The Hobbit Is Go - With Peter Jackson Directing !

**Raptor** · 19th October 2010

This is a couple of days old now but I was surprised no one had posted it so here it is.......

We’ve waited and waited and waited… And now it has finally happened. Yes, the Videblogisodes are back back ba…. Sorry, What? Oh, no, we’re being told that’s not the news. Actually, the big news today was that two separate sources confirmed that The Hobbit has finally nabbed that all-important greenlight, and the two films are set to start shooting concurrently in February next year. And Peter Jackson has, according to the New York Times, signed his deal to direct, in addition to writing and producing the two films.

“Exploring Tolkien’s Middle-earth goes way beyond a normal film-making experience” Jackson said in a statement. "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”.

“There is no human being on the planet as qualified as Peter Jackson to direct these films,” concludes Warners’ Alan 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.”

But there is one small snag still sitting like Gollum, waiting to trip the production up – where to shoot. The union issues have yet to be resolved, and if they keep going, Warners and New Line will need to relocate the shoot somewhere else in the world, which will mean a budget recalculation. But wherever they’re shot, both films will indeed be in 3D, utilising the latest technology. Surprised? Us neither.

While no official casting announcements have been made, we know at least that Ian McKellen is waiting in the wings to play Gandalf and with casting having already kicked into high gear, we doubt it’ll be too long before Jackson is announcing who he’s picked to play Bilbo Baggins…..My money is on Martin Freeman

**evilsatan** · 19th October 2010

Good news! Did a fantastic job on the LOTR trilogy so hopefully he stays true to form.

**Mule** · 19th October 2010

They need Leanord Nimoy to do the music.

**Nibb** · 22nd October 2010

Information

Martin Freeman to play Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit

Freeman "was born" to play Bilbo Baggins, Jackson said
The Office actor Martin Freeman will play Bilbo Baggins in two-part Lord of the Rings prequel The Hobbit, director Peter Jackson has announced.

He said in a statement there had "only ever been one Bilbo Baggins for us".
Freeman, 39, was "intelligent, funny, surprising and brave - exactly like Bilbo", Jackson added.
Meanwhile, Jackson's wife Fran Walsh has reportedly told a radio station filming could move to the UK because of an industrial dispute in New Zealand.

Jackson said he was "incredibly proud" to be able to announce that Freeman would be the hobbit.

"There are a few times in your career when you come across an actor who you know was born to play a role, but that was the case as soon as I met Martin," Jackson said.

Spooks actor Richard Armitage, 39 - who has a role in the forthcoming film Captain America: The First Avenger - will play Thorin Oakenshield - leader of the dwarves.

Former EastEnders actor Rob Kazinsky, Sean Slater in the soap, will also play a dwarf.
He will appear alongside Irish actor Aidan Turner, who has appeared in BBC Three's Being Human, and British actor Graham McTavish, who has appeared on TV shows including Red Dwarf.

Other dwarves will be played by John Callen, Stephen Hunter, Mark Hadlow and Peter Hambleton.
The films are due to be released in December 2012 and December 2013.
'Other locations' As with the Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy, the film had been due to be made in Jackson's native New Zealand.

But on Thursday, film studio Warner Bros said the ongoing pay wrangle with acting unions had "forced us to consider other filming locations for the first time".
Jackson's wife and creative partner Fran Walsh, meanwhile, reportedly told Radio New Zealand that film producers "had people in the UK taking location photographs".
Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy won a total of 17 Oscars

"They've got a huge studio there that Harry Potter has vacated, the ex-Rolls Royce factory, that they say would be perfect for us."
Canada, Australia and the Czech Republic have also been linked with the production.
Unions representing actors and other workers urged a boycott against the $500m (�319m) production because of the dispute over contracts.

They are trying to force Jackson's production company, Wingnut Films, and Warner Bros to enter negotiations with them over the contracts deadlock.

While major unions including America's Screen Actors Guild and New Zealand Actors' Equity have retreated, smaller unions in New Zealand and Australia are continuing their boycott.

Meanwhile, non-union film workers have hit the streets in New Zealand to demand that filming stays there.
Earlier this month, New Zealand Prime Minister John Key said he would be "greatly concerned" if production on Jackson's film was lost.

Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy won 17 Oscars and earned billions of dollars at box offices worldwide.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-11604193

**Mule** · 27th October 2010

It's getting filmed in NZ.

A union leader has berated the Government for selling the "fundamental rights" of workers in order to convince Hollywood studio Warner Bros to keep the filming of The Hobbit in New Zealand.

A deal between Warner Bros executives and Government ministers was confirmed last night after two days of negotiations.

The Government has agreed to up to $34 million in tax breaks and help with marketing costs and an urgent change to labour laws.

The legislative changes will apply to the film industry - not just to The Hobbit movies - and will ensure that film workers hired as contractors will not be able to later argue in court that they were employees.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/ar...ectid=10683613