The chance to charge higher ticket prices has every Hollywood studio rushing to retrofit their 2D spectacles into 3D. Some directors are pushing back, concerned there’s an imminent future of cheesy-looking 3D that will stunt the momentum created by Avatar.
“After Toy Story, there were 10 really bad CG movies because everybody thought the success of that film was CG and not great characters that were beautifully designed and heartwarming,” Avatar’s James Cameron told me recently. “Now, you’ve got people quickly converting movies from 2D to 3D, which is not what we did. They’re expecting the same result, when in fact they will probably work against the adoption of 3D because they’ll be putting out an inferior product.”
Warner Bros and New Line will start the debate on The Hobbit as soon as Guillermo del Toro, Peter Jackson and their co-writers turn in the script for the second installment within a month. Initially, del Toro favored a 2D shoot on film, insiders said. But Warners is sitting on a potential gold mine, looking at an extra theatrical and ancillary revenue cycle if the studio spends $60 million or so to convert the original Lord of the Rings trilogy. It will be an all or nothing decision on five LOTR films, because Warners will not convert LOTR then release a pair of 2D Hobbit films that look visually inferior. More.
Time Warner Inc, Lions Gate Entertainment Corp and billionaire Len Blavatnik’s Access Industries put up rival bids of $1.2 billion to $1.5 billion for studio Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, sources familiar with the matter, told Reuters on Monday.
Time Warner put in the highest bid of the three, the sources said. The company has been seen as most likely to walk away with MGM and its library of mostly classics, such as the James Bond franchise and a piece of the two “Hobbit” films to be produced by “Lord of the Rings” director Peter Jackson. More
ONE-MAN LORD OF THE RINGS
APR 14 – APR 18, 2010 • BAXTER THEATRE
Presented by The Cleveland Play House
One-Man Lord of the Rings is a unique one-man show, featuring Master-Impressionist/Super-Dork, Charles Ross. In one hour, he takes you from the Shire to Mordor and back. Ross recreates, without the use of costume, set, or special effects, Peter Jackson’s trilogy: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and Return of the King. He plays all the characters, performs the music, fights the battles, and ultimately triumphs over evil, all in only 3600 seconds. More..
Thanks to Ringer Alex for sending along this link today.
HONG KONG – One of Peter Jackson’s frequent collaborators says the “Lord of the Rings” director passed the torch to Mexican filmmaker Guillermo del Toro to give the trilogy’s two-part prequel, “The Hobbit,” a fresh look.
After the huge success of the “Rings” series, Jackson is now working on adapting the J.R.R. Tolkien fantasy novel that takes place before the trilogy. But this time the Oscar-winning New Zealand filmmaker is producing and working on the script, relinquishing directing duties to Del Toro, whose credits include “Pan’s Labyrinth” and the two “Hellboy” movies.
We’re pleased to have internationally acclaimed artist Ted Nasmith on the show right now! Tune into TheOneRing.net Radio Show on BlogTalkRadio at the link below for your chance to chat with Ted and ask him questions about anything from his love of LOTR, to his long history on the Tolkien calendar and more! Be sure to check out the show right now!
The entire Lord of the Rings Theatrical editions are coming to Blu ray on April 6th! Warner Bros. has provided TheOneRing.net an exclusive clip from Fellowship! Take a look! Lord Of The Rings Trilogy (BD) Pre-Order your copy here!
