Mike Fleming over at Deadline.com is reporting that Andy Serkis is close to signing on for The Hobbit. Any would of course be reprising his role as Gollum. In addition, rumor has it that Sir Christopher Lee is also in talks to reprise his role as Saruman. Saruman was the leader of the White Council, a council of the Wise in Middle-earth that decided to try to oust Sauron from his fortress in Mirkwood forest at the time of The Hobbit. And, if you can stand even more good news, Sir Ian Holm is also rumored to be in talks to appear in the movies as an older Bilbo. Read more about this at Deadline.com
Meanwhile we will try to get the news about Andy directly from Andy himself, stay tuned!
Linuxelf writes: Brief news clip on New Zealand’s Prime Channel about the possibility of Elijah Wood returning in The Hobbit, as first reported on Theonering.net.
EXCLUSIVE – Deadline hinted first but TheOneRing.net can confirm that Elijah Wood will step in front of Peter Jackson’s cameras and return to Middle-earth for a part in ‘The Hobbit,’ — and we even know how. Despite how some fans will respond at first, the reasons are organic and natural and might not upset some of the most ardent purists.
LOS ANGELES, CA, January 6, 2011– Roger Birnbaum and Gary Barber, MGM Co-Chairman and Chief Executive Officers, Toby Emmerich, President and Chief Operating Officer, New Line Cinema and Alan Horn, President and Chief Operating Officer, Warner Bros. Pictures today announced that MGM and Warner Bros have concluded a deal for Warner Bros. Pictures to handle international theatrical and video distribution responsibilities on MGM’s behalf for Peter Jackson’s highly anticipated adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Hobbit”. This arrangement results in Warner Bros. Pictures handling the bulk of worldwide distribution, while MGM will handle international television licensing for the films. MGM and WB will work collaboratively to coordinate marketing and release plans worldwide.
Jackson, who directed all three “The Lord of the Rings” films, will helm the two films back-to-back, telling the story of “The Hobbit” from screenplays written by Jackson, Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens and Guillermo del Toro.
The two “Hobbit” films are set to begin production in February 2011, with release dates targeted for December 2012 and December 2013. Jackson will utilize groundbreaking visual effects and his incomparable storytelling to bring Tolkien’s novel to the big screen. Both “Hobbit” movies will be filmed in Digital 3-D, using the latest camera and stereo technology to create a high quality, comfortable viewing experience.
Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh and Carolynne Cunningham are producing the films for New Line, Warner Bros and MGM, with co-writer Philippa Boyens serving as co-producer and Ken Kamins and Zane Weiner as executive producers. The Oscar-winning, critically acclaimed “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy, also from the production team of Jackson, Walsh and Cunningham, grossed nearly $3 billion worldwide at the box office. In 2003, “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” swept the Academy Awards, winning all of the 11 categories in which it was nominated, including Best Picture – the first ever Best Picture win for a fantasy film. The trilogy’s production was also unprecedented at the time.
Peter Jackson is making Hobbit production diaries again! Actually, well, it’s not Peter Jackson but Peeder Jigson (AKA ‘That Mitchell and Webb Look’ and ‘Saxondale’ actor James Bachman). Take a look as Peeder struggles with Hobbit financing, and house chores, apparently. Strong Language Warning. Check out Bachman’s Funny or Die page here.
Welcome to 2011 and TheOneRing.net. We have been around for a while now but this is an exceptionally exciting time heading into a year that will finally see the production of ‘The Hobbit’ start in earnest.
2010 was pretty eventful in dramatic and difficult ways. With lots of J.R.R. Tolkien books on our shelves along with our Middle-earth inspired movies, it will be fun to follow the production again as Peter Jackson, Weta and Warner Bros. move a reportedly wonderful two-part scrip from the page into digital 3D (also available in 2D!) The year ahead will bring us plenty of news, ideas, rumors and fun.
While many media outlets world wide will jump on the Hobbit news-reporting bandwagon, we will stay right here in our well-worn and comfortable seats and enjoy the ride.
We look forward to the experience along with you, dear reader. As always, TORn remains not-for-profit and forged by and for fans of J.R.R. Tolkien so thank you all for your past and future contributions and support. This is going to be fun!
Mike Fleming over at Deadline.com is reporting that Andy Serkis is close to signing on for The Hobbit. Any would of course be reprising his role as Gollum. In addition, rumor has it that Sir Christopher Lee is also in talks to reprise his role as Saruman. Saruman was the leader of the White Council, a council of the Wise in Middle-earth that decided to try to oust Sauron from his fortress in Mirkwood forest at the time of The Hobbit. And, if you can stand even more good news, Sir Ian Holm is also rumored to be in talks to appear in the movies as an older Bilbo. Read more about this at Deadline.com
LOS ANGELES, CA, January 6, 2011– Roger Birnbaum and Gary Barber, MGM Co-Chairman and Chief Executive Officers, Toby Emmerich, President and Chief Operating Officer, New Line Cinema and Alan Horn, President and Chief Operating Officer, Warner Bros. Pictures today announced that MGM and Warner Bros have concluded a deal for Warner Bros. Pictures to handle international theatrical and video distribution responsibilities on MGM’s behalf for Peter Jackson’s highly anticipated adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Hobbit”. This arrangement results in Warner Bros. Pictures handling the bulk of worldwide distribution, while MGM will handle international television licensing for the films. MGM and WB will work collaboratively to coordinate marketing and release plans worldwide.