J.R.R. Tolkiens The Hobbit
- MGM and New Line will co-finance and co-distribute two films, The Hobbit and a sequel to The Hobbit. New Line will distribute in North America and MGM will distribute internationally.
- Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh will serve as Executive Producers of two films based on The Hobbit. New Line will manage the production of the films, which will be shot simultaneously.
- Peter Jackson and New Line have settled all litigation relating to the Lord of the Rings (LOTR) Trilogy.
Said Peter Jackson, "I'm very pleased that we've been able to put our differences behind us, so that we may begin a new chapter with our old friends at New Line. The Lord of the Rings is a legacy we proudly share with Bob and Michael, and together, we share that legacy with millions of loyal fans all over the world. We are delighted to continue our journey through Middle Earth. I also want to thank Harry Sloan and our new friends at MGM for helping us find the common ground necessary to continue that journey."
"Peter Jackson has proven himself as the filmmaker who can bring the extraordinary imagination of Tolkien to life and we full heartedly agree with the fans worldwide who know he should be making The Hobbit," said Sloan, MGM's Chairman and CEO. "Now that we are all in agreement on The Hobbit, we can focus on assembling the production team that will capture this phenomenal tale on film."
Bob Shaye, New Line Co-Chairman and Co-CEO comments, "We are very pleased we have been able to resolve our differences, and that Peter and Fran will be actively and creatively involved with The Hobbit movies. We know they will bring the same passion, care and talent to these films that they so ably accomplished with The Lord of the Rings Trilogy."
"Peter is a visionary filmmaker, and he broke new ground with The Lord of the Rings," notes Michael Lynne, New Line Co-Chairman and Co-CEO. "We're delighted he's back for The Hobbit films and that the Tolkien saga will continue with his imprint. We greatly appreciate the efforts of Harry Sloan, who has been instrumental in helping us reach our new accord."
The two Hobbit films -- The Hobbit and its sequel -- 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.
The Oscar-winning, critically-acclaimed LOTR Trilogy grossed nearly $3 billion worldwide at the box-office. In 2003, The Lord Of The Rings: The Return of The King swept the Academy Awards, winning all of the eleven categories in which it was nominated, including Best Picture -- the first ever Best Picture win for a fantasy film. The Trilogy's production was also unprecedented at the time.
For more information about The Hobbit films, visit www.TheHobbitBlog.com.
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey comes to theaters December 14th, 2012 and stars Cate Blanchett, Saoirse Ronan, Orlando Bloom, Elijah Wood, Martin Freeman, David Tennant, Ian McKellen, Christopher Lee. The film is directed by Peter Jackson.
Comments (32)
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logar
no peter no box office
4 years agoby @logarFlag
deeman138
I want this movie to be made, but i dont want it to be made with out peter jacksons involement in it. i think out of all the director posistions, Del Toro seems to be the best out of the lot.
4 years agoby @deeman138Flag
KaoNoshi
Guillermo del Toro would be my choice for director. He could keep the overall look of the films but still have his own style.
I wouldn't say any of the movies "sucked" but I do like the first one more than the last two. It just has something the others don't, maybe because it was new to the actors, I don't know. Dont lynch me but it did kinda feel like the actors were just going through the motions in the last one, the fire had gone out of their performance.
4 years agoby @kaonoshiFlag
The Narrator: The Better Man
i agree with k-man. new line were greedy ******** and jackson deserved that money.Phxtonymex and 2 movies are a bunch of idiots who don't have an idea of wat their talkin about. return of the king was great and king kong was ok. get a life! hobbit should be great. p.j. should change his mind and direct..
4 years agoby @narratorFlag
killahmovie24
listen peter jackson is a smart guy he knows what he's doing with these movies even if he does not direct them himself he will bring his vision to the movies, and hey i liked king kong
4 years agoby @killahmovie24Flag
nightwatchman23
anyone who says any one of the movies from Lord of the Rings trilogy sucked...really needs to get their head examined!
and i'm with k-man stupid comments do need to go.
4 years agoby @nightwatchman23Flag
twobenz22
phxtony...dood u know nothing of film if u think that movies sucked. there are people who dont really care for it..but they dont say it sucked. so keep your mouth shut. and yeah it does suck that peter isnt directing it..i just hope that sam the director from spider man doesnt direct it.. he doesnt got the same style..if anyon it should be tel toro. hes got a good style. and when they mean the "sequel" to the hobbit i think they mean that they are making two movies with the hobbit. cause if u have read it before there is one huge climax when he fights the goblin king in the caves. and then the war battle betwen humans, dwarves, and elves against the goblins so im guessing they are makin two movies out of the one book
4 years agoby @twobenz22Flag
K-Man
P.S. You say "P.S. THE RETURN OF THE KING, WAS THE WORST HES EVER DONE, WELL THAT AND KING KONG."
I guess thats why Return of the King won 11 Academy awards. Just in case you didn't know thats ties the ALL TIME world record. Yeah I guess it does suck after all. Lets see you do better.
To everyone else - I dont mean to be an *sshole but fu*cking stupid comments like that have got to go.
4 years agoby @k-manFlag
K-Man
PhxtonyMex & 2Movieguys - Actually Peter Jackson did exactly what you would have done in his situation. New Line Cinema are the greedy bastards who withheld money from him on Fellowship of the Ring. It doesn't matter how much Peter was paid, if there was money owed to him there was money owed and don't even think about sitting there and telling me you wouldn't have done the same thing in his position by taking them to court. If you do your a lying f*ck. Besides it was never about the money it was the principle of the thing.
New Line has made over 3 billion dollars so far, Peter Jackson 250 million (he did all the work too) and yet they withheld money from him. Whose greedy now?
Good to see you know what your talking about!
Oh yeah and the sequel to the Hobbit was not Peter's idea. It was New Lines! Got a problem take it up with them. Not only that but the stories are already there its not like they are pulling it out of their asses. Go read the books and you will see for yourself.
4 years agoby @k-manFlag
CelluloidDreams
The Hobbit, an animated version of the story, produced by Rankin/Bass, debuted as a television movie in the United States in 1977.
4 years agoby @2movieguysFlag
CelluloidDreams
Well Peter Jackson had a chance to direct, but he got greedy & money hungry among other things so he hung himself!
I'm a not a LOFTR Fan, but this should be interesting with a new director!
"The Hobbit" PhxtonyMex while it stands in its own right, it is often marketed as a prelude to Tolkien's monumental novel "The Lord of the Rings".
4 years agoby @2movieguysFlag
PhxtonyMex
Peter Jackson IS A GREEDY BASTARD! JUST IN FOR THE MONEY! A SEQUEL TO THE HOBBIT???!!!!
P.S. THE RETURN OF THE KING, WAS THE WORST HES EVER DONE, WELL THAT AND KING KONG.
4 years agoby @phxtonymexFlag
Alan_Smithy
There be dragons here!
What I can tell from the article they will break down the book into two films so it will be as faithful to the book as possible.
I read The Hobbit in grade 5 (5th grade for those who don't live in Australia), so watching the film will bring back memories.
One of these days I'll read the rings trilogy (promise), though I loved the films.
4 years agoby @alan-smithyFlag
The Kwisatz Haderach
I cant wait to see Samug and the battle of the 5 armies!
'Bash the dishes and smash the plates thats what Bilbo Baggins' hates!'
4 years agoby @the-kwisatz-haderachFlag
wizdome
Ok cool. No doubt they will be just as good as the Lord of the Rings trilogy, the only thing is that some of my friends have told me that the source material is not as adult orientated as The lord of the Rings, its a bit more "kiddy' in its writing approach.
4 years agoby @wizdomeFlag
RingWraither
THANK GOD!!!!! FINALLY =) I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS SINCE PETER SAID HE'D BE MAKING THEM!!!
4 years agoby @ringwraitherFlag
Bluey
I can't imagine anyone directing "The Hobbit," but Peter Jackson. I don't care how long it takes for the movie to be made with him directing it; I also believe that many other people feel the same way I do. Peter Jackson you have to direct this film, you are so talented, and I guarantee that the only way this movie because a masterpiece is if you direct it, you have to. Don't let anyone one else direct it. I am even willing to wait ten more years if I have to so that you can direct it. Please, please direct "The Hobbit," it would mean so much to me, and every other person in the world. Because Peter Jackson, every single person believes that no one should direct this film, but you, you could and would make "The Hobbit" the best film ever made, and I there have been some great films. No one, except you has ever made me jump out of my seat in a movie like you have done, and feel so happy when the movie is over, and know that it will go down in history as one of the greats. I need you and the world needs you to direct "The Hobbit."
4 years agoby @blueyFlag
Rama's SCREEN
This should be interesting..
Who else capable to take on this project other than the guy who's been there and done there and masters everything there is to know about bringing Tolkien stories to life
4 years agoby @ramasscreen-comFlag
K-Man
Epsalon - to answer your question what they are doing is making The Hobbit and then a second film that takes place during the time after The Hobbit and before The Lord of the Rings. A movie that will connect the dots and explain what went on during those sixty years between the films. At least that is what they said several months back. I'm sure most of the story-line for the second movie will come from The Lost Tales or one of Tolkien's other books that gives side stories.
4 years agoby @k-manFlag
K-Man
The reason why I say that is because on TheHobbitBlog.com as well as TheOneRing.net they both state "Director Speculation."
This is the most dodgy report ever, because up above it says "Peter is a visionary filmmaker, and he broke new ground with The Lord of the Rings," notes Michael Lynne, New Line Co-Chairman and Co-CEO. "We're delighted he's back for The Hobbit films and that the Tolkien saga will continue with his imprint."
That makes it sound like he is directing but on the other websites they clearly state that there is director speculation going around.
4 years agoby @k-manFlag
LEO: Lord Epsilon Omega
It's about freakin' time! I've been waiting for this for so long, being a fan of the book and all things J.R.R. Tolkien related. But The Hobbit and its "sequel?" The only sequel to the Hobbit is the Lord of The Rings trilogy! What the heck are they talking about? Are they going to split the book into TWO movies? That would be weird...
And I bet they will get McKellen to be Gandalf again. As for Bilbo, I bet they'll get Ian Holm back too.
And AnnoyingFilmCritic, you're right. Golden Compass is flopping. It's because the movie's anti-religion and pro-atheist, and that's not a good thing to say in a mostly religious country.
4 years agoby @epsalonFlag
K-Man
That is great news.....really great! Except they still haven't announced who is actually directing. That is key to the movies success. Executive Producing, if thats all then we still aren't out of the woods yet. You can have the best producers and executive producers in the entire world but if you get some hack of a director everything will fall to pieces. In fact executive producers have very little artistic say in a production.
I'm sure that with Peter there everyone would listen to him regardless of his title but still he needs to direct in order for this movie to be what we all hope it will be. I'm not celebrating anything until they announce that. God forbid they get Sam Raimi to direct like everyone originally speculated. What a disaster that would be.
4 years agoby @k-manFlag
G-reg
This is going to be awesome.
4 years agoby @g-regFlag
TheLogicalDan
the golden compass isn't flopping, it is in the united states but in europe its already made over 100 mill. so its doing fairly well
4 years agoby @thelogicaldanFlag
AnnoyingFilmCritic
Nice...New Line had to get this deal right because Jackson is the best director for the job and The Golden Compass that cost $180 million is flopping at the box office.
4 years agoby @annoyingfilmcriticFlag
Blade UK
Long overdue, Peter Jackson is the only person who can direct 'The Hobbit'....it's about time New Line paid him what they owed!
4 years agoby @kevdaley1Flag
Space101
I have to agree that it's been a while since the last LOTR, but atleas this is in motion...sounds great!
4 years agoby @space101Flag
Brian
Thank the lord.
4 years agoby @brianFlag
brew1701
sounds like a plan......
4 years agoby @brew1701Flag
HLeRennet
Excellent news. Red Sox win another World Series and now this. Who will play Baggins? Bring back McKellen to play Gandalf.
4 years agoby @hlerennettFlag