image If you’re one of the people avoiding the iTunes digital download option for the Extended Edition of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey in favour of a Blu-ray or DVD you can hold in your hot little hand, here’s something to tide you over while you wait.

Courtesy of Warner Bros., io9 has this little clip (also embedded below) of Elrond and Gandalf talking about the pros and cons of clearing Smaug from Erebor which Bilbo and Thorin happen to overhear. I won’t say anymore because I know there are a bunch of people out there studiously avoiding EE spoilers.

Continue reading “Bilbo eavesdrops on Gandalf and Elrond in extended Hobbit clip”

Cate Blanchett Between now and the morning of January 16, 2014, Cate Blanchett is set to be one very busy lady.

January 16 is the date when the 2014 Oscar nominations are revealed and Blanchett has already been widely tipped to take out the best actress Oscar for her role in Woody Allen’s critically acclaimed riches-to-rags film Blue Jasmine.

But first she has to be nominated, not to mention survive the other warm-up awards, from the Screen Actors Guild to the Golden Globes, though it is undoubtedly the Oscars which remain the big daddy when it comes to Hollywood gongs. Continue reading “Cate Blanchett’s long wait”

You’ve seen the dwarven cast members of The Hobbit without make-up. And you’ve seen them all kitted out as well. But have you seen each side-by-side: actor versus character, before versus after?

I hadn’t, not all at once, which was why I thought I’d share these images that I stumbled on, out there in the wild reaches of the internet (okay, Imgur, to be precise). Looking at them as a group, it struck me quite forcefully how they crew had chosen to work with the facial structure of each actor, rather than create something entirely new. Jed Brophy and Mark Hadlow are probably the most striking examples. Anyway, enjoy! Continue reading “The Hobbit’s dwarves: before make-up, and after”

Thorin_Oakenshield Fairfax entertainment reporter Giles Hardie visited the set of The Hobbit on the same two-day press junket that Dark Horizons, IGN and other media outlets went on.

His article is a bit of a fluff piece, and probably doesn’t divulge much that’s new to regular TORn readers, but the bit about McKellen preferring to not reprise his roles is certainly interesting.


Benedict Cumberbatch has had a bad week as The Fifth Estate bombed at the US and UK box offices, but his next film is as close to a guaranteed box office winner as they come. In fact, it might be said he will set the box office ablaze, as Cumberbatch voices the dragon Smaug in the forthcoming second Hobbit movie. Continue reading “Five Hobbit films that did not get made”

300512id1_TheHobbit_TDOS_INTL_Tapestry_Keyart_7inH_x_38inW.indd You’ve undoubtedly heard that that Peter Jackson will be hosting a simultaneous world-wide LIVE Fan Event in a eleven different cities to celebrate the forthcoming release of The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.

Everyone around the world will be able to watch the LIVE stream of the Q&A on the web at The Hobbit on Youtube. So don’t panic!

However, if you live close enough, you may be able to attend an event at your local theater!

That’s because four cities — New York, Los Angeles, London and Wellington — will feature guests from The Hobbit’s cast and crew LIVE and in-person taking questions! Continue reading “Here’s how to grab your tickets for The Desolation of Smaug LIVE Fan Event happening on November 4!”

Can’t wait until The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Extended Edition is released on DVD and Blu-ray November 4th?  Can’t download it on iTunes?  Want to know exactly what those 13 minutes of extra footage are going to reveal?  Well, wait no more!  We have a detailed list of each extended scene, as well as a few screencaps for good measure.  Warning: SPOILERS AHEAD!

 

04:10:  Additional footage of Thranduil at Erebor.  (Bilbo’s voiceover): “All would pay homage to him, even the great elven King Thranduil… (new) As the great wealth of the dwarves grew, their store of good will ran thin.  No one knows exactly what began the rift.  The elves say the dwarves stole their treasure. The dwarves tell another tale.  They say the Elven king refused to give them their rightful pay.  It is sad, Frodo, how old alliances can be broken, how friendships between peoples can be lost.  And for what?” Continue reading “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Extended Edition Scene Guide”