The Hobbit in Limbo: No Mo Del Toro

[TarionzCousin]

Apparently, Peter Jackson's efforts to make The Hobbit are coming up short.

Also: that sucks. How many really good fantasy movies have been made in the past 20 years? We really could use one (or two) more.

 

[Relique du Madde]

So who will make what movie first?

Peter Jackson: The Hobbit

Terry Gilliam: Don Quiote

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Uwe Boll: Predator versus Gelfling will be made before either.

 

[Mark CMG]

And the latest: Movie Talk: Peter Jackson Running Into Union Trouble on 'The Hobbit'

Apparently, Peter Jackson's efforts to make The Hobbit are coming up short.

The Dwarves were bound to unionize sooner or later.

So who will make what movie first?

Peter Jackson: The Hobbit

Terry Gilliam: Don Quiote

Are we saying that Jackson is tilting at Ringmills? Unless there is an untimely death, I think both will get made but as to which first, that is an excellent question.

 

[El Mahdi]

Sunlight breaks through the clouds!

'Lord of the Rings' prequel gets green light

...though the labor issues with the Dwarves haven't been resolved yet...

 

[horacethegrey]

Huzzah!!! Some further good news!

Peter Jackson and New Line Announce 'Hobbit' Casting - Heat Vision

Martin Freeman is set to star as Bilbo Baggins in Peter Jackson's two-movie adaptation of The Hobbit.

New Line confirmed the Freeman news, rumored for months, and also took steps to clear up other casting rumors by announcing a slew of other names, many of whom will play key roles of as part of the Company of Dwarves.

Richard Armitage, who stars on the U.K. series MI-5 and will appear in Captain America: The First Avenger, is set to play Thorin Oakenshield, the leader of the Company of Dwarves, who set off to reclaim the lost dwarven kingdom under the Lonely Mountain from Smaug, a thieving dragon.

Aidan Turner (Being Human) and Rob Kazinsky (EastEnders) will play Kili and Fili, respectively.

The remaining dwarves will be Graham McTavish (Secretariat, 24) as Dwalin, John Callen as Oin, Stephen Hunter as Bombur, Mark Hadlow as Dori and Peter Hambleton as Gloin.

Other key parts that soon to be cast include a host of human and elf roles -- including Elrond the sage, Beorn and Bard the Bowman -- as well as the voice of the dragon.

Expected to return from the Lord of the Rings films is Ian McKellan as Gandalf and Andy Serkis as Gollum.

The UTA and Creative Artists Management-repped Freeman is best known to U.S. audiences for his work in the U.K, version of The Office, Love Actually, Hot Fuzz and The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. He also plays John Watson in Sherlock, the BBC's Sherlock Holmes series that debuts stateside next week on PBS.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Uwe Boll: Predator versus Gelfling will be made before either.

And just like I said...its due in theaters this Christmas!!!







Kidding!

 

[Orius]

So they're looking to cast Beorn? That's a good sign, I was always hoping they'd include him.

As for the voice of Smaug, I still stand by my opinion that they should get James Earl Jones. I think a deep, booming voice would work well for an old and powerful dragon, and his voice is good for that.

 

[Mouseferatu]

Hmm. I agree that "deep and booming" is good, but I think JEJ has the wrong... Not sure how to say it. Tone? Inflection? Not sure. It's deep, but it doesn't feel right for Smaug.

Not regal enough, is maybe the word I'm looking for. (Plus, I don't want to hear the Vader/Smaug jokes. I got sick enough of the Elrond/Agent Smith jokes.)

Christopher Lee would be perfect if he wasn't already Saruman. (True, he could do both, but I think his voice is too distinctive for that to work.)

 

[Klaus]

Over at CircvsMaximvs someone suggested Ian McShane (and I did love his voice as Tai Lung in King Fu Panda).

Miguel Ferrer also has a decent voice (and specially evil as Shan Yu in Mulan).