Monday 7 February, Wellington – Production company, 3Foot7 Ltd, is pleased to announce that the first day of principal photography for THE HOBBIT will be Monday 21 March, 2011.
This date has been chosen following practical considerations of the filming schedule requirements, actor availability and the NZ seasons. Shooting will take place at Stone Street Studios in Miramar and on location around New Zealand.
Confirmed cast include: Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, Richard Armitage, Ken Stott, Graham McTavish, William Kircher, James Nesbitt, Stephen Hunter, Rob Kazinsky, Aidan Turner, Peter Hambleton, John Callen, Jed Brophy, Mark Hadlow, Adam Brown, Cate Blanchett, Andy Serkis, Mikael Persbrant, Sylvester McCoy and Elijah Wood. Director, Sir Peter Jackson, comments: “Despite some delays we are fully back on track and very excited to get started.”
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The bickering is over, the director is on the mend, and The Hobbit is about to start shooting. Hobbiton, near Matamata, has announced it will be closed for five weeks from February 14. While Matamata locals were tight-lipped about any goings-on, Matamata-Piako Mayor Hugh Vercoe confirmed filming was due to start and that the Hobbiton site – used for Shire scenes in The Lord of the Rings and now rebuilt for The Hobbit – would be a closed set.
“I’m just aware that filming is about to start,” Mr Vercoe said.
Production company Three Foot 7 Ltd has had resource consent to film on the site since December 2009. Hobbiton Movie Set and Farm Tours refused to comment. Hobbit publicist Melissa Booth denied the film had a start date. More..
Take a look at our collection of Hobbiton pics, dating back to 2000! Hobbiton in Pictures
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On this week of Hobbit in 5, Rebekah Platt delves into more character studies, updates fans on Peter Jackson’s surgery recovery, and covers more Hobbit casting news than you can shake a stick at. Plus a new Lord of the Rings: War in the North trailer is revealed.
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Like the character Bilbo Baggins he’s going to portray in the upcoming “Hobbit” films, Martin Freeman is daunted but excited about the journey he’s about to embark upon.
From Yahoo News:
“It’s very daunting – the daunting part is leaving home… I’m a real homebody, even before we had children, I was a homebody, so with children it’s like aww… I’m very excited though,” he told Modcast host Eddie Piller.
Martin initially turned down the role because of his commitments to the BBC detective drama.
“I had to turn it down because of being contractually obliged to do the second series of Sherlock for the BBC, which we are doing in the middle of this year,” he recalled. “I turned it down with a very heavy heart because things like this don’t come your way very often. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, as far as scale is concerned. It’s a huge, huge deal. But I was contracted to do Sherlock. I wanted to do both. When I found out I couldn’t do both it was very sad. And then it was very flattering when Peter Jackson rearranged the filming around my availability.”
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When we posted a sketch of Smaug, little did we know the passion it would unleash. One of the great mysteries about “The Hobbit” films will be the design of Smaug, one of the most influential dragons in all of popular culture. Many have an idea of what the great worm should look like but only people behind the scenes know for sure and they aren’t talking. Thanks to forum member and Ringer Blueman for emailing us his sketch (on the right) to get the party started. The sketch that gets the most ‘Likes’ will win a copy of the BBC Lord of the Rings radio play! Good luck to you all! [TORN Facebook]
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Wellington, 3 February, 2011 – Sir Peter Jackson was discharged from hospital today to complete his recovery at home, following a recent operation for a perforated ulcer.
He would like to express his grateful thanks to the doctors and nursing staff at Wellington Hospital for their expert care and to all those members of the public who sent their warm wishes.
Any delays to filming THE HOBBIT, are expected to be minimal.
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