The Hobbit - PJ's gonna take us There And Back Again....again.

  • Thread starter Thread starter DiagonalZipper
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Thanks for thread, Phee! :yay:

I was pretty disappointed when this fell through and I'm thrilled it's on again! Like you, I hope that PJ ends up directing it but at least he'll be behind the scenes! I seriously excited that this will be made after all. The world needs more Middle Earth! :D

Can't wait 'till they start casting! I also hope Ian/Andy can comeback. :sigh:
 
I figured I'd keep this gushing fangirl post separate from the first post in the thread...

OMG THIS IS SOOOOO AWESOME!!! :yay: :yay: :yay: I had the radio on earlier today and the news came on and I wasn't really listening but then I heard the words, "Peter Jackson" and "The Hobbit" and instantly went to check TORn to see what the news was all about!! I'm so happy this is finally gonna happen! :wiggle: :D

I hope PJ does end up directing it, and that he and Fran end up writing it. I've read one report on another forum from someone who has a contact at NewLine, and they seem to think that PJ and Fran are basically just lending their names to the project and won't be all that involved, but frankly, I'd find it hard to believe that they'd just turn over all the work they did with the LotR films to someone different to do The Hobbit, (and whatever the sequel film ends up being about), so *fingers crossed* they're in the thick of it again.

I hope both Ian McKellan and Andy Serkis will be back. You can't really have anyone else playing Gandalf and Gollum.

I wonder who'll get cast as Bilbo? Ian Holm would really be too old to play the role.

Smaug on the big screen is gonna be several thousand different kinds of awesome! :D

I'd love it if they could work in a Legolas cameo appearance when the Dwarves and Bilbo venture into Mirkwood and they end up being taken prisoner by Legolas' father, King Thranduil. And needless to say, I don't care how much storyline tweaking they need to do, if they can get an Aragorn cameo in there somewhere, that would be rather lovely as well. ;)
 
No doubt all the news and goss will be kept up to date on TORn, and TheHobbitBlog, but for now, here's the press release that just made this the best Christmas ever! :D

PETER JACKSON AND NEW LINE CINEMA JOIN WITH MGM TO PRODUCE “THE HOBBIT”

December 18, 2007

ACADEMY AWARD-WINNER PETER JACKSON AND NEW LINE CINEMA JOIN WITH MGM TO PRODUCE “THE HOBBIT,” EAGERLY-ANTICIPATED FANTASY ADVENTURE EPIC

NEW LINE AND MGM TO CO-PRODUCE AND SHARE WORLDWIDE DISTRIBUTION RIGHTS

PETER JACKSON AND FRAN WALSH TO EXECUTIVE PRODUCE TWO FILMS BASED ON “THE HOBBIT”

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.”

“Peter is a visionary filmmaker, and he broke new ground with ‘The Lord of the Rings,’” notes Michael Lynne, New Line Co-Chairman and Co-CEO. “We’re delighted he’s back for ‘The Hobbit’ films and that the Tolkien saga will continue with his imprint. We greatly appreciate the efforts of Harry Sloan, who has been instrumental in helping us reach our new accord.”

The two “Hobbit” films – “The Hobbit” and its sequel – are scheduled to be shot simultaneously, with pre-production beginning as soon as possible. Principal photography is tentatively set for a 2009 start, with the intention of “The Hobbit” release slated for 2010 and its sequel the following year, in 2011.

The Oscar-winning, critically-acclaimed LOTR Trilogy grossed nearly $3 billion worldwide at the box-office. In 2003, “Return of the King” swept the Academy Awards, winning all of the eleven categories in which it was nominated, including Best Picture – the first ever Best Picture win for a fantasy film. The Trilogy’s production was also unprecedented at the time.

There's some goss on MarketSaw..
 
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