The Hobbit is finally greenlit!

[DaveC]

After years of financial woes relating to MGM's bankruptcy, The Hobbit has finally been given a greenlight with Peter Jackson now directing instead of Guillermo Del Toro, who was scheduled to direct but pulled out due to the delays.

The Story

http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=29220

Some Casting news...

http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=29224

I can't wait to see what the two films will look like, with a different younger Bilbo, simpler story and the influence of Del Toro's designs and scripting imput on Jackson's directon.

[pip]

It will be interseting if nothing else.
Visually it will be spectacular

[Jan Van Quirm]

Guillermo del Toro's having to go was a pity, but he's still made a significant contribution to the screenplay.

I'm looking forward to seeing how they handle the main storyline because the 'second part' that Tolkien didn't include in the novel is going to be controversial, just because of that because the canon is more or less wide open to interpretation there. Lots of excitement amongst the fans and, I expect, the CGI chaps, as there's all kinds of leeway for evil creatures aside from orcses and nassssty spiders. And the Nazgul should get a lot more to do in this as well!

[DaveC]

Guillermo del Toro's having to go was a pity, but he's still made a significant contribution to the screenplay.

I'm looking forward to seeing how they handle the main storyline because the 'second part' that Tolkien didn't include in the novel is going to be controversial, just because of that because the canon is more or less wide open to interpretation there. Lots of excitement amongst the fans and, I expect, the CGI chaps, as there's all kinds of leeway for evil creatures aside from orcses and nassssty spiders. And the Nazgul should get a lot more to do in this as well!

When Del Toro was in charge he was going to do a lot more practical than CG, don't know what the case will be with Jackson, he likes CG and practiccal, it will 3D ( ) so I don't know what will look best for that.

[michelanCello]

Great news! (not the 3D part, I don't like 3D) I can't wait, though!

[Jan Van Quirm]

Lifted from DreamWorlds (thanks Miah! )

Casting for The Hobbit has now been announced >>HERE<<

Bilbo- Martin Freeman
Thorin- Richard Armitage
Fili- Robert Kazinsky
Kili- Aidan Turner
Dwalin- Graham McTavish
Oin- John Callen
Bombur- Stephen Hunter
Dori- Mark Hadlow
Gloin- Peter Hambelton

Hehe - and Guy of Gisbourne (Mr Vicar of Dribley) is Thorin!

[The Mad Collector]

Guy of Gisbourne (Mr Vicar of Dribley) is Thorin!

Dribley , is that a Freudian slip?

[BatrickPatrick]

I'm currently Hobbit-Curious...

[The Mad Collector]

Tolkein is hobbit forming

[Who's Wee Dug]

Looking forward to it, I did read earlier on the BBC website through a link on the Cunning Ones site

[Beautiful Dirt]

Thank Offler for that. I'm a big LOTR fan, the books I got as a child are thoroughly worn out so I need a new set. Think I'll start re-reading them soon

[Jan Van Quirm]

Guy of Gisbourne (Mr Vicar of Dribley) is Thorin!

Dribley , is that a Freudian slip?

Not really 'cos it was on purpose - Dawn French is about the only woman who could get away with a comedy about a vicar of any gender, but Richard Armitage is definitely worth getting all dribbly over!

This movie is starting to become pretty heavy on hype though with I suspect much heavy weather over all the setbacks and panics over getting Ian McClellan and Andy Serkis back in to do Gandalf and Gollum it's beginning to grate a wee bit as being rather orchestrated

There's no way this movie is going to be cancelled at this rate, so all this 'tension' is starting to irritate me

[DaveC]

The main panic is where they are filming - there are doubts over whether New Zealand's tax cuts are worth filming there as many other countries are more affordable. Aparrently the NZ Prime Minister is meeting with Warner Bros to discuss soonn as it mean so much to their ecconomy for the next couple of years if they do film there.

[Jan Van Quirm]

Exactly With all the ties to NZ on this set, not to mention WETA's being so hand in glove with Jackson on tricksy tech stuff, a lot of both films are already there anyway, so I doubt the govt are going to get too stroppy over it bearing in mind how much they made off the back of the Trilogy

[DaveC]

The Hobbit staying in NZ!

http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=29311