LA Weekly columnist Nikki Finke seems to have some new information that even the Eagles, ahem, the rest of the inerweb hasn’t caught wind of yet. Reporting over at Deadline.com on Peter Jackson’s plans for the new King Kong 360 3D attraction at the Universal Studios Hollywood studio tour, she digresses to update fans on a few things “Hobbit”, all of which seem to indicate that serious matters are ongoing even as we wait and watch and speculate.
On The Hobbit front, I’m told that both scripts are in, that discussions are underway right now to determine if they’ll shoot in 3D. (I think it’s inevitable). They will set everything in place in a New Zealand powwow next month, and then casting will begin for a November start.
There seems to be no indication that the uncertainty surrounding MGM’s situation is impeding the progress on these films in any way (yet), but as reported recently by the Wall Street Journal and by our friend and messageboard member Kristin Thompson over at her blog The Frodo Franchise, MGM’s creditors do indeed seem to be close to a plan to resolve the studio’s financial woes.
From CraveOnline: “King Kong” will re-emerge in July as a new signature attraction created under the direction of Peter Jackson on the famed Universal Studios Hollywood Studio Tour. “King Kong 360 3-D” will combine thrilling visceral effects with the world’s largest Surround Digital projection system to create a next-generation theme park experience.
CraveOnline has posted this exclusive clip featuring Jackson talking about the mythology and story behind the attraction and how the attraction will work.
Nobody has been cast in “The Hobbit,” but there are some clues that despite not being able to hire anybody, plenty of auditions are taking place. The latest example is Caroline Grace-Cassidy for the role of Primula. We aren’t announcing that she has been cast, only that she visited Los Angeles for an audition with “Lord of the Rings” casting director Victoria Burrows back in March. It might be notable that this is beyond “send in a tape” or auditioning in the UK where she is based so it could even be a second audition or an in-person follow up to a previous recorded reading. Click inside to see a larger shot and more discussion. Continue reading “Primula and other casting news / clues for ‘The Hobbit’”
Universal City, California–King Kong, among the screen’s most powerful and enduring icons, will re-emerge in Summer 2010 as a new signature attraction created under the direction of Peter Jackson on the famed Universal Studios HollywoodSM Studio Tour.
“King Kong 360 3-D” Created by Peter Jackson will be the world’s largest most intense 3D experience on the planet, combining thrilling visceral effects to create a next-generation theme park experience. Continue reading “KING KONG 360 3-D – Coming Summer 2010!”
Peter Jackson has hinted in the media for years and told us at TheOneRing’s own Oscar Party (not in that linked video) that he always planned to deliver a high definition ultimate edition of the LOTR trilogy.
Blu-ray sales for the LOTR trilogy were / are strong, taking the #1 position on the sales chart its first week, moving over 124,00 units despite its hefty price. But did it sell well enough? Can fans look forward to that Ultimate version to rule them all jam packed with new extras and the Extended Editions we have been waiting years for?
Nobody knows and Warner Bros. hasn’t revealed its plans, but the media is starting to pay attention to the possibilities. EE DVD architect Michael Pellerin is in-the-know (look for him soon with our very own Xoanon on TORn’s blogtalkradio) and spoke recently with Hollywoodnews.com.
In some of the highlights from the interview he said: (emphasis mine) ” . . . Thinking ahead, from the very beginning, we always saved the best for last. Now, people wouldn’t believe that because the Lord of the Rings extras were so extensive. . . . It’s very real, but right now the future of when these treasures will see the light of day is unknown. Continue reading “More hints about an ‘Ultimate’ hi-def LOTR box set that may never happen”
Linuxelf sends along more videos from back in the LOTR heyday. Take a look at Peter Jackson talking about the premiere of TTT, the TTT premiere in New Zealand and New York.