Although “The Hobbit” features several Lord of The Rings returning cast members, Ian McKellen, Cate Blanchett, Elijah Wood and others reprise their roles, Associated Press writes that the much of the film’s potential hinges on newcomer Martian Freeman.

The filmmakers were so set on having Martin Freeman to play Bilbo they halted production for three months while Freeman returned to British TV to reprise his role as Dr Watson “Sherlock“. Peter Jackson says “It was sort of unheard of for a big-budget movie, but because we wanted him so badly, the studio supported us, and we made that provision in our schedule,”, “He carries the movie. You get that casting wrong and you’re in huge trouble.” [Read More]

Benedict Cumberbatch who plays Smaug and the voice of the necromancer seems to be doing the interviews rounds and dropping some Hobbit spoilers this time to Anne Richardson from CumberbatchWeb: highlight text below for spoilers:

There has been a lot of debate of when “An Unexpected Journey” will split for film two “The Hobbit: There and Back Again” Cumberbatch teased with this hinter on when to expect to see Smaug it appears that it could be as early as the end of the first film:

“I think my eye might open at the end of the first film and then you’ll get the rest of me in the second,” he said.

This would lead credence to the fact the second film could be called The Hobbit:The Desolation of Smaug. The quote however was revealed before it was announced before the announcement of the third Hobbit movie. [Read more]

Leicester Mercury from thisisleicestershire.co.uk: the Tolkien Society is currently holding festivities at Loughborough University to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the first publishing of The Hobbit . The one-off, five-day event — The Return of the Ring — features talks, story-telling sessions, and for a massive exhibition of art inspired by JRR Tolkien‘s works.

There will also be a Hobbit-style banquet, a metre-wide sponge cake in the shape of a dragon, lessons in writing names in Elvish, costumed masquerades and recreations of classic Tolkien scenes. “We want people who like the books to come and have a bit of fun,” said Shaun Gunner, trustee of the Tolkien Society and deputy chairman of the event.

Tolkien’s grandson, Michael, will also make a rare appearance. He will read out some stories of his own and take questions from the audience.

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Malaprop’s Bookstore and cafe in North Carolina will be a hosting a party of special magnificence on Hobbit Day, September 22nd at 3pm it also happens to be a 75th Anniversary celebration since the publication of The Hobbit, they’ll have prizes and are holding a costume contest.

Hobbit Day was first proclaimed by The American Tolkien Society in 1978 to be on the 22nd September to celebrate both Bilbo and Frodo Baggins birthdays, it also falls on Tolkien Week which is in the same calendar week in September.  There is some debate however on the actual date to celebrate Hobbit Day due to discrepancies between the Shire Calendar and the Gregorian Calendar with some celebrating it on September 14.

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The landlady of  The Hobbit pub in Portswood is raising money to help pay legal fees as wrangling over the small print of a deal made over copyright with Hollywood’s Saul Zaentz Company (SZC) continues.

Pub landlady Stella Roberts said she could not discuss the negotiations as she had signed a confidentiality agreement but said “We are very frustrated. We’re living in limbo here. We just want the whole thing finished. We just don’t know what to do. We’ve been advised to carry on trading as we were, because we haven’t got a lot of choice.”

A letter from SZC in March had asked the pub to remove all JRR Tolkien branding. The company later agreed to license Tolkien brands in order to resolve the dispute over the pub’s name.

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