The L.A. Times blog recently did a big story on Gary Kurtz who was a guiding hand in the Star Wars galaxy until he left after “The Empire Strikes Back.” He talks a lot about those films and his split from George Lucas over creative differences but he drops a little nugget about what Weta will be up to as well. It says,
He’s now working on a ramping feature-film project called “Panzer 88” that he says will begin filming later this year and will feature visual effects by Weta, the same New Zealand outfit that populated Middle-earth in the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy.
It isn’t thought that this should have any effect on the pair of movies based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Hobbit,” but people in New Zealand are certainly staying busy. Read the whole story here.
In an article by Australia’s Herald Sun about the re-release of James Cameron’s Avatar in 3D later this month and his upcoming producing role on GDT’s next directorial project At The Mountains Of Madness, there’s some very interesting information on James Cameron’s thoughts on GDT directing The Hobbit.
“I was telling him for a long time to get out of that thing because there is only room for one captain on the ship,” Cameron says. “Instinctively I knew that Peter was going to take over and do the movie. Guillermo, to his credit, didn’t listen to me and wanted to do continue and had some great designs – and I have seen all the designs. Of course he would have done a spectacular job, but don’t we want to see Peter do it? He should do it and Guillermo should do his thing. That’s what I told both of them – you should just stay in your corners.“
Speaking of the designs for The Hobbit, it might be good to recall that in an interview with James Cameron by Ain’t It Cool Newslast August on the then to-be-released Avatar, there was mention of James Cameron having seen WETA’s designs for The Hobbit. A snippet from that article reads:
Cameron mentioned that he’d seen some of their [WETA’s] design work on THE HOBBIT and that it really is the original trilogy world created by Weta and Peter Jackson, but with a slight influence of Guillermo del Toro’s style. Cameron said the two styles mix perfectly together.
For what is worth: Jim and I have been dear friends for over 17 years now. But that has not prevented us being very critical of each other’s work through the years. Just so you know- he would NEVER declare anything like this if he didn’t feel that way. What he saw were very strong designs and maquettes: GOBLINS and their environment, SMAUG (fully designed but without final color / texture), SPIDERS OF MIRKWOOD, MIRKWOOD, STONE TROLLS, WARGS, IRON HILL DWARVES, GUNDABAD ARMY, THRANDUILL’S THRONE ROOM etc, etc and he was delighted. This for me, as his friend, and as a filmmaker, meant a whole lot. You will / may disagree at the end of the process but, I assure you, this IS his opinion.
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment today reveals a new trailer for the upcoming Action/RPG The Lord of the Rings: War in the North.
The Hand of Sauron stretches far. No land is safe from the shadow. But there are still those with the strength and the will to resist. In the trailer, a human, dwarf and elf join in Fellowship, to combat the orc hordes that plague Middle-earth.
Developed by Snowblind Studios, The Lord of the Rings: War in the North introduces players to the brutal, northern reaches of Middle-earth, in a realm where survival depends on Fellowship. Featuring online, interdependent co-op play for up to three players, gamers join forces to do battle with the creatures of this world, while developing and upgrading weapons, skills and abilities. For more information please visit the official site at: www.warinthenorth.com
The New Zealand farmland that was transformed into Middle Earth for the Lord of the Rings film series has been recolonised by sheep, some of whom have set up home in the deserted hobbit holes. The rolling green pastures that provided the backdrop for director Peter Jackson’s trilogy were originally going to be converted into hobbit theme park, to attract tourists to the town of Matamata on the country’s North Island. But the plans were shelved, and the land is now home to 12,000 sheep and 250 cattle. They are allowed to roam around the 17 hobbit holes left behind after the production team departed. More..
When J.R.R. Tolkien’s epic fantasy tale “The Hobbit” was first published in 1937, it became an instant classic whose popularity compelled the author to write “The Lord of the Rings” as a sequel. And while the “Rings” trilogy is much darker than “The Hobbit,” the latter is still primarily considered a children’s work that’s been adapted for the stage, radio, audiocassette, CD, and as video and computer games. Lest you think that a convincing live performance could only be delivered by a theater with a budget sufficient to create the many and varied creatures found in “The Hobbit,” think again – because the minuscule Maverick Theater and sister company Improv Shmimprov have just opened a credible, often impressive live stage production based on Patricia Gray’s 1968 adaptation. More..
On Monday 27th September at 7.30pm The Lincoln Theatre Royal will host Charles Ross’s funny and impressive show titled ‘One Man Lord of the Rings’ in which he recreates the enchanting world of Middle-earth, armed with nothing more than a pair of elbow pads and his outrageous imagination.
No props or costumes are required as Ross hurtles through the Tolkien trilogy – The Fellowship Of The Ring, The Two Towers and The Return Of The King – in just 3,600 seconds of unbelievable kinetic entertainment.
