Del ToroMessage board member Woodyend found an interesting article from the Scottsman which (as usual) touches on The Hobbit amid comments on Hellboy II: “People know that, even in the nicest ways, I am allergic to ideas and memos,” Del Toro sighs. […] As for the freedom issue, he believes that he and Jackson, who will executive produce the prequels, “have a great understanding”. “We both know that The Hobbit, as a book and as an entity, is very different from the trilogy, but that the second movie needs to meld into the trilogy. So I believe I’m going to have full autonomy to rule that world within the parameters and confines that we mutually have agreed are necessary to preserve.” Read More

Peter Lyon, the man responsible for translating John Howe’s visions into LOTR’s workable weapons props, says he is looking forward to working on the Hobbit.The comment came in a reply to a recent fan mail, where he said that, all going well, he was looking forward to “completing the circle” to that part of his life. Lyon did not say whether his involvement was confirmed, but his words do sound hopeful!
Thanks to Josh for the news.

Businesswire.com reports: Greenberg Glusker announces that entertainment attorneys Bert Fields and Bonnie E. Eskenazi were included on The Hollywood Reporter’s Power Lawyers list– its annual report of the 100 most influential attorneys in the entertainment industry. One of just a handful of women named to the Power Lawyers list, Ms. Eskenazi regularly plays a leading role in resolving high-profile and landmark entertainment disputes. Currently, Ms. Eskenazi represents the Estate of J.R.R. Tolkien, the author of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings books, in a $150 million profit participation action against New Line Cinema.

Another week, another great FLASHBACK from Ringer Diedye. This week’s flashback details the events that took place in the Tolkien universe between August 3rd and August 9th. This is a weekly feature that Diedye posts in the forum, so if there is ever a time we don’t post it on the homepage of TORn, make sure to check the Main board in our forums. Click on the link below to transported in time!

Continue reading “Tolkien Flashback – August 3rd-9th”

Del Toro and HobbitThe Times Online reports on Guillermo Del Toro’s transition from his other projects to working on “The Hobbit:”

“I’m trying to be faithful to what I read when I was young. That’s The Hobbit I’m serving. I cannot serve a Peter Jackson film. We also hope to bridge the trilogy. We will create an expansion of what lies in the four books and in a number of appendices.”

Thanks to forum member ‘And back again’ for the link.

Voronwe the Faithful – attorney, forum member and resident advisor on the Tolkien vs. New Line lawsuit reports:

“As I predicted, New Line has filed a new demurrer to the First Amended Complaint, challenging the revamped Fraud cause of action, along with a Motion to Strike punitive damages. No hearing date yet, but I’m sure that it will be soon.”

Not up to date on the demurrers and complaints? You can find Voronwe’s previous update on the latest Tolkien Family move here and/or check out the great article Clearing up Misconceptions Regarding the Tolkien vs. New Line Lawsuit
he wrote for us in June.