TheOneRing.net message board member (and director of films that win like – you know – Academy Awards) Guillermo del Toro chimed in today to elaborate a bit on the seemingly eternal pre-pre-production state of a pair of “Hobbit” films and the MGM situation.
Chatting up the regulars he said:
But know these facts:
-NO delays have been caused by “discussing” or “adapting” 3-D.
-Can’t close deals with actors without a green light.
-Can’t give a green light to the project when one of the studios is going through a “to be or not to be” auction moment.
For good or bad this project has demanded for so much to be solved before it gets going. So, the Phil Connors syndrome is met with great empathy.
Best
GDT
Yep, he referenced the “Groundhog Day” movie while confirming and elaborating on this report. The MGM situation and the two “Hobbit” films’ fate are bound together like Frodo, Gollum and soul-stealing jewelry. (We are hoping they avoid the whole volcano thing though.)
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After the debtholders of MGM’s $3.7 billion extended its payment deadline for the fourth time (yes fans, that might mean more delays to the much pined-for “greenlight”) Wired.com posts a story that says historic Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studio might sell off “The Hobbit” franchise and that Warner Bros. is interested in buying. James Bond is another of the studio’s potentially hot tickets that is also for sale. The whole story can be read here.
We have an alternative for the debtholders: Greenlight two “Hobbit” films already! Tell MGM to pony up its half of the production budget, trust the talent of Guillermo del Toro, the Middle-earth experience of Peter Jackson, the wizardry of Weta (you know, those one guys who made that fairly popular “Avatar” flick) hire the right cast and get cameras rolling! Since potential buyers are offering you pennies on the dollar, raise the value of the studio not by sitting around looking desperate but by making money. That goes for James Bond too.
Nobody at TORn claims to be a movie mogul but two “Hobbit” films represent $2 billion in box office at least. MGM’s share of that might take might ease some pain and give hope for the future. Ditto James Bond. -sigh-
Thanks to Ringer Spy Bidu for the spare eyeball.
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The guys over at MTV caught up with the incredibly talented and extremely busy co-founder and director of WETA, the Oscar Award winning Richard Taylor, right after he got off “a big meeting about how to make the new designs of armor for the new film” no less. Taylor shared a deal of information regarding the early pre-production that’s been going on in New Zealand while the rest of the world is anticipating the long-awaited greenlight for the two Hobbit films.
“The lovely thing about ‘The Hobbit'”, says Taylor, “is that the race of the dwarves comes to the forefront in the story, and [we’ll depict] the uniqueness of the collection of the dwarves. There’s a journey through the story with Bilbo, and that’s something that’s incredibly exciting — that we’re going to have a chance to feed and develop and watch them take on a much greater presence than the one dwarf named Gimli was able to in the Lord of the Rings. Gimli had an incredible presence, of course, but he was only one character. And it’s fantastic to think that we’re going to be able to develop the dwarves to such a higher degree … the richness of their culture. The fact that through so many different dwarfs, you’ll get to appreciate their cultural differences, where they come from, them as a people.”
Taylor had more to say concerning the early design phase that they’re currently in, about the new and wonderful worlds that the story of The Hobbit takes you to, and about working with Guillermo del Toro and Peter Jackson.
Read the entire interview over at the MTV Movies Blog.
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ITN reports: 
Sir Ian McKellen has spoken of his joy at the new films in the Lord of the Rings series and at being in them.
“I’m just glad Gandalf’s back,” the legendary actor said.
Director Guillermo del Toro and executive producer Peter Jackson are bringing to life J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings prequel, The Hobbit, in a two-part film. The 70-year-old said: “They’ve done a wonderful script, as far as I can tell, but what it will look like I’ve no idea. I can understand people being excited, and legitimately so. It is a real book, it was written by Tolkien, not just added on because they made a lot of money out of the first, it deserves to be made. It was a pity perhaps it wasn’t made before Lord of the Rings in the right sequence.”
The first part of The Hobbit is scheduled to be released in December 2011. ITN
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TheOneRing.net has a long tradition of convincing and slightly irritating April Fool pranks. We believe this one was one of our best in both respects. Hope you fell for it! And let’s all hope we have real good news about The Hobbit films in the near future!
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According to a source very close to the production, this draft of the official press release is supposed to be released with the launch of the LOTR Blu-Ray set on April 6th. But as always, TheOneRing.net has it exclusively for you first! Read on!
“The Hobbit” to begin Principal Photography in New Zealand in October
Guillermo del Toro Directs International Cast
1st film release scheduled for late 2012
(Los Angeles, April 6, 2010) — The Hobbit films will begin principal photography in Wellington, New Zealand, on October 11, 2010, under the direction of Guillermo del Toro, it was jointly announced today by Barry M. Meyer, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Warner Bros; Alan Horn, President and Chief Operating Officer of Warner Bros; Stephen Cooper, President and Chief Operating Officer of MGM; Toby Emmerich, President and Chief Operating Officer of New Line Cinema. The date marks the 11th anniversary of the start date of filming of “The Lord of the Rings,” trilogy, also in New Zealand.
The production follows the tradition of Middle-earth movie-making by filming the two films in the saga — “The Hobbit,” in two parts — not consecutively but concurrently, as though they were one giant motion picture production, a feat first established by “Lord of the Rings,” director Peter Jackson who along with Fran Walsh, serves as Executive Producer for this production.
Based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s novel originally written for children and beloved by readers of all ages, the film will have a same-day red carpet premieres around the globe on Tuesday, September 21st, 2012, the landmark 75th anniversary of the publication of “The Hobbit.”
Those high-profile premiers will include cast, crew, guests of the film studios and media including a celebration in the writer’s native Oxford, United Kingdom. Other participating cities are Hong Kong, Johannesburg, London, Los Angeles, New York, Rio de Janeiro, Rome, Salt Lake City, Tokyo and Wellington.
General release for the public will be on Friday, December 31, 2012.
“You see,” joked director Guillermo del Toro, “we kept our promise to fans and released this film before the end of the world,” in a reference to the Mayan calendar which concludes time on that date. “We recommend everybody take Friday off to catch an early screening — just in case!”
The Lord of the Rings franchise stars (in alphabetical order) Cate Blanchett, Marton Csokas, Martin Freeman, Mark Ferguson, Sir Ian McKellen, Andy Serkis and Hugo Weaving with other cast members to be announced before production begins.
The screenplay is written by del Toro (Hellboy, El laberinto del fauno) Jackson (Meet The Feebles, King Kong); Walsh (Heavenly Creatures, The Lovely Bones) and Philippa Boyens (Lord of the Rings, District 9). The producers are Barrie M. Osborne (The Matrix, Face/Off), and Rick Porras (Contact, Lord of the Rings).
* MGM and Warner Bros. will co-finance and co-distribute two films, “The Hobbit” and a sequel to “The Hobbit.” New Line will distribute in North America and MGM will distribute internationally.
* Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh will serve as Executive Producers of two films based on “The Hobbit.” New Line, under direction of Warner Bros. will manage the production of the films.
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An old TORn friend writes in:
“According to George R.R. Martin’s “Not a Blog” the latest Calendar of paintings of locations from his “Song of Ice and Fire” fantasy series will be illustrated by none other than LOTR illustrator Ted Nasmith. According to Martin’s website, the calendar will be debuting from publisher Bantam Spectra at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con in July.
For fans of Westros and other “Ice and Fire” environs, this series is currently in production with HBO starring Sean Bean. (But you already knew that…) I’m sure that Ted Nasmith isn’t the last LOTR alum to hop onboard this blockbuster fantasy series!
See the pretty pictures here.
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