The Swedish Hobbit Blogger writes: Recently I noticed that the Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet had conducted a long interview with Mikael Persbrandt, who will be portraying Beorn in The Hobbit, and, in this interview, they asked him about his current career in big budget productions like the upcoming The Hobbit-films and a film based on the fictional spy-character of Carl Hamilton. And this is what he said about The Hobbit and New Zealand, translated to the best of my ability of course.
”When I, during the first day, is hoisted up to the ceiling in the west King Kong Studio in Wellington I know what to do, even if it is a bit awkward and difficult to begin with a difficult torture scene. I knew and could even suggest things.” (more…)
On this episode of Hobbit in 5, we talk about Peter Jackson’s latest production diary videos, show off the new trailer for The Lord of the Rings: War in the North, introduce pictures for The Lord of the Rings Online: Rise of Isengard, look for crew accommodations in Piopio, NZ, and find out what Peter Jackson and Andy Serkis think about Mikael Persbrandt. We’ll also cover Thrain in our character study!
Thanks to our executive producers: Henry Tobin and Danielle Logan
The Swedish Hobbit Blogger writes: I read an article in the Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet. the article was an interview with Peter Jackson and Andy Serkis in which they were asked what their opinions on the performance of Mikael Persbrandt had been so far. Roughly translated Peter Jackson said that “He has been amazing.” and that they will do more scenes when the current break is over. Serkis opinion, who also said that he; thus far, have only directed Persbrandt in was scene, was that the Swedish actor “Is Impressive.” Here is a link leading to the article I’m referring to.
Wellington, NZ, March 21, 2011—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.
“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.”
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.
“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. (more…)
On this week’s episode of Hobbit in 5 we look at more ways to help New Zealand earthquake victims, Mikael Persbrandt wins and Oscar, more character studies, and Ringer Spy HobbitWatch gives us a glimpse of a very special Hobbit action sequence with Bilbo and the Dwarves. Hobbit in 5
You may have noticed in last night’s Oscar broadcast that the actor who will play Beorn in the upcoming ‘The Hobbit’ films, was the lead actor in ‘In a Better World,’ the film which one The Best Foreign Language Award. In the film, Mikael Persbrandt (who plays Anton) is a doctor who commutes between his home in an idyllic town in Denmark, and his work in a Sudanese refugee camp. Congrats to Mikael and the entire team involved with the film!
Our geeky Swedish message board member “macfalk” has pointed us to a couple of interviews with Mikael Persbrandt over at SVD.se concerning his role of Beorn in the upcoming Hobbit films.
In Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit, Mikael Persbrandt plays Beorn, who has the ability of transforming himself into a bear. It was revealed that Tolkien was a childhood hero for Persbrandt.
“I read all the [Tolkien] books. I went to second-hand bookshops searching for the first “Bilbo books”. I was a fantasy geek. Jackson’s Tolkien-movies are absolutely magnificent. He’s the man. The whole project will be so exciting. It is about 700 people in the crew, I am to stand in a corner and try to be pliable.”
Persbrandt compares his role in The Hobbit to his first job as an extra for Ingemar Bergman, and the performance anxiety that occurs.
“I think I share that sense with many of the people in my profession, we never allow ourselves to be truly happy – instead, we begin thinking about the impacts. How am I as a bear? One start thinking about stuff like that instead of thinking that this could be damn fun.”
Ringer spy Kristi alerted us to these clips of Mikael Persbrandt, cast as Beorn in the Hobbit. “This one’s all in English. It’s especially interesting near the end when Mikael talks about entering a special world that some directors are able to create,” Kristi says. Mikael Persbrandt interviewed by James Lipton. This clip, showing his work as a Unicef ambassador in Afghanistan, gives us another insight into Persbrandt’s character. “This is a role outside his acting career, and I think it does him credit, and shows a Beorn-ish side that the filmmakers must have seen in him.”
Our Swedish message board member macfalk has alerted us to a story over at Swedish website Nöjesbladet(the same that had previously broken the news that Michael Persbrandt had been cast in the role of Beorn) that talks about the Swedish actor prepping for the upcoming Hobbit films.
Here’s the English translation of the relevant bits of the article courtesy of macfalk:
This spring, Persbrandt has a super-tight schedule. February 15 is the day when filming begins for “The Hobbit” where he plays Beorn, a shape-shifter character on the good side. According to Nöjesbladet’s sources, Persbrandt is now working out twice a day to get in shape for the two films besides taking lessons to improve his English before debuting in Hollywood.
Find the rest of the transcription over at our message boards.
Here at TheOneRing.net, we will be posting series of profiles for cast and characters we expect to play a role in The Hobbit films. Today’s highlight: Beorn.
Little is known of Beorn’s origins. He once lived in the Misty Mountains near the Goblin’s cave, but at the time of The Hobbit he lived in the edge of the mountains near the Carrock. Beorn was a skin-changer and could transform himself into a great bear. On the first night the Party stayed in his house, he warned them not to stray outside ‘on their own peril.’ Later that night, Bilbo heard growling and scuffling outside and Gandalf later told the Company he witnesses ‘a regular bear’s meeting’ that night.
The enchantment associated with Beorn didn’t stop with his ability to turn into a bear. His servants were animals that could walk upright and talk. He aided the Company by providing them food, and the use of his ponies as far as the eaves of Mirkwood. Later, Beorn killed the goblin Bolg in the Battle of Five Armies. Beorn’s descendants were valiant men who aided Aragorn during his search for Gollum (Unfinished Tales – “The Hunt for the Ring”). At the Council of Elrond, Gimli credited the Beornings with keeping the High Pass through the Misty Mountains open for travel between Rivendell and Dale.
The Swedish Hobbit Blogger writes: Recently I noticed that the Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet had conducted a long interview with Mikael Persbrandt, who will be portraying Beorn in The Hobbit, and, in this interview, they asked him about his current career in big budget productions like the upcoming The Hobbit-films and a film based on the fictional spy-character of Carl Hamilton. And this is what he said about The Hobbit and New Zealand, translated to the best of my ability of course.
