LA Weekly columnist Nikki Finke seems to have some new information that even the Eagles, ahem, the rest of the inerweb hasn’t caught wind of yet. Reporting over at Deadline.com on Peter Jackson’s plans for the new King Kong 360 3D attraction at the Universal Studios Hollywood studio tour, she digresses to update fans on a few things “Hobbit”, all of which seem to indicate that serious matters are ongoing even as we wait and watch and speculate.
On The Hobbit front, I’m told that both scripts are in, that discussions are underway right now to determine if they’ll shoot in 3D. (I think it’s inevitable). They will set everything in place in a New Zealand powwow next month, and then casting will begin for a November start.
There seems to be no indication that the uncertainty surrounding MGM’s situation is impeding the progress on these films in any way (yet), but as reported recently by the Wall Street Journal and by our friend and messageboard member Kristin Thompson over at her blog The Frodo Franchise, MGM’s creditors do indeed seem to be close to a plan to resolve the studio’s financial woes.

Universal City, California–King Kong, among the screen’s most powerful and enduring icons, will re-emerge in Summer 2010 as a new signature attraction created under the direction of Peter Jackson on the famed Universal Studios HollywoodSM Studio Tour.

“King Kong 360 3-D” Created by Peter Jackson will be the world’s largest most intense 3D experience on the planet, combining thrilling visceral effects to create a next-generation theme park experience. Continue reading “KING KONG 360 3-D – Coming Summer 2010!”

A newly opened exhibition at Banbury Museum will feature art inspired by JRR Tolkien’s Lord of The Rings. The main artwork is by Ted Nasmith, the illustrator of the official 2010 Tolkien calendar. The internationally acclaimed artist’s admirers include director Peter Jackson. Inspiring Middle-earth will also feature work by other leading artists and will include a very rare print of one of Tolkien’s own early drawings. The author drew Lamb’s Farm, Gedling in 1911 and the exhibition at Banbury Museum will be the first time the art has been seen on public display.

Malcolm from ADC Publications adds: At “Edge of the Wild” in August, we shall have Tolkien’s Original drawing of “Lamb’s Farm, Gedling (1911)” on show (in a glass cabinet) throughout the event. This is the only piece of original Tolkien artwork that is held in private hands – the rest all being in University-held manuscript collections.

It came to light in the course of research undertaken for the biography of Hilary Tolkien (Ronald’s brother) by Angela Gardner & Neil Holford, which will be published and launched at this event as “Wheelbarrows at Dawn”.

“Edge of the Wild” is a FREE Entry Middle-earth-inspired Art Exhibition held 13-16 August 2010 at The Redesdale Hall, Moreton-in-Marsh, Glos, UK. More..