With MGM involved in financing “The Hobbit,” and Tom Cruise heading its United Artists division, its been a TORn staff hobby to joke about Tom Cruise playing Bilbo. Far fetched? Perhaps, but, he just flew to Wellington to meet with Peter Jackson. No joke.
The pair could be talking about anything. Jackson could be giving Cruise advice on New Zealand real estate, they could be talking about “Dam Busters,” or the speculated-on “District 10,” that would serve as a sequel for the Jackson-produced hit “District 9.” Maybe he wants the juicy role of The Necromancer. Nobody really knows the reason behind the meeting but we do know everybody will be talking about it. You can read the article right here or you can read on for some more story. Continue reading “And Bilbo is . . . Tom Cruise?”
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Thanks to forum member Theodred for tuning us into this video. In it, PJ talks about hid anxiety revisiting his most successful venture to date, but once they got under way on ‘The Hobbit’ they felt very comfortable revisiting Middle-earth.
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Ringer Karl Falconer, who attended the BFI IMAX LOTR All-night screening managed to snag the following video of Sir Ian McKellen at last night’s event. The video is on Karl’s Facebook page, so I’ll need to login to see it – but its worth it! First off, Sir Ian revels he will be in New Zealand in March to begin filming for approximately a year, with the first of two films being released Christmas 2011. (as expected, but great to hear from Ian!) As our earlier reports have revealed, Sir Ian also states he ‘pretty well knows’ who will play “Frodo” (maybe a small slip up, and he meant Bilbo) and that we will be happy with the casting (2:22 mark of video). A huge thanks to Karl for sending us the link to his video. [Ian McKellen Video] And while you are on facebook, don’t forget to become a fan of TheOneRing.net! [TORn on Facebook]
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We heard some rumors this week, that remain unverified, that the script for “The Hobbit,” has been delivered to the studio. The rumors indicate that the first draft that Peter Jackson talked about at Comic-Con is in the process of having a budget built from it. Is this true? Can you bank on it? We don’t know for sure, but we have a hunch this is the case.
Then we received the following e-mail tonight from Ringer spy Olli from an all-night LOTR screening which seems to confirm everything we have been hearing and he was definitely not the source of our earlier rumors. He says, “Currently at the all night screening at the bfi IMAX, London of lotr. Ian McKellan dropped by earlier and revealed he is currently re-Reading the hobbit and is expecting to be back in NZ in march. App(arently) he also knows who they’re getting to play Bilbo & that he should be seeing the script within the next week. Well it’s 3:30am – TTT is about to begin so bye!” Big thanks to Olli and our other unrevealed whisperers.
Again, we cannot confirm this but we believe Sir Ian. We think the script is finished, the studio likes it (more or less), Bilbo has been chosen. “The Hobbit,” may have a green light, there may be may be a Bilbo who has agreed in principal (or more officially perhaps) and pre-production might have started or be about to begin! (We think it may have started.) If anybody knows more or know differently, send us word immediately! Continue reading “McKellen says Bilbo is cast; ‘Hobbit’ script likely finished”
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Gotta love the return of our Spies to the wonderful sets of Middle-earth! Ringer Spy Periadoc Took sends in the following report from the Hobbiton set in Matamata:
I was in Matamata this weekend and went to Hobbiton, truth be told I wasn’t extremely surprised to see these upgrades but still a good sign.
Not only have they started putting plywood screens with spraypainted “hobbit hole” openings on them as per these pictures, but as you can see they have also planted new trees that will then be relocated and used for the set, the grass here is what they used for thatching as well during the movies, so once again a great sign of things moving on.
They have also, within the last weeks started strengthening the ground around Bag End and put wooden supports up, it seems things are all getting set for a start sometime of the middle of next year!
Check out the gallery of pictures in our scrapbook! [Hobbiton Rebuild Gallery]
Continue reading “EXCLUSIVE: More Pics from Hobbiton Rebuild”
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News is all over the place today about changes at the top of MGM, one of the studios co-financing and co-producing “The Hobbit.” There are lots of stories that tackle the business side of things. The New York Times takes a crack as does the L.A. Times while The Wrap looks at a possible takeover while Variety looks at Hollywood’s reaction and The Geek FreePress examines what it might mean for “The Hobbit,” calling this change the possible dragon for the film.
Kristin Thompson also weighed in with two seperate blog posts found here and here.
If anybody in our spy network has any further info of what this might mean, please send us word at SpyMaster@TheOneRing.net.
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