Does LOTR stuff go here?

[and-justice-for-all]

What Peter Jackson plans for the two Hobbit movies and why.


Today producer/director Peter Jackson talks about The Hobbit films, updates us on their status, debunks a few rumors and talks about what the two movies will actually encompass and why.

Among the highlights: The script for the first film is about three weeks away; no casting has been decided; the two movies will encompass the story in the book and won't be one movie about the book and a second to bridge the period between The Hobbit and The Fellowship of the Ring, as has been speculated; and the films will draw in narratives from the same era as told in other writings.

This is part two of our group interview with Jackson from Comic-Con in San Diego last week; part one, about The Lovely Bones, posted yesterday, and part three, about his upcoming sci-fi action movie District 9, posts tomorrow.

Jackson first talked about his decision to hire Guillermo del Toro to direct the two movies, based on J.R.R. Tolkien's fantasy book and precursor to The Lord of the Rings.

"Guillermo's there not because I'm a mentor of him, but I just thought he would do a terrific job with that film," Jackson said. "It wasn't the type of movie I to give to a young, novice filmmaker and have them sort of godfather it through. I wanted someone who ... was established, who I could trust with it. ... With The Hobbit, I really don't want to ... be too involved in looking over the shoulder of the director."

Jackson added that he chose not to direct the films himself for a specific reason: "So I didn't have to compete against myself," he said. "Because with the Lord of the Rings movies I did make, those were the very best films that I could make, given the circumstances and everything else. ... I poured my heart and soul into those films, and I just thought that I'd given everything I could to The Lord of the Rings, and now, with The Hobbit, I'd have to go there again, and now I'd be competing against myself. And how did I shoot Hobbiton the first time around? And how did I shoot Gandalf coming through the door? Now I'd have to look back at what I did the first time and do something different. Or not. And suddenly I could just imagine myself having this rather weird year or two where I was relating to my own work in a way in which I didn't feel comfortable. So I thought that the best thing—and honestly the best thing for the project and the fans of Tolkien and everything else—was to find another filmmaker who would do a really great job, and let them shoot Gandalf coming in the door, and let's all enjoy what they do with it and give somebody else a chance to do something fresh and original with it."

Jackson remains heavily involved, writing the scripts with longtime collaborators Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens, as well as del Toro.

More: http://scifiwire.com/2009/07/what-peter-jackson-plans.php#more

[Forkboy]

1. It does now.

:)

[and-justice-for-all]

3. I did not know where else to put it LOL...nt

[Orrex]

4. You could have posted it in the "Harry Potter, etc." group

:evilgrin:

[wyldwolf]

2. yeah - this has become the geek forum

[semillama]

5. There's so much crossover between the two groups

Seems like you could combine them into a "Speculative Fiction" group and save some time.

But to address the subject - Ian McKellan dropped a hint that Bilbo's been cast. Rumors say it's either David Tennant or Martin Freeman - both excellent choices, although Tennant may have to gain some weight!

Ian Holm as young Bilbo in Fellowship of the Ring:



David Tennant:


Martin Freeman:

[MrModerate]

6. I would love to see Tennant in that role. I don't know the other fellow. n/t