequel to “The Hobbit.” New Line will distribute in North America and MGM will distribute internationally.
Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh will serve as Executive Producers of two films based on “The Hobbit.” New Line will manage the production of the films, which will be shot simultaneously.
Peter Jackson and New Line have settled all litigation relating to the “Lord of the Rings” (LOTR) Trilogy.
Said Peter Jackson, “I’m very pleased that we’ve been able to put our differences behind us, so that we may begin a new chapter with our old friends at New Line. ‘The Lord of the Rings’ is a legacy we proudly share with Bob and Michael, and together, we share that legacy with millions of loyal fans all over the world. We are delighted to continue our journey through Middle Earth. I also want to thank Harry Sloan and our new friends at MGM for helping us find the common ground necessary to continue that journey.”
“Peter Jackson has proven himself as the filmmaker who can bring the extraordinary imagination of Tolkien to life and we full heartedly agree with the fans worldwide who know he should be making ‘The Hobbit,’” said Sloan, MGM’s Chairman and CEO. “Now that we are all in agreement on ‘The Hobbit,’ we can focus on assembling the production team that will capture this phenomenal tale on film.”
Bob Shaye, New Line Co-Chairman and Co-CEO comments, “We are very pleased we have been able to resolve our differences, and that Peter and Fran will be actively and creatively involved with ‘The Hobbit’ movies. We know they will bring the same passion, care and talent to these films that they so ably accomplished with ‘The Lord of the Rings’ Trilogy.”
So do you think he'll direct, too? Maybe his friend Sam Raimi? Let Michael Bay throw in more explosions and Will Smith shouting "Welcome to Middle Earth!"?
PETER JACKSON AND NEW LINE CINEMA JOIN WITH MGM TO PRODUCE “THE HOBBIT” [Hobbit Blog]
Oct 5 2007 Some Other Crap That Happened...
- The chances of Peter Jackson directing The Hobbit have risen marginally with reports that the director and New Line are talking again. Just talking? Or flirting? Wheeeeeeww! [EW]
- JJ Abrams is creating a 2-hour, $10 million pilot for Fox he describes as mixing elements of The X-Files, Altered States, and a "slight Twilight Zone vibe." I know a lot of people like Lost, but are we really going to keep pretending the writer of Armageddon (look it up) is so infallible? [Variety]
- Old School director Todd Phillips will direct Hangover, featuring the familiar concept of three crazy guys getting in misogynistic trouble in Vegas. Yet somehow this isn't Old School 2, which he's also making. [Variety]
