[Urien Rheged]

Radio interview with GDT discussing The Hobbit amongst other things.
Starts at around the 2:00 hour mark:

BBC iPlayer - Simon Mayo: 09/06/2009

He confirms he is keeping in every major set piece from the book and is not missing out anything. Also confirms Hugo Weaving is on board.

[raigraphixs]

Hobbit filmmakers to be sued

The Guardian reports that J.R.R. Tolkien's heirs are suing the filmmakers for $220 million dollars in unpaid profits from the film trilogy, and trying to terminate further film rights to Tolkien's work due to breach of contract.

"Should the case go all the way to trial, we are confident that New Line will lose its rights to 'The Hobbit,'" said Bonnie Eskenazi, the lawyer working for the author's son Christopher and the family's charity, the Tolkien Trust.

Hobbit film could be jeopardised by Tolkien heirs' lawsuit | Film | guardian.co.uk

[hopeless]

according to that article:

JRR Tolkien sold the film rights to the trilogy in 1969 for an upfront fee of £250,000 and a reported 7.5% of future profits

- in court they won't win, right?

[Urien Rheged]

Peter Jackson at ComicCon:

YouTube - Peter Jackson's 'Hobbit' Update at San Diego Comic Con

[hopeless]

he looks so different!

heres a better link:

YouTube - Peter Jackson Sets the Record Straight on The Hobbit

[Rambo John J]

I didn't find this posted anywhere else so I thought I'd spread the good news.... it looks like the law suit against New Line by the Tolkien estate's been sorted out so they can crack on with pre-production on The Hobbit now.

From The Hollywood Reporter...

Good news for all those J.R.R. Tolkien aficionados waiting for a film adaptation of "The Hobbit."
New Line Cinema, the Tolkien estate and publisher Harper Collins have settled the lawsuit over profits from the "Lord of the Rings" films released between 2001 and 2003.
The Tolkien estate had sued New Line for at least $150 million in damages for failing to pay 7.5 percent of gross receipts from the three films, which netted an estimated $6 billion combined. The estate claimed it hadn't been paid "one penny" from its contractual share and took issue with many of New Line's claimed expenses, including "advertisement" payments made to AOL (also owned by Time Warner) and money for production offices and facilities being used for other New Line films.
At the time, the plaintiffs wanted a court order that would give them the right to terminate any rights New Line might have to other Tolkien works, including "The Hobbit." New Line and MGM have announced plans to turn that work into a film with "Rings" helmer Peter Jackson producing.
But in a statement on the settlement, Christopher Tolkien says, "The Trustees regret that legal action was necessary, but are glad that this dispute has been settled on satisfactory terms that will allow the Tolkien Trust properly to pursue its charitable objectives. The Trustees acknowledge that New Line may now proceed with its proposed films of 'The Hobbit.'"
Terms of the settlement were not released.


"We deeply value the contributions of the Tolkien novels to the success of our films and are pleased to have put this litigation behind us," said Warner Bros.' president and COO Alan Horn in a statement

that quote from the warners president is priceless seeing as without the books there'd, literally, be no LOTR films at all

Didn't Peter Jackson have to file a similar lawsuit against New Line? Yep, I believe he did. Getting money out of New Line must be like getting blood from a stone troll

[The Snake]

*Tom Cruise is to appear in the hobbit.

Tom Cruise and Peter Jackson Take a Meeting | /Film

*Please note this statement is totally sensational and probably not accurate in the least bit.

[raigraphixs]

Ian McKellen updates on The Hobbit.

THE HOBBIT's, two films, start shooting in New Zealand in July.

Filming will take over a year. Casting in Los Angeles, New York City and London has started. The script too proceeds. The first draft is crammed with old and new friends, again on a quest in Middle Earth.

The director Guillermo del Toro is now living in Wellington, close to the Jacksons' and the studio in Miramar.

[quarry2006]

No Christopher Lee, though. When interviewed about the project he said that travelling to New Zealand was out of the question for him, now. I guess when you're as tall as he is, even first class doesn't allow the kind of leg room he'd need. Unless this was a diplomatic answer, as he was famously miffed at being cut from the theatrical version of Return Of The King.

I still don't know about a second film, though. God knows, the novels that have been cobbled together based on Tolkien's notes have been goddawful and unreadable. Jackson presents a convincing argument for the reason for making a second film...but I think the decision is more about milking the cash cow than anything else.

[whos jonny m]

should be interesting, del toros version of the spiders of mirkwood!, will be eager to see this one.

[dav-t]

some news here
Hobbit Movie News and Information - TheOneRing.net - Forged by the Fans of J.R.R. Tolkien

[DICKIEDUVET]

Martin Freeman as Bilbo then ??

[KBD1]

Originally Posted by DICKIEDUVET

Martin Freeman as Bilbo then ??

Aye.
Who is he.

[DICKIEDUVET]

Tim from The Office.

[DICKIEDUVET]

Just found this, I'll keep expecting David Brent to pop up from a Hobbit Hole.

Once Upon A Hobbit: Introducing The Hobbit : Martin Freeman IS Bilbo Baggins !

[raigraphixs]

It was posted on April 1st
im sure the official annoucement can't be to far away whoever it goes to.

[DICKIEDUVET]

I was hoping it's a fools day thing, Just can't see him doing it.

[dav-t]

Originally Posted by dav-t

some news here
Hobbit Movie News and Information - TheOneRing.net - Forged by the Fans of J.R.R. Tolkien

Oh well it got me

[raigraphixs]

But he was a tramp

Sir Ian McKellen mistaken for tramp outside theatre - Telegraph

[raigraphixs]

Guillermo del Toro is no longer directing The Hobbit!!

Due to the long delays, MGM's financial uncertainties, 6yr commitment in New Zealand, and with a host of other active projects on the go, Del Toro has decided to walk away.

But he will be still be co-writing the screenplays for The Hobbit films. Maybe they might get Jackson back in the directors chair, seems unlikely.



Statement from Guillermo del Toro;

In light of ongoing delays in the setting of a start date for filming “The Hobbit,” I am faced with the hardest decision of my life. After nearly two years of living, breathing and designing a world as rich as Tolkien’s Middle Earth, I must, with great regret, take leave from helming these wonderful pictures. I remain grateful to Peter, Fran and Philippa Boyens, New Line and Warner Brothers and to all my crew in New Zealand. I’ve been privileged to work in one of the greatest countries on earth with some of the best people ever in our craft and my life will be forever changed. The blessings have been plenty, but the mounting pressures of conflicting schedules have overwhelmed the time slot originally allocated for the project. Both as a co-writer and as a director, I wish the production nothing but the very best of luck and I will be first in line to see the finished product. I remain an ally to it and its makers, present and future, and fully support a smooth transition to a new director.

Peter Jackson;

We feel very sad to see Guillermo leave the Hobbit, but he has kept us fully in the loop and we understand how the protracted development time on these two films, due to reasons beyond anyone’s control – has compromised his commitment to other long term projects…The bottom line is that Guillermo just didn’t feel he could commit six years to living in New Zealand, exclusively making these films, when his original commitment was for three years. Guillermo is one of the most remarkable creative spirits I’ve ever encountered and it has been a complete joy working with him. Guillermo’s strong vision is engrained [sic] into the scripts and designs of these two films, which are extremely fortunate to be blessed with his creative DNA.

Guillermo is co-writing the Hobbit screenplays with Philippa Boyens, Fran Walsh and myself, and happily our writing partnership will continue for several more months, until the scripts are fine tuned and polished…New Line and Warner Bros will sit down with us this week, to ensure a smooth and uneventful transition, as we secure a new director for the Hobbit. We do not anticipate any delay or disruption to ongoing pre-production work

[DrPhil]

Will Peter Jackson step back into the breach?

[captainarchive]

According to the Digital Bits, Jackson has offered to direct The Hobbit if it's means MGM and Warners pull their fingers out and get the project moving:

"In other news today, there's an interesting follow up to that story from yesterday about director Guillermo del Toro leaving The Hobbit. In a new piece in The Dominion Post (from New Zealand) today, producer Peter Jackson has said that he'll step in to direct the Hobbit films if that's what's required to get MGM and Warner to move the project forward. That would definitely be a measure of good news, but you'll note that Jackson's quoted in the article as saying "If that's what I have to do to protect Warner Bros' investment, then obviously that's one angle which I'll explore." There's been a lot of speculation in the last day or so about just where the problem lies - MGM's financial troubles (MGM is a partner on the project) or various issues at New Line (which is essentially Warner Brothers now). The reality is, it's almost certainly a bit of both, though it's telling we suspect that Jackson specifically mentions Warner in his quote. Because of MGM's financial troubles, Warner is likely having to invest more than their expected share of money in the production to get it going. The result is a great deal of foot-dragging and hand-wringing, and of course no greenlight on the project as yet. CNN and EW also have more on this as well today. Hopefully, this will all sort itself out soon, but it's a shame that it's already cost Guillermo's involvement".

[DrPhil]

How crap is it that this is all dragging on over who invests what into it. After the success of LOTR a Hobbit double is a guaranteed money maker. Just get a move on with it.

[raigraphixs]

Update from Del Toro

So, here I am again. As promised, I am posting a longer message before the week's end.

I have to thank those of you that have supported me from the start as well as those that converted along the way. And even say farewell to those that never did convert or believed.

I will miss Mr. Crere, the faith of Compa and Sir DennisC, the wisdom of Voronwe, the joy of Grammaboodawg, the support of Kangi Ska and so many, many others

Now, Pasi, et al- that is what is quite uncommon even on big films. Pete and co stuck to LOTR for years, I've developed films for years and I have shot many a movie on location... but rarely do you relocate for such massive amount of time specially when you have to do major ironclad agreements to put in deep freeze other contractual obligations with multiple studios.

My commitment to the project demanded enormous sacrifices both in personal and professional terms. The consequences of which will ripple for years. I relocated my entire life and family to New Zealand and first came on board in 2008.

So- while the cited delays, contractual complexities or obstacles, cannot be attributed to a single event or entity - you will simply have to believe that they were of sufficient complexity and severity to lead to the current situation. Trust me on this, Pasi- leaving NZ and the Hobbit crew is extremely painful.

As stated before- a wealth of designs, animatics, boards and sculptures is left behind representing accurately my ideas for Mirkwood, Spiders, Wargs, Stone Trolls, etc, etc and everyone (PJ, FW, PB and myself) has the same goal in mind: to try and ensure the best possible transition of the movie to a new director.

I believe these films will happen. Preproduction continues as we speak. The writing team of PJ,FW,PB and myself will keep moving the screenplays forward.

Perhaps even sooner than we may anticipate we will all look at the finished film and then- I will tear up whenever I recognize a set or a creature or a quirk created under my supervision. Everyone on these boards will get two movies. Me? I will be watching filmic family albums. Photos of my children from far away.

I hope you will understand how delicate the subject is for me.

I will drop by now and then, I will read the boards with interest and do hope to see some of you around at SDCC and many other places.

I am not here, however, to provide a blow-by-blow of what happened, but to assure you, as I have, that it has been the toughest situation of my life.

Beyond that- I am simply no longer an official voice for these projects. Be good, be well- and I invite you all to follow me into the next phase of my filmmaking journey.

Sincerely

GDT

[Mendes]

Not all tears are of sadness.....

"Hobbit" sets are ready, script ready and movie is casting this month. Fans are not to worry

The films will get made. I suspect we'll start shooting at end of this year

From Sir Ian McKellens Twitter feed

[raigraphixs]

Originally Posted by Mendes

Not all tears are of sadness.....

From Sir Ian McKellens Twitter feed

Dont believe everything he twitters, he's been wrong previously about hobbit filming dates and castings. Currently MGM have no money to make films or promote them.

[Mendes]

Oh right, I didnt know he was on there until it got RT by another. Shall bare that in mind though. Ta for heads up.

[raigraphixs]

Seems like Sir Ian McKellen was right about the sets!, here are images of The Shire still under construction, near the town of Matamata, New Zealand.

[captainarchive]

How do we know they're from The Hobbit ? They could be pictures from FOTR doing a re-tread.

[raigraphixs]

Originally Posted by captainarchive

How do we know they're from The Hobbit ? They could be pictures from FOTR doing a re-tread.

We cant be 100% sure, from a german site, uploaded 2 days ago, they say its for The Hobbit.

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