The Hobbit

[RPG Post]

In a hole in the ground there lived a Hobbit…

Production has commenced in Wellington, New Zealand, on “The Hobbit,” filmmaker Peter Jackson’s two film adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s widely read masterpiece.

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“The Hobbit” is set in Middle-earth 60 years before Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings,” which Jackson and his filmmaking team brought to the big screen in the blockbuster trilogy that culminated with the Oscar-winning “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.”

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The two films, with screenplays by Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, Guillermo del Toro and Peter Jackson, will be shot consecutively in digital 3D using the latest camera and stereo technology. Filming will take place at Stone Street Studios, Wellington, and on location around New Zealand.

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“The Hobbit” follows the journey of title character Bilbo Baggins, who is swept into an epic quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor, which was long ago conquered by the dragon Smaug. Approached out of the blue by the wizard Gandalf the Grey, Bilbo finds himself joining a company of thirteen dwarves led by the legendary warrior, Thorin Oakensheild. Their journey will take them into the Wild; through treacherous lands swarming with Goblins and Orcs, deadly Wargs and Giant Spiders, Shapeshifters and Sorcerers.

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Although their goal lies to the East and the wastelands of the Lonely Mountain first they must escape the goblin tunnels, where Bilbo meets the creature that will change his life forever … Gollum.

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Here, alone with Gollum, on the shores of an underground lake, the unassuming Bilbo Baggins not only discovers depths of guile and courage that surprise even him, he also gains possession of Gollum’s “precious” ring that holds unexpected and useful qualities … A simple, gold ring that is tied to the fate of all Middle-earth in ways Bilbo cannot begin to know.

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Martin Freeman takes the title role as Bilbo Baggins and Ian McKellen returns in the role of Gandalf the Grey. The Dwarves are played by Richard Armitage (Thorin Oakenshield), Ken Stott (Balin), Graham McTavish (Dwalin), William Kircher (Bifur) James Nesbitt (Bofur), Stephen Hunter (Bombur), Rob Kazinsky (Fili), Aidan Turner (Kili), Peter Hambleton (Gloin), John Callen (Oin), Jed Brophy (Nori), Mark Hadlow (Dori) and Adam Brown (Ori). Reprising their roles from “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy are Cate Blanchett as Galadriel, Andy Serkis as Gollum and Elijah Wood as Frodo. Jeffrey Thomas and Mike Mizrahi also join the cast as Dwarf Kings Thror and Thrain, respectively. Further casting announcements are expected.

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“The Hobbit” is produced by Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh, alongside Carolynne Cunningham. Executive producers are Ken Kamins and Zane Weiner, with Philippa Boyens as co-producer. The Oscar-winning, critically acclaimed “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy, also from the production team of Jackson and Walsh, 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.

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Among the creative behind-the-scenes team returning to Jackson’s crew are director of photography Andrew Lesnie, production designer Dan Hennah, conceptual designers Alan Lee and John Howe, composer Howard Shore and make-up and hair designer Peter King. Costumes are designed by Ann Maskrey and Richard Taylor.

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Taylor is also overseeing the design and production of weaponry, armour and prosthetics which are once again being made by the award winning Weta Workshop. Weta Digital take on the visual effects for both films, led by the film’s visual effects supervisor, Joe Letteri. Post production will take place at Park Road Post Production in Wellington.

[Matt]

I am really glad to hear that The Hobbit is finally getting started after so many delays the last year or 2.

[Forge]

On Monday, New Line Cinema, Warner Bros. Pictures and MGM announced that the first film, "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey," will be released on December 14, 2012, with the second film, "The Hobbit: There and Back Again," slated to hit theaters the following year on December 13, 2013.

[Ouroboros]

looks like we'll never know how the film series ends ... unless, of course, the Mayans and all those fringe theorists are wrong.

[Mr Fox]

Well, I don't know about you, but I completely missed out on all the post rapture looting as I slept in late that day. Maybe I'll be awake for the Mayan end of the world....

[Joani]

post rapture is pre rapture is...

[Matt]

Expanding upon what Damon wrote above.

The Hobbit(sesessess)

The two movies have names: Part I, to be released on December 14, 2012, is called The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey; Part II, to be released a year later on December 13, 2013, is called The Hobbit: There and Back Again.

Also of note, Orlando Bloom is back as Legolas, which may seem a bit strange to the readers of The Hobbit, as I am pretty sure Legolas doesn't actually appear. Although he would have been alive and around at the time. Maybe he's part of a framing device. Frodo is back too, as is Galadriel.

Also not in the book: Sherlock Holmes. Joining Dr. Watson, who plays Bilbo, is rumored to be Benedict Cumberbatch (which is the greatest name ever), who plays Sherlock Holmes. Bilbo, Martin Freeman, is in a new BBC show entitled Sherlock. For those who haven't seen it: find it. Really. It is a great modern interpretation of Sherlock with plenty of nods to the readers (I assume somewhere someone still reads. Someone is buying ebooks.)

Also, Peter Jackson is blogging Hobbit stuff, as he did LotR stuff. Here. The first blog video is here (Link is to Facebook).

[Forge]