Who should be in The Hobbit?

OK can someone answer me this, what is the LOTR prequel going to cover, the Silmarillion, the Unfinished Tales, both of which would need more than one film or is it to be an "Ewok" type of mess covering the comings and goings of Hobbiton?
 
MGM boss Harry Sloan recently confirmed the studio was in serious negotiations with both Peter Jackson and New Line to get The Hobbit project off the ground. Assuming the legal wranglings with New Line aren't too lenghty, the first (of two) film could be with us in 4 to 5 years (assuming Jackson has really given up on Halo for the time being).

So, who would we like to see in the major roles? The only members of the original LotR cast who's characters are in The Hobbit (from memory) are Sir Ian Holm, Sir Ian McKellen, Andy Sirkis and Hugo Weaving. Ian Holm is presumably too old now to play a younger Bilbo. A number of the Fellowship actors have expressed a desire to return to 'Middle Earth' but would you want to see other former LotR actors playng different roles in The Hobbit? John Rhys-Davies could play a different Dwarf, perhapd Thorin, but would he want to go through the make-up again? Lets have your ideas.
 
Sam Raimi has been asked about his involvement on The Hobbit, and said he has no connection at this time, and would only do it of BOTH New Line AND PJ gave their blessing! Interesting.

On a related topic, the new Children of the Hurin book could be set for a film version if sales are good. The rights are still in the hanRAB of the Tolkien Estate, but a number of studios have expressed an interest.
 
Think the reccuring parts are from LotR in the Hobbit are Elrond (Hugo Weaving), Gandalf (Ian McKellen), and Gollum (Andy Serkis) from the first... it's be rubbish if they can't McKellen and Serkis to do it though, as they were/are such big parts... will be interesting to see if any of them refuse to do it without Jackson directing.

The 'prequel' i'm slightly more sceptical about... I could see it work with Jackson helming it, as he has such a passion for Middle Earth. I've very dubious about someone else being able to pull that off.
 
The only stories I could see as a prequel would be:

1. Gandalf's encounter with the Nazgul south of Mirkwood - but that didn't turn out well so bad story

2. Fall of the Northern Kingdom - ditto

3. Numenor - too complicated

4. A "hack and slash" expanded version of the story of Isildur - it's shown in the first films anyway. Thats the one I think will happen.
 
Latest news is that New Line are discussing with PJ the possibility of him producing the film with Raimi directing and Weta doing the effects etc... i.e. a compromise on all parts. Apparently Raimi favours this and if all parties agree, he would start work on this before the Clash Of The Titans remake.

I'll beleive it when I see it!
 
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Doesn't need much make-up really.


FD
 
I read an interview with Peter Jackson on aintitcool.com about a month ago.He claimed it was the first he'd heard about being involved in making the Hobbit.He said he'd like to do it but there's a lot of projects he's involved in at the moment.When asked about casting for any potential Hobbit movie(or movies) he said he'd like as many as the Rings actors to appear as was possible.He even mentioned Christopher Lee but the interviewer pointed out that any Saruman scenes would have to be filmed very soon due to CL's being in his 80's.
I think PJ could get away with having Ian Holm and Serena Mckellan as Bilbo and Gandalf again.The only thing stopping him would be pressure from the studio to have a younger cast.If so-why not Elijah Wood slightly made up slightly differently as the younger Bilbo.Maybe Jason Isaacs(Lucius Malfoy from the Harry Potter movies) as Gandalf the Grey.
 
You'll have to remind me about that one. Didn't Gandalf actually encounter Sauron at Dol Guldur in Mirkwood (he went twice as I recall)? it's a long time since I read the book though.
 
I suppose since MGM have said the matter is "far from closed" - I would hope Peter would really fight for this film and will have a few backers. I mean, if an actor as famous as Ian McKellen is saying he is upset at the decision it doesnt look too good for the film does it? Who are New Line kidding thinking they can do Gollum, a figure now ingrained to fans (and non fans) worldwide, better than WETA/Serkis?

Heres hoping Peter Jackson and his LOTR team get this film, and we get Serkis, McKellen, WETA and New Zealand.
 
Ian McKellen HAS to be Gandalf, so PJ neeRAB to make this film soon :)

David Bowie for King of Mirkwood. I still wish he'd accepted Elrond.

The rest of the cast can wander past in the background - I mean Legolas and Mirkwood is obvious. I do think Bilbo neeRAB to be recast - I'm not sure who it should be, but I think the other hobbit actors are too distinctive as those hobbits, if that makes sense.

Didn't JRD say he would never be a dwarf again because of the make-up?
 
To my knowledge, more the former, with added bit of apocrypha, additional notes... nothing of the latter. But I'm still skeptical without PJ, Walsh, Wingnut and Weta.

Having said that, MGM - who own the rights to distribute The Hobbit - have weighed in with the non-commital:



This one is gonna run and run. "Development Hell" anyone?
 
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