Jackson Slated to Make Hobbit Movie, Sequel

A user writes "Peter Jackson, New Line Cinema, and MGM have agreed to work on two new movies: a film adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's 'The Hobbit', and a further sequel. From the article: 'The two Hobbit films ... 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.'" Not sure if it would be possible to nab Ian Holm as Bilbo, but here's hoping.

Re:Not that I care, but

[rehtonAesoohC]

Jackson has always wanted to do film The Hobbit, but due to legal issues [premiere.com] they couldn't agree on terms.

They've finally resolved, woo!

Re:sequel?

[PlatyPaul]

Thankfully/sadly (take your pick) he hasn't agreed to do The Silmarillion [wikipedia.org].

Given the bad blood, including a recent "taunting" phonecall [msn.com], it really is surprising that Jackson would accept the project.

But, then again, money is money (especially when it's LOTS of money).

Re:Martin Freeman Would Be Better

[charlesbakerharris]

Am I the only one who's noticed that Martin Freeman wasn't actually in the LOTR?

Re:Actors ...

[njfuzzy]

I believe that Sir Ian McKellen has said that he would be overjoyed to play Gandalf-- but not if Peter Jackson wasn't involved. I would say he's likely to reprise the role, which is more important than Ian Holm (who would clearly be too old) in terms of continuity. I'd say the other big role to worry about would be Gollum.

Re:Hmmm...

[Selfbain]

He actually did. There is an enormous amount of material he wrote that was summarized in the Silmarillion. You can buy large volumes of books containing his notes.

Re:sequel?

[Kagura]

Lol, it's true. I gave up reading the Silmarillion the first time during the first couple chapters. Later on, when I tried it again, I pushed through the barrier and the book was amazing. You just have to live through the first 70 pages or so. :)

Re:sequel?

[Keeper Of Keys]

I'd be quite surprised if Gimli is in it at all; there are eleven dwarves in The Hobbit - all of them potentially annoying, but no Gimli. The closest we get is his cousin once removed, Balin.

Re:sequel?

[pmdkh]

But they have an expanded role in the movies. In the books, they defeat the Corsairs of Umbar (the ones coming from the south on ships) at Pelargir and then leave. Aragorn and the rest then travel to Minas Tirith on the Corsairs' ships to join the battle there. Wikipedia article for quick reference [wikipedia.org]

TFA, apparently sucks, read the BBC story

[captainjaroslav]

I say "apparently" because TFA is actually blocked where I am right now, but the most common questions people seem to be asking in this discussion are:

1) "Sequel, WTF?"

and

2)"Will Ian McKellen return as Gandalf?"

According to this article:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7150644.stm [bbc.co.uk]
the answers are:

1) No, there will not be a sequel based on some new not-created-by-Tolkien story, The Hobbit will be two movies.

2) Yes.

Um... No. There is a slight difference...

[Etherwalk]

> all of the changes I noticed were done for time.

Look at the kind of language used. For example:

"I will kill you if you touch him."

"You fool. No man can kill me. Die, now."

"I am no man. AAaaagggh!"

comes from, limiting myself almost exclusively to dialog:

`Begone, fould dwimmerlaik, lord of carrion! Leave the dead in peace!'

`Come not between the Nazgul and his prey! Or he will not slay thee in thy turn. He will bear thee away to the houses of lamentation, beyond all darkness, where thy flesh shall be devoured, and thy shrivelled mind be left naked to the Lidless eye.'

`Do what you will; but I will hinder it, if I may.'

`Hinder me? Thou fool. No living man may hinder me!'

Then Merry heard of all sounds, in that hour the strangest. It seemed that Dernhelm laughed, and the clear voice was like the ring of steel. `But no living man am I! You look upon a woman. Eowyn I am, Eomund's daughter. You stand between me and my lord and kin. Begone if you be not deathless! For living or dark undead, I will smite you, if you touch him.'

comes from, in truth:

Then out of the blackness in his mind he thought that he heard Dernhelm speaking; yet now the voice seemed strange, recalling some other voice that he had known.

`Begone, fould dwimmerlaik, lord of carrion! Leave the dead in peace!'

`Come not between the Nazgul and his prey! Or he will not slay thee in thy turn. He will bear thee away to the houses of lamentation, beyond all darkness, where thy flesh shall be devoured, and thy shrivelled mind be left naked to the Lidless eye.'

A sword rang as it was drawn. `Do what you will; but I will hinder it, if I may.'

`Hinder me? Thou fool. No living man may hinder me!'

Then Merry heard of all sounds in that hour the strangest. It seemed that Dernhelm laughed, and the clear voice was like the ring of steel. `But no living man am I! You look upon a woman. Eowyn I am, Eomund's daughter. You stand between me and my lord and kin. Begone, if you be not deathless! For loving or dark undead, I will smite you, if you touch him.'

The winged creature screamed at her, but the Ringwraith made no answer, and was silent, as if in sudden doubt. Very amazement for a moment conquered Merry's fear. He opened his eyes and the blackness was lifted from them. There some paces from him sat the great beast, and all seemed dark about it, and above it loomed the Nazgul Lord like a shadow of despair. A little to the left facing them stood she whom he had called Dernhelm. But the helm of her secrecy had fallen from her, and her bright hair, released from its bonds, gleamed with pale gold upon her shoulders. Her eyes grey as the sea were hard and fell, and yet tears were on her cheek. A sword was in her hand, and she raised her shield against the horror of her enemy's eyes.

Eowyn it was, and Dernhelm also. For into Merry's mind flashed the memory of the face that he saw at the riding from Dunharrow: the face of one that goes seeking death, having no hope. Pity filled his heart and great wonder, and suddenly the slow-kindled courage of his race awoke. He clenched his hand. She should not die, so fair, so desperate! At least she should not die alone, unaided.

The face of their enemy was not turned towards him, but still he hardly dared to move, dreading lest the deadly eyes should fall on him. Slowly, slowly he began to crawl aside; but the Black Captain, in doubt and malice intent upon the woman before him, heeded him no more than a worm in the mud.

Suddenly the great beast beat its hideous wings, and the wind of them was foul. Again it leaped into the air, and then swiftly fell down upon Eowyn, shrieking, striking with beak and claw.

Still she did not blench: maiden of the Rohirrim, child of kings, slender but as a steel-blade, fair but terrible. A swift stroke she dealt, skilled and deadly. The outstretched neck she clove asunder, and the hewn head fell like a stone. Backward she sprang as the huge sh

Re:sequel?

[torqer]

I think you're trying to nitpick... So I thought I would respond in kind.

There are 13 Dwarves in the hobbit. Well there are more (such as Dain), but 13 in the party set out to reclaim the lonely mountain... Bilbo makes the party not an unlucky number.

thorin
fili kili
oin gloin
bifur bufor
bombur
balin dwalin
ori dori nori

Re:Not that I care, but

[ddavis539]

Somehow I think that this has more to do with the disappointing results from the Golden Compass movie, which New line was hoping would be a 3-year blockbuster holiday series. It appears that the various religious groups are convincing their members to stay away from it due to the anti-religious message in the books.

Re:Note to director: no jar-jar

[Krommenaas]

I think he's the director we have the least to worry about. At least, I hope he is. The cinemas wanted him because he has proven he can make the movies (and, of course, make the money)

Except Jackson probably won't be the director. The article only says he will be the "executive producer", which is Hollywoodese for "we pay him to be allowed to use his name".

Re:Hmmm...

[pdjohe]

Somebody already commented on possible plot details between the Hobbit and LOTR: http://slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=320733&cid=20896787 [slashdot.org]

What exactly happens, of any interest, in that period?

Hmm.. I'm not 100% on the timeline but...

Gandalf and Aragorn meet. The romance of Aragorn and Arwen. Aragorn serving with the Armies of Rohan.

Gollum pursues Bilbo from the mountains. I beleive Gandalf investigates the creature and discovers its history in this period. Mordor also captures Gollum at some point.

The Dwarves (including Balin of the hobbits) try and retake Moria.

Sauruman is corrupted by Mordor through the Palantir.

Sauroman corrupts Theoden through Grima Wormtongue.

Sauron, identified as the 'Necromancer' was discovered as the source of evil in Mirkwood and was driven out by the White Council, only to resurface later rebuilding in Mordor.

I dunno... I've seen movies made on smaller premises than that :)

Re:Not that I care, but

[ChaosDiscord]

It appears that the various religious groups are convincing their members to stay away from it due to the anti-religious message in the books.

While that may be true, it may not be the reason for the low revenue. It's possible that it just isn't a very good movie. It's currently running 43% at Rotten Tomatoes [rottentomatoes.com], which is pretty bad. I've seen the movie, and while it's not that bad, it's seriously flawed.