Del Toro: McKellen and Serkis Will Be Back For HOBBIT

With only just a few days having passed since it was officially announced the Guillermo del Toro would direct the adaptation of J R R Tolkein's The Hobbit, with Lord Of The Rings director Peter Jackson producing, casting news is already starting to break on the film. In an interview with Tolkein fan site TheOneRing, del Toro has confirmed that "all bureaucracy pending," Ian McKellen and Andy Serkis will be back to reprise their Lord Of The Rings roles of Gandalf the wizard and the tortured and twisted Gollum.

Both McKellen and Serkis are already listing the film on their websites, so it is probably safe to assume that any pending bureaucracy will be quickly cleared away, Del Toro also stated that several key creative people who worked on Lord Of The Rings should be back as well including composer Howard Shore, special effects supervisor Andy Taylor and conceptual artists John Howe and Alan Lee.

In the interview, del Toro stressed that he will be keeping The Hobbit very much in line with what Jackson had already established in his films, but extrapolating how things were in Middle Earth fifty years before the tumultuous events of Rings. Not surprisingly, del Toro also stated that he wants to use more animatronics to create many of Middle Earth’s beasties.

The only thing I will be pushing for more in these films that the other three are full animatronics and animatronic creatures enhanced with CGI, as opposed to CGI creatures themselves. We really want to take the state-of-the-art animatronics and take a leap ten years into the future with the technology we will develop for the creatures in the movie. We have every intention to do for animatronics and special effects what the other films did for virtual reality.

One name that does not appear in the interview is Christopher Lee’s, who played Gandalf’s fellow wizard Sauruman, who became slowly corrupted by the influence of the evil Sauron. Del Toro states that the as yet untitled film to follow The Hobbit will help to fill in what transpired in the 50 years between The Hobbit and The Lord Of The Rings, and anyone who is familiar with the background that Tolkein developed for his books can tell you, Sauruman is an important figure during that time. Lee is a self-professed fanatic for Tolkein’s Middle Earth, so I doubt he would turn down this last chance to contribute to a cinematic recreation of that world.

But while the continuing flow of new about The Hobbit film has been greeted warmly and enthusiastically through most sectors of the geek press, Salon’s Andrew O’Hehir has risen as the loudest, and most rational, voice of dissent. Where some have dismissed the news with the usual Internet bile, O’Hehir has outlined some interesting arguments as to why del Toro is not the ideal choice for the films. (That said, I’d point out that del Toro didn’t set aside his other projects like his adaptation of Lovecraft’s At The Mountains Of Madness to make The Hobbit as O’Hehir suggests so much as they were set aside for him by dint of not being able to secure the studio financing they would need.)

O’Hehir argues that since Jackson’s busy schedule finishing off The Lovely Bones and plunging into his collaboration with Steven Spielberg to adapt the European Tintin comic strip into a trilogy of films, del Toro was hired simply to serve as a "Jackson surrogate" on the set and that he would not have any degree of creative control. To hammer the point home, he invokes the name of George Lucas, perhaps in a hope to recall in movie fans’ minds the accusations that Lucas worked director Richard Marquand like a puppet on the set of Return Of The Jedi. An interesting analogy, but one that ignores one crucial fact- The Empire Strikes Back. If Lucas was in the habit of hiring directors who would simply do his bidding, why did Irv Kershner’s work on the middle film of the original Star Wars trilogy stand out so strongly compared to the two other films?

I think with only the merest bit of pre-production work having been done, it might be a little too early to say that del Toro is going to be Jackson’s sock puppet on these films. While there approaches to fantasy films may be different, I think that del Toro and Jackson have a lot more in common than just being two hefty guys with beards. If the time comes where it may be obvious that del Toro took the gig just for the money and to get some juice to get his other projects greenlit, and I admit that may be a remote possibility, than I’ll be one to stand up and say so. Until then, let’s enjoy the anticipation of the best of what these films can be.

WOLVERINE Cast Increasing Again

Back in 1859, settlers in Australia introduced the bunny rabbit into the country's ecology. As they had no natural predators in this new environment, the rabbits quickly multiplied to point where they were in danger of throwing the whole ecosystem out of whack. Within a decade, settlers could hunt and kill up to two million rabbits a year without any noticeable impact on the rabbit population.

Something similar may need to be done to the cast of X-Men Origins: Wolverine.

Since we last reported on the latest cast announcements for the X-Men franchise prequel, Variety has come forth with two more names to add to the film’s ever-increasing cast list.

The Lord Of The Rings' Dominic Monaghan has signed on to play Barnell, yet another mysterious character from Wolverine’s past with the ability to manipulate electricity and other forms of electricity.

Also joining the cast is Daniel Henney, playing the enigmatically named Agent Zero. Zero is another product of the government-sponsored program that created Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) and the previously announced Kayla Silverfox and Wraith. All of the characters have served on the superpowered covert ops group Team X, so comic fans will probably already have a good idea as to where the film’s story is heading.

X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE- First Look!

The folks over at USA Today have gotten the first official look at the X-Men prequel focusing on fan favorite Wolverine, and we're passing it on to you.

The accompanying article hints at a few things fans can expect in the film (*coughSabertoothcough*), as well as why star Hugh Jackman believes why audiences conected with the X-Men characters when they first hit the big screen.

As for the picture, well... it's Jackman in a t-shirt with the claws. Nothing that we really haven't seen before. While it should be interesting to see how they flesh out the hints of Wolverine's origins that were dropped throughout the three X-Men films, I just wish they could have let the first picture be something new to whet our taste for the movie.

It's Official! Jackson To Produce Two New HOBBIT films!

Christmas just landed early for fans of JRR Tolkien's Lord Of The Rings and of director Peter Jackson's film adaptations of those books.

Jackson and New Line Cinema have finally settled their differences and announced today that they will be producing, in conjunction with MGM Studios, two new films based on Tolkien's The Hobbit and other material which will serve as a prequel to Jackson's fantasy trilogy.

A press statement released earlier today confirmed what many had felt would be the plan if the project ever got off the ground. The first of the two films will adapt Tolkien's Hobbit while the second film will be drawn from numerous notes about the story's Middle Earth setting and will serve as a bridge between The Hobbit film and the Lord Of The Rings trilogy. Pre-production is expected to begin almost immediately, with a tentative 2009 start date for filming. Both films will be shot simultaneously, with The Hobbit hitting screens in 2010 and the second film a year later.

The press release does not confirm, however, a previous report that the two films might be shot in 3D.

While Jackson is set to produce, there has been no word has been said as to who may actually write and direct the films. Surely the first choice of everyone involved would be to have Jackson himself helm the pictures. However, his plate is a bit full right now. Location shooting for his current film The Lovely Bones has just wrapped this past Friday in Philadelphia and is scheduled to resume in the new year at his home studio in New Zealand. Also, Jackson is set to direct one of the three animated Tin Tin films he is currently developing with Steven Spielberg. Will he have both of these projects out of the way in time for a 2009 production start for these two films? Will his work on Lovely Bones and Tin Tin keep him from co-writing the screenplay?

The complete text of the press release is as follows-

PETER JACKSON AND NEW LINE CINEMA JOIN WITH MGM TO PRODUCE "THE HOBBIT"
December 18, 2007

ACADEMY AWARD-WINNER PETER JACKSON AND NEW LINE CINEMA JOIN WITH MGM TO PRODUCE "THE HOBBIT," EAGERLY-ANTICIPATED FANTASY ADVENTURE EPIC

NEW LINE AND MGM TO CO-PRODUCE AND SHARE WORLDWIDE
DISTRIBUTION RIGHTS

PETER JACKSON AND FRAN WALSH TO EXECUTIVE PRODUCE
TWO FILMS BASED ON "THE HOBBIT"

Los Angeles, CA (Tuesday, December 18, 2007) Academy Award-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson; Harry Sloan, Chairman and CEO, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (MGM); Bob Shaye and Michael Lynne, Co-Chairmen and Co-CEOs of New Line Cinema have jointly announced today that they have entered into the following series of agreements:

* MGM and New Line will co-finance and co-distribute two films, The Hobbit and a sequel to The Hobbit. New Line will distribute in North America and MGM will distribute internationally.

* Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh will serve as Executive Producers of two films based on The Hobbit. New Line will manage the production of the films, which will be shot simultaneously.

* Peter Jackson and New Line have settled all litigation relating to the Lord of the Rings (LOTR) Trilogy.

Said Peter Jackson, "I’m very pleased that we've been able to put our differences behind us, so that we may begin a new chapter with our old friends at New Line. The Lord of the Rings is a legacy we proudly share with Bob and Michael, and together, we share that legacy with millions of loyal fans all over the world. We are delighted to continue our journey through Middle Earth. I also want to thank Harry Sloan and our new friends at MGM for helping us find the common ground necessary to continue that journey."

"Peter Jackson has proven himself as the filmmaker who can bring the extraordinary imagination of Tolkien to life and we full heartedly agree with the fans worldwide who know he should be making The Hobbit," said Sloan, MGM’s Chairman and CEO. "Now that we are all in agreement on The Hobbit, we can focus on assembling the production team that will capture this phenomenal tale on film."

Bob Shaye, New Line Co-Chairman and Co-CEO comments, "We are very pleased we have been able to resolve our differences, and that Peter and Fran will be actively and creatively involved with The Hobbit movies. We know they will bring the same passion, care and talent to these films that they so ably accomplished with The Lord of the Rings Trilogy."

"Peter is a visionary filmmaker, and he broke new ground with The Lord of the Rings," notes Michael Lynne, New Line Co-Chairman and Co-CEO. "We’re delighted he’s back for The Hobbit films and that the Tolkien saga will continue with his imprint. We greatly appreciate the efforts of Harry Sloan, who has been instrumental in helping us reach our new accord."

The two Hobbit films – The Hobbit and its sequel – are scheduled to be shot simultaneously, with pre-production beginning as soon as possible. Principal photography is tentatively set for a 2009 start, with the intention of The Hobbit release slated for 2010 and its sequel the following year, in 2011.

The Oscar-winning, critically-acclaimed LOTR Trilogy grossed nearly $3 billion worldwide at the box-office. In 2003, Return of the King swept the Academy Awards, winning all of the eleven categories in which it was nominated, including Best Picture – the first ever Best Picture win for a fantasy film. The Trilogy's production was also unprecedented at the time.

For more information about The Hobbit films, please visit http://www.thehobbitblog.com/.

About New Line Cinema
Corporation:Celebrating its 40th anniversary year, New Line Cinema is the most successful independent film company in the world. Its mission is to produce innovative, popular and profitable entertainment in the best creative environment. In addition to the production, marketing and distribution of theatrical motion pictures, the fully-integrated studio has divisions devoted to home entertainment, television, music, theater, merchandising and an international unit. In 2005, New Line partnered with HBO to form Picturehouse, a new theatrical distribution company to release independent films. A pioneer in franchise filmmaking, New Line's Oscar-winning The Lord of the Rings trilogy is one of the most successful film franchises in history. New Line is a division of Time Warner, Inc. (TWX).

About Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Inc.:Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc., through its operating subsidiaries, is actively engaged in the worldwide production and distribution of motion pictures, television programming, home video, interactive media, music and licensed merchandise. The company owns the world’s largest library of modern films, comprising around 4,100 titles. Operating units include Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc., Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc., United Artists Films Inc., Ventanazul, MGM Television Entertainment Inc., MGM Networks Inc., MGM Domestic Networks LLC, MGM Distribution Co, MGM International Television Distribution In, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Home Entertainment LLC, MGM ON STAGE, MGM Music, MGM Worldwide Digital Media, MGM Consumer Products and MGM Interactive. In addition, MGM has ownership interests in international TV channels reaching nearly 120 countries. MGM ownership is as follows: Providence Equity Partners (29%), TPG (21%), Sony Corporation of America (20%), Comcast (20%), DLJ Merchant Banking Partners (7%) and Quadrangle Group (3%). For more information, visit http://www.mgm.com/.

About Peter Jackson/Wingnut Films:Peter Jackson is one of the world’s most successful filmmakers. His monumental achievement co-writing, co-producing and directing The Lord of the Rings trilogy (with fellow Academy Award winners and frequent collaborators Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens) earned a total of 30 Academy Award nominations and 17 Academy Awards. Jackson and Walsh received their first Oscar nomination for Best Original Screenplay for their acclaimed film Heavenly Creatures. Jackson, through his New Zealand-based Wingnut Films banner, also was responsible for the globally successful 2005 remake of King Kong which earned over $500 million worldwide and 3 Academy Awards. Currently, Jackson is directing an adaptation of The Lovely Bones, from the acclaimed best-selling novel by Alice Sebold. He is also developing a trilogy of films with Steven Spielberg based on Tintin, the world renowned comic book series by Herge.

Via The Hobbit Blog

Peter Jackson To Direct Two HOBBIT Films In 3D?

Has Lord Of The Rings impresario Peter Jackson finally buried the hatchet with New Line Cinema honcho Tom Shaye?

That's what Jim Dorey over at MarketSaw seems to think.

The site is reporting that Jackson is definitely going to be adapting J R R Tolkien's The Hobbit, filming a two film prequel to his landmark Lord Of The Rings trilogy. In addition, Jackson will be shooting the films in 3D! Furthermore, Jackson will also be going back to Rings and converting the trilogy into 3D for re-release. Presumable this will be similar to the way A Nightmare Before Christmas has been converted.

The two-part Hobbit adaptation is an idea that has been around for awhile. Jackson has stated that he would use some of Tolkien's supplimentary notes to expand the original novel and provide a stronger link between it and The Lord Of The Rings.

Although currently in production on his latest film, The Lovely Bones, Jackson is also developing a three film adaptation of the Belgium comic strip Tintin with Steven Spielberg, to be produced through mtion capture animation in 3D, much in the same way the recently released Beowulf was produced, but preserving the strip's distinctive character designs.

While MarketSaw is a relatively new site, I tend to think their might be something to their source. Earlier this week, the site was asked politely by Twentieth Century Fox lawyers to remove an image of one of the aliens from James Cameron's upcoming Avatar, an image supplied by the same source as this story.

As it is now the weekend, we'll probably have to wait until st least Monday before any official word on this story.