The Hobbit Tagged Articles at Cinematical
'The Hobbit' Really Might Be Delayed This Time
Filed under: Sci-Fi & Fantasy », New Line », Warner Brothers », RumorMonger », Scripts », Peter Jackson », Remakes and Sequels »
We've been enjoying rumors about The Hobbit for about two years now with no signs of letting up. We've heard it all -- from who is or isn't cast as Bilbo Baggins or Smaug, to whether it'll be in 3D, and if it'll be two films of purely Hobbit-drawn material or if it'll delve into the Tolkien appendices, it goes on and and on. And that's not even counting the year or so that Peter Jackson was out of favor with New Line. It's enough to make you climb into a hobbit hole and have your second breakfast.Now Variety reports that despite the assurances of Guillermo Del Toro and Jackson, The Hobbit release may actually be delayed from December 2011 to late 2012, as previously reported. While discussing Warner Bros' plans for New Line, WB studio leader Alan Horn is predicting that The Hobbit will be released in "the fourth quarter of 2012," though he declined to give any further details.
While Jackson assures everyone the project is on track, I find it hard to believe they can make that 2011 release date, even if they are holding open casting calls. As of last month, MGM still hadn't officially green-lit the film, and they were still on the second draft of the script. I'm not going to lose faith that we'll have an 2011 trip to Middle Earth -- but I'm not going to hold my breath, either. Remember, it was originally given a release date of 2010!
Is Tobey Maguire 'The Hobbit's Bilbo Baggins?
Filed under: Sci-Fi & Fantasy », Casting », Deals », RumorMonger », Fandom », Comic/Superhero/Geek », Remakes and Sequels »
Last month, the rumor that Tobey Maguire was interested in playing Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit first hit the online world (courtesy of Latino Review) before being quickly shot down by Tobey himself as being nothing more than internet hyperbole. Though perhaps there really was something to it, as multiple sources are today claiming that Maguire has officially joined The Hobbit as that film's lead, Bilbo Baggins (originally played by Ian Holm in the Lord of the Rings trilogy).
The main source (which, truth be told, isn't the most reliable) is Britain's The Sun, which uses a full page article to announce the news that Maguire has indeed come on to play Bilbo now that he's no longer needed in the Spider-Man universe. According to The Sun, a source told them the following: "Everyone is over the moon. Tobey is not only one of the most recognizable faces in Hollywood, he is also one of the best actors." Adding to the "Yes, he's in!" pile, AMC Entertainment blogger John Campea recently tweeted that someone close to production has leaked the same news to him. He said, "I have been personally told by a source very close to Guillermo del Toro that it's true... Tobey Maguire IS The Hobbit."
If this is true, and the deal is done, we should expect an official announcement to arrive pretty much immediately (as in tomorrow or later this week). Until then there's a very good chance all those in the know (reps, studio, etc ..) will deny these reports because that's usually how they play ball until it's time for the real announcement. In the meantime, all we can do is report on what's slowly trickling around these here internets and let you be the judge.
What do you think? Do you like Maguire in the role? Do you see Spidey as a hobbit?
Discuss: Which Movie Should Be Re-Released in 3D Next?
Filed under: Action », Classics », Sci-Fi & Fantasy », Exhibition », George Lucas », Steven Spielberg », Home Entertainment », Peter Jackson »
Now that Avatar is the second-highest-grossing film of all time, 3D is finally confirmed as the future of movies. In a way, it's as if The Jazz Singer hadn't really harked the arrival of talkies and instead it took until Frankenstein arrived four years later to prove converting to sound was truly worth it. Anyway, just as films in production in the late 1920s were quickly turned into talkies, this year we keep hearing word of upcoming blockbusters being turned into 3D releases. For example, The Sunday Times is certain Ridley Scott's Robin Hood will indeed be available, as rumored, in both 3D and 2D versions when it opens this May (UPDATE: Universal says the Times is incorrect in this information).
The Times additionally reports on what we've been expecting for years now, that theatrical favorites like Star Wars and Lord of the Rings will now definitely receive 3D-version re-releases. The LOTR trilogy could apparently be out in the format by Christmas 2012, timed to follow the release of the second part of The Hobbit (which may end up being 3D after all, too). Action sequences from the films have already been tested in 3D by the effects company Weta and are quoted as being "gob-smacking." The Times believes the Star Wars trilogies will be retrofitted for 3D even sooner, with George Lucas already spending $10 million for the conversion.
Tobey Maguire's Next Role: 'Prisoners of Trebek' or Bilbo in 'The Hobbit'?
Filed under: Comedy », Drama », Casting », RumorMonger », Games and Game Movies »
In the tradition of great movies based on real game shows (Quiz Show; Slumdog Millionaire), Tobey Maguire is said to be producing and starring in a film called Prisoners of Trebek, based on a true story about a guy who found romance while attempting to master Jeopardy. Pajiba has the exclusive scoop on the project, which was scripted by The Hoax screenwriter William Wheeler and is being likened to the work of Charlie Kaufman. Producing with Maguire's company is Mark Gordon, who worked with Wheeler on The Hoax and regularly collaborates with Roland Emmerich (2012; The Day After Tomorrow). The Kaufman connection could mean we should expect Alex Trebek to show up as himself in a surreal sort of comedy akin to Being John Malkovich. Or, Trebek could be more similar to Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, which also went behind the scenes of a game show in its biographical portrait of The Dating Game
'The Hobbit' Begins Casting This Week
Filed under: Classics », Sci-Fi & Fantasy », Casting », MGM », Warner Brothers », Scripts », Family Films », DIY/Filmmaking », Newsstand », Peter Jackson », Remakes and Sequels »
If you're starting to be a little burned out by casting rumors for assorted dwarves, elves, and a hapless Baggins, you haven't seen anything yet. Because according to The Hollywood Reporter and Peter Jackson, The Hobbit is putting out a casting call, and holding auditions as of right now. All roles are up for grabs save Gandalf, which is being reserved for Sir Ian McKellen. (I would imagine Andy Serkis has his spot reserved too, and I would hope Hugo Weaving will return as Elrond.)Jackson notes that being open to any actor or actress who might wander in is how he discovered Kate Winslet, Orlando Bloom, and Saoirse Ronan, and he has no intention of bowing to big name pressure. "[The Lord of the Rings films] have never been a star-driven vehicle. The star is Tolkien and the world he created. We are not under any pressure. We want to find the right people. Casting someone to portray a hobbit is not as easy as you might imagine. They have to have a particular type of physical appearance and a sensibility. And the same with an elf or a dwarf. These are fantastical characters, but you've got to find the right people to play them, the right humans to translate these characters." So, start the rumor mill going now, and choose who you will champion for their respective roles. I'm sticking with Martin Freeman for Bilbo, and Gerard Butler as Bard the Bowman for now. I'll have to think about the dwarves ...
Go below the jump for more Middle Earth news
Awesome Rumor Mill: Tom Waits in 'The Hobbit'?
Filed under: Sci-Fi & Fantasy », Casting », RumorMonger »
Much of the time, the casting rumor mill is all sorts of ridiculous and laugh worthy, but this ... this is a rumor has caught me hook, line, and sinker. An AICN source is saying that Tom Waits might grab a role in The Hobbit. (As of noon, the link won't connect, but the direct link was found via Cinema Spy, and the following quote via Contact Music.)A source supposedly told the site: "As much as I'd like to say he's a lock (certainty), I'm told he's simply someone the production is talking about -- but they seem to be talking about him pretty seriously." Either the rumor mill is putting a little extra effort into making believable and tasty suggestions, or methinks the Hobbit folks were charmed by Waits' turn in The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus and realized what a good addition he'd be to any fantastical world. The actor stole the show in Gilliam's film, whether pitted against the newcomers or old pros like Christopher Plummer.
But the big question comes down to who would he play? Which character could use his gravelly voice and rugged charisma? He's done the weak-minded servant for Dracula, the crazy ringleader in Wristcutters, and the manipulative devil for Imaginarium, so how would you cast him, Hobbit fans?
'The Hobbit' May Be Pushed to 2012
Filed under: Classics », Sci-Fi & Fantasy », MGM », Warner Brothers », RumorMonger », Fandom », Family Films », DIY/Filmmaking », Newsstand », Peter Jackson », Remakes and Sequels »
The journey back to Middle Earth is taking longer than anyone anticipated, even its filmmakers. Peter Jackson revealed in an interview with Movie Reporter * that they're hoping to complete the second draft of The Hobbit script by the beginning of next year. Once that's done, they can calculate budget and set a start date, but even the most enthusiastic estimates mean that filming would begin in middle to late 2010. That's not even factoring in the MGM money woes, and how that could affect budgeting, though signs point to Warner Bros picking up the entire tab. Jackson was silent as to whether the original release dates would hold, but I think we're all familiar enough with the magic of movie making to know that we're unlikely to see The Hobbit in December 2011. Remember, that was the date given for the first half of the film. It's more likely you'll see Part 1 in December 2012, and Part 2 in December 2013.
If you contemplate those numbers with a sinking heart, you're not alone. For me, it's not that 2012 or 2013 are particularly far away (you know how the years speed by the older you get!), but that so much can happen to a film, its writers and directors, and its potential cast members. I'm certain The Hobbit will happen, but it can't hurt to send some geeky good vibes its way, and hope it gains some speed and cast announcements very soon.
[*I've linked to TheOneRing.net, which translated the German interview for the rest of the Internet, and allowed the story to be subsequently picked up in Variety.]
MGM Studios Officially For Sale
Filed under: Deals », Executive shifts », Lionsgate Films », MGM », Warner Brothers », RumorMonger », Distribution », DIY/Filmmaking », Newsstand », James Bond »
MGM Studios' financial troubles will soon be coming to a sad end. Back in September, it was reported that MGM was in such poor shape that they might be forced to auction off their assets, including James Bond and The Hobbit. That day has come to pass. Variety reports that MGM Studios is officially on the auction block.MGM has been given a month of breathing space from their interest payments, time they plan on using to begin "a process to explore various strategic alternatives including operating as a standalone entity, forming strategic partnerships and evaluating a potential sale of the company."
But all hopes of survival may rest on what they sell off from their glorious history, including a library of 4,000 titles, the logo, the United Artists company, James Bond, and half ownership in The Hobbit. Time Warner, News Corp, and Lionsgate are said to be interested in all of the above.
As their library scatters to the four winds, it'll be really interesting to see what remakes and reboots it spawns. Remember, Robocop was on the MGM remake slate, and surely some hungry studio will snap that up. The Cannon Films and ITV Global Entertainment collections are just ripe for harvesting. Perhaps you'll finally see a Lifeforce movie, or a remake of Capricorn One, or an aspiring Tarantino type will buy up all those American International Picture rights and revive motorcycle gang movies. Sure, we all want to know who will wind up with James Bond, but it'll be far more fascinating if someone tries to remake Psych-Out. *
*It's possible this is considered one of AIP's "early" films, though it's unclear where that cut off date is.
Could Money Woes Cost MGM James Bond and 'The Hobbit'?
Filed under: Action », Sci-Fi & Fantasy », Deals », Executive shifts », MGM », RumorMonger », Celebrities and Controversy », DIY/Filmmaking », Peter Jackson », Politics », James Bond », Remakes and Sequels », Daniel Craig »
MGM has been plagued by financial woes for much of their long and illustrious career, but their most recent crisis could end up costing them two of their biggest titles. Nikke Finke of Deadline Hollywood Daily is breathlessly reporting that the studio is teetering on the edge of bankruptcy with over $3.5 billion in debt. MGM held a very long conference call with their creditors, pleading with themto waive their interest payments until February 2010, and allow them the cash they need for the rest of the year, particularly to fund its upcoming slate of films. Naturally, some of those are highly anticipated, such as Robocop, The Hobbit, and the latest James Bond installment. However, MGM's creditors aren't feeling particularly charitable, and may force the studio to file for bankruptcy. If that happens, they could lose James Bond, The Hobbit, and numerous other franchises as MGM would have to sell them to the highest bidder. Right now, they're trying to convince their Scrooges that bankruptcy is the worst possible option, and that Bond and Bilbo are big enough moneymakers to cover their debt. That's where the situation stands now, and it'll certainly be quite the economic spectacle to watch.
I find the news particularly interesting in light of Peter Jackson's remarks on The Hobbit at ComicCon, when he squashed rumors that the film was in the casting stages, and noted that it hadn't even really been green-lit or had its budget approved yet. It was a douse of cold water after a lot of breathless excitement, much of which seemed to come straight from the filmmakers themselves. Could the brakes have been put on because of MGM's financial woes? Possibly.
Continued below the jump
Discuss: Should 'The Hobbit' Come To Us in 3D?
Filed under: Sci-Fi & Fantasy », RumorMonger », Fandom », Remakes and Sequels »
There's a huge rumor making the rounds today (courtesy of Marketsaw) that Peter Jackson now wants to direct a third bridge film connecting The Hobbit to The Lord of the Rings, and that he wants all three films (including Guillermo del Toro's two Hobbit movies) to be shot in 3D. Those of you following the progress of these films should remember that way back when The Hobbit was first announced, both Jackson and del Toro were keen on doing three movies total, with two based on The Hobbit and one based on other related material like appendices that Jackson had gotten a hold of. A bit later on both men squashed the idea of a third film because, according to Jackson -- who spoke to MTV about a potential third film as recently as this month -- Warner Bros. and New Line only have the rights to make two films. However, it felt like Jackson wanted to make a third film if it was at all possible, so perhaps they've found a way to make that happen and we just haven't been told yet? Personally, though, I'm more interested in the 3D angle on all this because, well, I don't think they should be filmed in 3D. Not only would it be a bit rough to sit through a three-hour 3D movie (oh c'mon, you know those suckers are gonna be way long), but I just don't think 3D would add a whole lot to the finished product. Would Middle Earth look cool in a couple shots? Sure. Other than that ... eh?
I'll give you Avatar -- that's a film that belongs in 3D. And I can even see the potential in something gimmicky like Final Destination 3D. But The Hobbit? Really? Does every big upcoming film need to be in 3D now? Is that where we're at?
What do you think about The Hobbit in 3D?
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