Benedict Cumbatch the voice of Smaug and staring as the Necromancer in The Hobbit films, helps kick-off the BBC‘s coverage off the 2012 Olympic Games in this short feature.
Posted in Benedict Cumberbatch, Events, Other Events
In December last year, I declared the first trailer a study in character.
Introducing and differentiating thirteen different dwarves to a wider audience most likely unfamiliar with the Hobbit and its ultra-beardy cast was critical for Peter Jackson. So Jackson used an entire trailer for the task.
But, because that trailer was so light on plot, we’ve been wondering ever since what degree of fidelity the story will possess and exactly how it might unfold.
The EW storybook addresses this at a single stroke. EW isn’t calling it a storybook, but that’s what Jackson has created. A gorgeously illustrated storybook that guides us through the key points of The Hobbit.
Read on for a spoiler-filled scene-by-scene review of The Hobbit — storytime with Peter Jackson! (more…)
Posted in Adam Brown, Aidan Turner, Andy Serkis, Benedict Cumberbatch, Cate Blanchett, Graham McTavish, Headlines, Hobbit Cast News, Hobbit Movie, Hobbit Movie Rumors, Ian McKellen, James Nesbitt, Luke Evans, Mark Hadlow, Martin Freeman, Mikael Persbrandt, Peter Hambleton, Peter Jackson, Richard ArmitageIn an recent interview with InStyle magazine, Benedict Cumberbatch said he visited
the London Zoo to study the reptiles in preparation for his role as Smaug the dragon.
“It’s an extrapolation of a performance into something other than an actor. But essentially, you’re still doing a scene.”
Cumberbatch who also stars in the up-coming Star Trek 2 and plays Sherlock Holmes in Sherlock says that his acting parents helped him learn the importance of professionalism.
In other Cumberbatch news, apparently he’s also landed a small guest spot on the Simpsons. Its been recorded, but no word yet on when it might air, or what the part involved.
[The zoo visit] | [The Simpson's spot]
Posted in Benedict Cumberbatch, Casting Rumors, Characters, Hobbit Book, Hobbit Cast News, Hobbit Movie, Miscellaneous, The Hobbit
‘Hobbit Romance.’ Yup! We knew it was going to show up somewhere.
Before we get to the spoiler fun, Total Film has named six ‘Hobbit‘ actors as part of their Summer 2012 Future 100: Aidan Turner (Kili), Evangeline Lilly (Tauriel), Martin Freeman (Bilbo), Richard Armitage (Thorin), Luke Evans (Bard) and Benedict Cumberbatch (Smaug/Necromancer).
We’ve attached a scan from the magazine for your viewing pleasure. (Courtesy of richardarmitagenet.com)
So now for the spoiler…highlight the text to read the details: (or if for some reason you can see text below, stop reading!)
“Kili’s part has been expanded from the novel; as well as chasing treasure, he’s also pursuing female elf Tauriel. But is he setting his sights too high? ‘I guess he knows nothing can ever happen,’ he explains. ‘She’s about 20ft tall and he’s only two!’”
So there you have it – at least one hint at how romance may play a part in The Hobbit! [TotalFilm]
Posted in Aidan Turner, Benedict Cumberbatch, Casting Rumors, Evangeline Lilly, Headlines, Hobbit Cast News, Hobbit Movie, Luke Evans, Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage, The Hobbit, TheOneRing.net Community
As staffer Ostadan reminds us, viewers in the U.S. will have a chance to catch the second season of “Sherlock” starting Sunday on PBS. The series stars Martin Freeman, soon to be fantastically famous as Bilbo Baggins and Benedict Cumberbatch as the titular character in the series. This page will get you started on when and where you can catch it in your area. The series, generally loved by critics and audiences, is smart and funny and dramatic and is an interesting preview of the actors who will become Smaug and Bilbo and have conversations in treasure rooms. Martin was committed to the series and Peter Jackson and Warner Bros. worked the shooting schedule of the two movies based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Hobbit,” to accommodate the actor’s availability. The first film, “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” is scheduled to hit theaters worldwide December 14, 2012.
Benedict Cumberbatch and Johnny Lee Miller just won the Olivier for Best Actor, which they share for their co-starring performance in Frankenstein where they swapped the roles of Dr. Frankenstein and the Creature. This is not the first time a Best Actor award has been bestowed upon their tandem performance, and only confirms the brilliance of this show. Luckily, for those of us who did not get to see the play, the National Theater will be broadcasting both performances at theaters all over the UK, USA and Canada for now, with other countries in the works. You can find out how to get a chance to see this broadcast at National Theater.
You can read all about the Olivier Awards and this win on their website at Olivier Awards. Benedict was unable to appear, he’s got a very busy schedule, but word has it that Johnny Lee Miller had a lovely acceptance speech. On behalf of TheOneRing.net, a really big congratulations to both actors.
Posted in Benedict Cumberbatch, Fans, Film Screenings, Hobbit Cast News, Meet Ups, Stage Productions, Uncategorized
Greetings all, Quickbeam here.
Rumors are flying as far as the Great Eagle’s sight that our newest wizard, Radagast the Brown, will have a more prominent role in the first installment of THE HOBBIT: ‘An Unexpected Journey.’ I am very excited by what Sylvester McCoy may bring to the role. The rumors are strongly suggesting Radagast’s rustic home on the eaves of Mirkwood Forest — Rhosgobel — will be more heavily featured than first suspected.
Color me intrigued! This kind of “newly added” material in Peter Jackson’s film adaptation is not canonical, strictly speaking, within the pages of “The Hobbit.” Yet it is canon from another Tolkien book! This stuff comes from the Appendices in the hinter-lands of “The Return of the King,” and therefore the most intriguing as to how it’ll play out in the new films. Among purists it might be cause for alarm.
Let’s investigate what we know from Tolkien — keeping in mind what the Professor seemed to be confused about himself may leave us with a minor mystery. Let’s also speculate on how P.J. is going to make Rhosgobel fit into the narrative of his first HOBBIT installment.
POTENTIAL SPOILERS WARNING
(more…)
Speaking with MTV about working with Peter Jackson on The Hobbit, actor Benedict Cumberbatch (who’s been cast in the role of both Smaug and The Necromancer) dished a bit about the work he’s done thus far on the films.
Excerpts follow:
I was in isolation with [Peter Jackson] and this incredible tag team. And at the very cool place with that technology doing mo-cap for two characters, Smaug the dragon and another character, which will remain nameless, and it was an awful lot of fun.
I spent a lot of time recording voice as well as doing movements. So, it was sort of freeing; it was fun. It was like playing a game. It’s going to be an amazing film; it’s going to be a real treat.
Catch the entire interview over at MTV. Many thanks to message board member f00 for the heads-up!
Posted in Benedict Cumberbatch, Characters, Hobbit Cast News, Hobbit Movie, Peter Jackson, Production, The Hobbit
The initials BC must stand for ‘Busy Chap’. Benedict Cumberbatch is set to become the darling of geeks everywhere (if he isn’t already); not content with being the star of Sherlock, with a lead part in the next Star Trek movie, and with not one but TWO roles in The Hobbit movies, rumours abound that Cumberbatch will be the next incarnation of The Doctor’s greatest nemesis, The Master. According to this report, Britain’s Daily Express tabloid newspaper ran an article stating, ‘It’s fitting that the Doctor comes face to face with his ultimate enemy The Master for the 50th anniversary and it’s felt Benedict is the perfect choice if schedules can work.’
Exciting times for fans of Cumberbatch’s work! Doctor Who, The Hobbit, Star Trek, Sherlock – where will he pop up next? Hmmm – an actor from Star Trek taking a trip to Middle earth – remember the result the last time that happened? What’s that – you don’t?? Well, let us remind you. *insert evil laugh here….*
Posted in Benedict Cumberbatch, Hobbit Cast News, Hobbit Movie, The Hobbit
We reported last week that Gandalf was spotted in Manhattan; we also know that Smaug isn’t in Middle earth right now either! Benedict Cumberbatch is busy in Los Angeles, where he has been filming his role in the forthcoming Star Trek movie. Two of his previous movies were Oscar nominated this year (War Horse and Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy), and as he was in town, Cumberbatch went along to watch the ceremony from Elton John’s party. Later, as he headed into the Vanity Fair party, he told BBC’s Radio Five Live Breakfast show that he got ‘incredibly excited’ about his first time being in LA for the event, and that the ‘glamour… doesn’t stop.’ (You can listen to the interview with Cumberbatch on the BBC’s website until March 3rd; it starts around the 20 minute mark of this programme.) He also told television reporters from the UK that he found the event ‘overwhelming’ and ‘extraordinarily… high-octane glamour’. If you’re in the UK, you can watch the television clip here; or you can read a report on what Cumberbatch had to say, as reported by digital spy.
Cumberbatch also told the BBC that it was a ‘great honour to be invited to the party’. We know of a good Oscar party at which he’d be very welcome next year! If he thought things were overwhelming this year, just wait until all the excitement for The Hobbit at the 2013 Oscars!
Posted in Benedict Cumberbatch, Events, Hobbit Cast News, Hobbit Movie, Oscar Parties, The HobbitSpeaking with MTV at the Golden Globes the other night, Andy Serkis played typically coy about the appearance of Smaug in the forthcoming films. “I can’t give any secrets away, none of those trade secrets,” Serkis said. “I can’t say that because actually it’s still under wraps.” However, he did seem to imply that they’re still refining how it will look in the films. Ta to Irfon for the heads-up.
Posted in Andy Serkis, Benedict Cumberbatch, Hobbit Movie, The Hobbit
mia writes: Series 3 of Sherlock with Martin Freeman and Benedict Cumberbatch has just been confirmed on Twitter by the show’s creators.
Editor’s Note: Here is the direct quote from show creator Steven Moffat:
