The Hobbit is finally greenlit with Peter Jackson directing
The two films based on The Hobbit are now greenlit and will begin principal photography in February 2011, under the direction of Peter Jackson, it was jointly announced today by Toby Emmerich, President and Chief Operating Officer, New Line Cinema, Alan Horn, President and Chief Operating Officer, Warner Bros. and Steve Cooper, co-Chief Executive Officer of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc.
"Exploring Tolkien's Middle-earth goes way beyond a normal film-making experience" Peter Jackson says, "It's an all-immersive journey into a very special place of imagination, beauty and drama. We're looking forward to re-entering this wondrous world with Gandalf and Bilbo - and our friends at New Line Cinema, Warner Brothers and MGM".
"Peter is a filmmaker of incomparable ability; having him return to Middle-earth to produce and direct is a dream come true. A true original, Peter is a gifted story-teller, visionary director and pioneer in film technology," said Emmerich. "Reuniting with Peter, Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens truly makes it feel like we are going 'there and back again.'"
"There is no human being on the planet as qualified as Peter Jackson to direct these films," said Horn. "Peter is incredibly talented and has the creative vision and experience to bring this beloved property to life in a way that no other filmmaker could. And the team of Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens has proven through their work on The Lord of the Rings trilogy that no one is more skilled at transforming Tolkien's written words into a vibrant, living language that makes the audience believe they are not merely visiting Middle-earth, but actually living in it. We couldn't be more thrilled and look forward to seeing The Hobbit take shape under Peter's stewardship and the team he is putting together."
"MGM is excited to move forward and add to the successful Lord of the Rings franchise," said Cooper. "Under Peter's direction, the films will undoubtedly appeal to fans of the original 'LOTR' trilogy and also bring the stories to a new generation of fans."
Jackson, who directed all three Lord of the Rings films, will helm the two films back-to-back, telling the story of The Hobbit in two parts. Jackson will utilize groundbreaking visual effects and his incomparable story-telling to bring J.R.R. Tolkien's novel to the big screen. Both Hobbit movies will be filmed in Digital 3-D, using the latest camera and stereo technology to create a high quality, comfortable viewing experience. Jackson also co-wrote the screenplays with Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens and Guillermo del Toro.
"The Hobbit" is being co-produced by New Line Cinema and MGM, with New Line managing production, Warner Bros Pictures handling domestic distribution and MGM distributing internationally. Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh and Carolynne Cunningham are producing the films, with Philippa Boyens as co-producer and Ken Kamins as executive producer.
The Oscar-winning, critically acclaimed LOTR trilogy grossed nearly $3 billion worldwide at the box office. In 2003, The Return of The King swept the Academy Awards, winning all of the 11 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.
Original Story:The Wrap is reporting that both The Hobbit and The Hobbit Sequel have been officially greenlit.
Production is set to start in February, with Peter Jackson directing, producing and writing both movies. It was said that Ian McKellen has been on hold for the movie for months now and the site fueled the speculation that Martin Freeman will portray Bilbo Baggins.
The Wrap's report indicates that $30 million has already been spent on the two movies, which will shoot back-to-back with a $400 million budget. Earlier reports have put the budget as high as $500 million for both prequels.
It seems that the New Zealand labor dispute circling the movie has still not been resolved at this time, although the Screen Actors Guild are still in negotiations to resolve the dispute, which centers on SAG actors working in New Zealand, where they will likely shoot the movies.
You can
to read the entire article. We'll be sure to keep you posted with any further details on The Hobbit as soon as we have more information.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.
The Hobbit: There and Back Again comes to theaters December 13th, 2013 and stars Ron Perlman, Hugo Weaving, Ian McKellen, Andy Serkis, Doug Jones, Kiran Shah, Billy Connolly.
Comments (90)
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Joshua Schantz
Crazy Business. Do any of you even know who Guillermo del Toro is? One of the most imagination and best directors of our time. Like tolken, he to created whole Elfin languages(i.e. The second Hellboy movie). was it 27 mins or 47mins of a standing ovation at Cannes for Pan's Labyrinth?
11 months agoby @Joshua-SchantzFlag
Dan
@Josh Agreed.
2 years agoby @dan1Flag
Josh
Hopefully Peter Jackson makes a lunch date with Jim Cameron to talk the ins and outs of doing 3D properly. There's definite potential here, especially for the battle scenes.
2 years agoby @shuabertFlag
Cheetoboy
Yes, there finally going to put this out, But it was just a bunch of crazy nonsense though, It's only right that Peter Jackson does this movie, Plus that studios boycott stuff I guess was just a bunch of damn nonsense.
2 years agoby @cheetoboyFlag
Dan
You would.
2 years agoby @dan1Flag
Diaigma
Hey, they're corny, so I like them ;)
2 years agoby @diaigmaFlag
Dan
That was horrible, not great... lol
2 years agoby @dan1Flag
Diaigma
@Worth5Bucks - that was perfect, sir :P
2 years agoby @diaigmaFlag
Cyn
@TheMime - Between budget wrangling, studio ownership issues, studio financial problems, property ownership issues and Guillermo DelToro actually being on the job for the last couple of years, it wasn't really a case of them "making up their stupid minds".
2 years agoby @cyn-de-harvenFlag
TheMime
This was all just a bunch of nonsense sh*t.... They should have just given it to him a long time ago.. Happy to have seen them made up their stupid minds and let Peter do his thing.
2 years agoby @themimeFlag
K-Man
Greatest news ever! So glad Peter is back in the directors chair! December 2012/2013 cant come soon enough!
2 years agoby @k-manFlag
bruce_ha
Lord of the rings is probably one of my favorite movie experience ever. I'm glad that this movie has finally been given the thumbs up. But wasn't it obvious Peter Jackson was doing this?
One thing i hated about the last trilogy, though, is the fact that the Blu-ray edition was pure garbage. A lot of promises were made and none of them came through. I hope this time we will get a true full-hd experience.
2 years agoby @bruce-haFlag
skywise
I am in the middle of reading the Lovely Bones so i have not seen that film yet. I know he directed it but that is all i know. I keep hearing bad things but that might be good. When your expectations are as low as they can go then you can help but be pleased.
2 years agoby @skywiseFlag
Dan
Can't wait to read and watch the production of this movie throughout 2011 and 2012. If it gets its December 2012 release date, it'll cap off prob one of best years ever for movies. Very exciting.
2 years agoby @dan1Flag
Cyn
Love Peter Jackson. Did not like "The Lovely Bones"...
@Worth5Backs - LOL
2 years agoby @cyn-de-harvenFlag
Kazuma731
I sort of disagree with some people! I think this is great actually!
2 years agoby @kazuma731Flag
slysnide
@SerialKiller: I've not yet seen "Lovely Bones," but did see "King Kong" and "The Frighteners." Both were good.
2 years agoby @slysnideFlag
Dan
Still geeking out.
2 years agoby @dan1Flag
Dan
@Worth5Bucks That would be some corny titles lol...
2 years agoby @dan1Flag
Worth5Bucks
@ParkWilliams i think it should be called Part one "There" Part Two "Back Again" so that way you can say "i just saw 'there' and 'back again' this weekend. It was great"
2 years agoby @mattbierwagenFlag
Dan
I reviewed LOTR not too long ago. Not real long reviews, but long enough.
2 years agoby @dan1Flag
mosorwvlad
Oh yes baby that's how i like it. Green light with some Peter Jackson on the top. That came out wrong and sick, i mean i'm happy the movie is green light and peter is directing.
2 years agoby @mosorwvladFlag
Red Camera Man
@Slysnide If you do review "The Lord Of The Rings" movies, then you should also review any other Peter Jackson movie you've seen as well. The 2005 "King Kong" and "The Lovely Bones" (if you've seen that one yet).
2 years agoby @redcameramanFlag
Remy72883
now this is great news have the man himself do it, should have been a no brainier
2 years agoby @remy72883Flag
drexll
this is what we all wanted, del toro would have been awesome but jackson just had to do it in the end.i cant even begin to imagine how brilliant these two movies are gona be.im not a huge fan of 3D but im sure they will make it look mind blowing.this has made my day..
2 years agoby @drexllFlag
skywise
These movies cant come soon enough. Fantasy rarely gets taken seriously and Jackson showed the world how wonderful the genre could be if handled with care and love. Cant wait to revisit Jackson's vision of Middle Earth.
2 years agoby @skywiseFlag
Mutant
yes there is a God
2 years agoby @zenderFlag
Brian
Oh god. Greatest film news ever!!!!
2 years agoby @brianFlag
ParkWilliams
@Slysnide: The Hobbit is quite possibly the greatest fantasy novel ever written, and ever since I read at the age of 11 it's been my favourite. I really don't get why so many people continually critique Tolkien's style in LOTR because I found it entirely compelling all the way through. I suppose it takes a certain patience and the ability to read between the lines at times. I've read through the entire trilogy twice now and I find I just get more out of it every time I do.
It was a tragedy that they cut that scene, yeah. I was also slightly disappointed with a lack of The Scouring of the Shire. Though in context it made sense to cut it, it was one of the more interesting parts of the post climax events of the novel.
2 years agoby @azadorFlag
slysnide
I've gotta get to reviewing this trilogy. I've been putting it off cuz I figure I'd have so much to say that I'd balloon the review to being some collosal trivia piece. I only ever read through the end of the 'Council of Elrond' from LOTR1 and figured that it couldn't get better given that even from the hobbit's perspective, the adventure in the first half of that book was a drag. Of course I put it down at 'The Ring Goes South' when it does get better. Then I read the first half of "LOTR2," as well as up to the start of 'Journey to the Crossroads' before I put that book down. In both cases the films blew me away. I couldn't belive in the first book's case that it was even the same story. Then I read only the first half of "LOTR3" and then the 'Scouring of the Shire' when I learned it wouldn't be in film 3. Oh, and then a portion of 'The Black Gate Opens' when the Mouth of Sauron makes his entrance. Great performance by Bruce Spence who managed to make his way into the threequels of three popular trilogies in 2003 (Revolutions/LOTR3) & 2005 (Episode III). I've yet to finish reading the books. Didn't care all that much for Tolkien's writing style, but "The Hobbit" kicked ass when I read it in 5th grade a decade ago. Still is today.
My favorite scene from "The Lord of the Rings" in the books was 'The Voice of Saruman.' The cutting of that scene from the theatrical release was the first time ever that my jaw dropped, literally. I couldn't believe they cut the best scene. Neither could Christopher Lee whom was upset by it. Gandalf banging on Orthanc's door and spittin' fighting words at Saruman in a pseudo bitch fight. Great scene on the Extended Edition, though less comical than in the book.
2 years agoby @slysnideFlag