How good is Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins? Oscar-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson says there is “simply nobody else” who could star in ”The Hobbit” epic that will be told over two films, the first reaching theaters in December 2012 and the second in December 2013.
“He is fantastic and there is simply nobody else for the job,” Jackson said during a recent break from the production in New Zealand and a whirlwind trip to Southern California. “We couldn’t find anyone who was better than him. He is simply fantastic.”
The skeleton that remained of the set has been a very popular tourist attraction. We also know that it has since been rebuilt for The Hobbit – and that this time it won’t be removed once filming is completed. It’s been designed to last 50 years.
But what surprises me is that the public can visit the rebuilt set right now before the cameras roll.
Ian Brodie, author of the detailed and very handy Lord of the Rings Location Guidebook, is the media and communications manager for the Hobbiton movie set.
He told me that multiple tours continue to visit the set each day. “The only thing they [visitors] have to do is sign a non-disclosure agreement.
They can take as many photos as they want, they just can’t post them up online or do those sorts of things. Certainly they are seeing it at its best.”
Evangeline Lilly, taking on the role of an invented female Elf character in The Hobbit, has been spotted in Wellington, New Zealand as the second and much longer stint of filming is soon to begin.
Lilly, who has been occupied for six years with the television hit Lost, will play a character written into the scrip for the two films written by Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh,Phillipa Boyens and Guillermo del Toro.
Thanks to Ataahua for the heads up from the The Daily Mail.
Peter Jackson, on his Facebook page, has written an essay about the West Memphis Three who were released from prison, one from death row two from life without parole, and released after 18 years, accused of the murder of three children. The news, as the essay makes clear, is very important to Jackson, the director behind Middle-earth films and friend to TheOneRing.net. You can read his Facebook post here.
On this episode of Hobbit in 5, we tell you about the latest 3Foot7 casting call, Larry D. Curtis’s article for movies.com, John Rhys Davies wants to be in The Hobbit, John Nobel is hosting a new bizarre show, meet a crew member from Weta. We also plan a night at a Hobbit house in Montana and experience a blizzard in New Zealand.
From the Hero Complex LA Times blog:
