Empire Magazine caught up with Sir Ian McKellen at the UK Premiere of Speed Racer at which he had this to say:
“Yes, it’s true,” he said. “I spoke to Guillermo in the very room that Peter Jackson offered me the part and he confirmed that I would be reprising the role. Obviously, it’s not a part that you turn down, I loved playing Gandalf.”
The other great tidbit of news is that we have a timeline for the script development - about 6 weeks. Make sure to read the full story and intereview at EMPIRE! (Thanks to Mr. Platt for the heads up!) [Read More]
During our recent interview with ‘The Hobbit’ director Guillermo del Toro, he mentioned that Andy Serkis was ‘all but confirmed’ to be returning as Gollum. Well Andy Serkis has gone one step further by adding a new listing to his film work. ‘THE HOBBIT - Director: Guillermo del Toro - Role: Gollum’ has been spotted on Serkis.com! Take a look for yourself!
In an exclusive interview with TheOneRing.net, Guillermo del Toro talks about Ian McKellen, Andy Serkis, Howard Shore, Animatronics vs CGI, the ‘tone’ of the upcoming ‘Hobbit’ films and much more!
We had the opportunity to chat with Guillermo del Toro this morning from his current HQ in London. He’s hard at work putting the finishing touches on ‘Hellboy II: The Golden Army’ and taking interviews from news outlets about that film, and the recent announcement that he’ll be doing ‘The Hobbit’ and a subsequent Hobbit sequel down the line.
First things first, YES, that is him on our message boards, he told me he intends to post there as often as he humanly can. And yes, he is as cool and approachable as he sounds. Take a look at my interview! Read the rest of this entry »
Astute TORn message board member Gethsemane has noticed something particularly exciting on Ian McKellen’s official website. Looking through the Cinema section on the ‘2000’s’ film listing page, he noticed:
2010 - THE HOBBIT
Director: Guillermo del Toro
Role: Gandalf
This is unlikely a typo, as Sir Ian McKellen is known for his very active and up-to-date website. Now we just have to wait for the official announcement! [McKellen.com]
In a major step forward on “The Hobbit,” Guillermo del Toro has signed on to direct the New Line-MGM tentpole and its sequel.
The widely expected announcement came Thursday afternoon jointly from exec producers Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh, New Line president Toby Emmerich and Mary Parent, the newly named chief of MGM’s Worldwide Motion Picture Group.
Del Toro’s moving to New Zealand for the next four years to work with Jackson and his Wingnut and WETA production teams. He’ll direct the two films back to back, with the sequel which will deal with the 60-year period between “The Hobbit” and “The Fellowship of the Ring,” the first of the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy.
New Line is overseeing development and will manage production. Both pics are being co-produced and co-financed by New Line Cinema and MGM, with Warner Bros. distributing domestically and MGM handling international.
From Stuff.co.nz: [Full Story] (Image above courtesy of Stuff.co.nz)
The official announcement was made in Hollywood by Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson - who will co-produce The Hobbit - fellow producer Fran Walsh, and executives from New Line Cinema and MGM.
Jackson and Walsh said del Toro was “a genuine storyteller” of outstanding ability.
“A true original, Guillermo is a cinematic magician who has never lost his child-like sense of wonder. He understands that the fantastic must be grounded in the real and that all stories are only ever a reflection of ourselves,” say Jackson and Walsh.
“We have long admired Guillermo’s work and cannot think of a more inspired filmmaker to take the journey back to Middle-earth. We are delighted ‘The Hobbit’ is in such trustworthy hands.”
Don’t know what to do with yourself? Jump into the forums or into Barliman’s chatroom to talk with Tolkien fans throughout the world! [Forum] [Barlimans Chat]
Ed Gross at voicesfromkrypton.com managed a great Guillermo del Toro interview from last weekend’s New York Comic-Con. Mr. del Toro elaborates in much greater detail than ever before (at least on the record) why he was attracted to ‘The Hobbit’ in the first place and explains his vision for how his two films will transition into the Jackson’s trilogy. He says, “we are creating a beautiful overture”. Can you guess what the two scenes he hopes to film he called,”two of the greatest experiences of my life”? The audio is less edited and more telling than anything we have heard so far. Take a listen at VoicesFromKrypton. Dial up users be patient and let the picture of GDT with a Hobbit over his shoulder load, then click the play button. If anybody feels up to transcribing the several minutes of audio feel free to send it to Spymaster@TheOneRing.net
With Guillermo Del Toro’s recent interview at IGN and the mysterious ‘riddle‘ left on the TORN message boards, we know something is going to happen soon. But when!? The anxiety is killing us!
If you haven’t taken a crack at the riddle yet, check it out here! And for those of you who want to see the IGN Interview with Del Toro but don’t have the flash player 9 (Thanks to Diedye for finding the link) check out this YouTube version:
This news comes to us from the Hellboy messageboards, where Del Toro posts regularly, via Compa-Mighty:
Q: So is The Hobbit with GDT official?
GDT: Whew- Not yet. BUT there has been a lot of movement. And for the last few weeks there has been a lot of creative / cast / crew / visual talks and agreements and we have witnessed great progress in areas that I cannot disclose or that have already leaked from other sources. I am dying to share news but I have to be patient and wait until the papers are done and my attachment is real. Nevertheless- a LOT of progress in defining the films, their cast and crew. And, may I add, we are all happily in synch about all creative aspects so far and all willing and eager to move forth. I cannot say more but if all´s well the time will come To talk of many things: Of shoes — and ships — and sealing wax — Of cabbages — and kings…(Quote from Lewis Carroll- Ed).
Del Toro went on to say that he was swamped by the last push to finish Hellboy II, but LOTR fans could expect some news in two weeks time (this was posted on April 2, so very soon) and “a nice item at Comicon”.
Given the number of artistic people who love The Lord of the Rings it’s no surprise that a sketching tour of New Zealand should prove popular. Organized by regular LOTR tour providers Red Carpet and LOTR artist Daniel Reeve, the tours will take people around the film locations. A master watercolourist, mapmaker and calligrapher for LOTR, Narnia, King Kong and many other films, Daniel will share his skills with the October tour, leading workshops and demonstrations on the amazing landscapes used in the film. Places still remain for the sketching tour, which runs from 13-25 October. Find out More.
From hollywoodinsider.ew.com: While interviewing writer-director Guillermo Del Toro (Pan’s Labyrinth) about his upcoming summer sequel Hellboy II: The Golden Army, EW.com chatted him up about his involvement with The Hobbit. While no deal has been set —”We’re still in these protracted negotiations,” Del Toro says — the fantasy fiend did offer a few promising hints. Guillermo Del Toro Talks ‘The Hobbit’…Again
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Empire Magazine caught up with Sir Ian McKellen at the UK Premiere of Speed Racer at which he had this to say:
From hollywoodinsider.ew.com: While interviewing writer-director Guillermo Del Toro (Pan’s Labyrinth) about his upcoming summer sequel Hellboy II: The Golden Army, EW.com chatted him up about his involvement with The Hobbit. While no deal has been set —”We’re still in these protracted negotiations,” Del Toro says — the fantasy fiend did offer a few promising hints. 
