The Hobbit Trilogy Discussion Thread

[Propellarhead9]

Now that Del Toro has left the project I am nowhere near as interested in it as I was.

[chefazn]

It makes me sad that he left.

[Duffy12]

Marketsaw explains there previous statement on the project being GREENLIT.

Monday, May 31, 2010

Why Did My Source Think THE HOBBIT Was Greenlit?



In light of Guillermo del Toro stepping down from directing THE HOBBIT (which was a complete surprise to everyone), I thought I should address the reasons why I posted the movie was greenlit back on Thursday.

The bottom line is this: My source (one of the best I have ever had) told me flat out that the movie was greenlit. And now I know why. Simply said, EVERY DEPARTMENT WAS GIVEN THEIR BUDGET AND THE CASH TO RAMP UP.

In my books, that IS a greenlight whether it is from a studio head or production company. This particular source is on the inside - not an executive at the top either. When budgets are set and operating cash is distributed that means a greenlight for pre-production.

So now you know where we stand on this. There was clear and deliberate action to ramp up the movie and it did in fact happen. The status as of today is murky with no director and I am still digging for the inside story. The resignation came out of the blue. What I want to know is what will Weta be doing on the project in the short term now that GDT is gone? Obviously this whole thing is Peter Jackson's baby so there will always be leadership present, but what is going on right now?

Weta is in a bit of a pickle too as production for the PLANET OF THE APES prequel is set to pick up soon. In fact they are already creating some CG models and the pipeline for the rigging and such for them. The CG models are looking VERY COOL according to my source.

Movie is set for a June 24, 2011 release.


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[retablo]

Originally Posted by Propellarhead9

Now that Del Toro has left the project I am nowhere near as interested in it as I was.

So you really don't care about the source material, just in the guy who was directing it? If you have no interest the story, then no director is going to make it interesting - if its a faithful adaptation. Makes no sense...

[KubrickFan]

Originally Posted by retablo

So you really don't care about the source material, just in the guy who was directing it? If you have no interest the story, then no director is going to make it interesting - if its a faithful adaptation. Makes no sense...

Maybe he just thinks Del Toro is the perfect guy for the job? I can understand that, since he and Jackson are very much alike.

[kernel_thai]

Originally Posted by Pondosinatra

Maybe Michael Bay will do it?

Instead of people looking up in the sky at the battle of five armies and crying "The eagles! The eagles r coming" It would be "F-15 Eagles! They have missle lock! Run!" And of course theyd be a 15 minute scene of Eowyn running across the desert.

[jhiggy23]

Originally Posted by retablo

So you really don't care about the source material, just in the guy who was directing it? If you have no interest the story, then no director is going to make it interesting - if its a faithful adaptation. Makes no sense...

Agree but at the same time, great source material in the hands of an inept director will not result in a good film.

[jhiggy23]

I'm not a Del Toro fan at all but I think he would've been good for the project. Of course, Jackson would have been the ideal selection.

[jhiggy23]

Originally Posted by Duffy12

Oh...that's a very good point.

Now would that not be something if they went ahead and released that in the 4th quarter this year.


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I really think we'll see the EE sooner rather than later.

[Darkhawk9587]

Disappointed in the news. Any chance that Jackson could direct this now following all the delays?

[Petra_Kalbrain]

Originally Posted by emoxley

The three LOTR movies are my all time favorites! But, I loved the books first. PJ did an excellent job with all three movies. They are the only movies of his I've seen, that I liked. I bought District 9 on BD when it came out, because it was his. I was very disappointed...... I think PJ is the only one that can direct The Hobbit, and do it justice.

Obviously you don't know what you are talking about. PJ didn't direct District 9. He simply produced it. That means that PJ was simply in charge of raising and managing the money. Neill Blomkamp directed District 9. So, if you don't like District 9, then don't like Neill Blomkamp. PJ gave Neill great freedom to make the film his own way.


As for this affecting the LOTR EE trilogy BD release? I think that it might help it along. With no director and a ubiquitous production date, they will probably want to get it to market ASAP... especially if they are financially struggling as much as it seems that they are.

[Foggy]

Originally Posted by Petra_Kalbrain

Obviously you don't know what you are talking about. PJ didn't direct District 9. He simply produced it. That means that PJ was simply in charge of raising and managing the money. Neill Blomkamp directed District 9. So, if you don't like District 9, then don't like Neill Blomkamp. PJ gave Neill great freedom to make the film his own way.

Such a silly person

Anyway, I think PJ needs this now that Del Toro has gone. Jackson hasn't had a good commercial successful film since LotR, King Kong and Lovely Bones both underperformed, and now he's losing his credibility as a major player of Directing, so he needs to do The Hobbit which will bring millions.

[Lepidopterous]

Terrible news. It's not Del Toro's fault though. He gave it all his effort (2 years worth) and they would still slap him in the face. The world lost the ideal candidate to create this film. Only Peter Jackson himself can reach/exceed that same expectation imo.

[danman227460]

While I agree, PJ also has other titles or projects lined up to be worked on. He can not wait X number of years just for the problem to sort itself out. Who knows when MGM will sort out their problems, it could be 5-10 years (hopefully not that long) but in that span, it could give him a chance to direct a worthy title.

Because for sure, it would take maybe 6 months to a year for MGM to sort this out. Another year to find a director if PJ is not available. A year or so to shoot. If no further delays, it could be another 3-5 years before we see the Hobbit.

Originally Posted by Foggy

Such a silly person

Anyway, I think PJ needs this now that Del Toro has gone. Jackson hasn't had a good commercial successful film since LotR, King Kong and Lovely Bones both underperformed, and now he's losing his credibility as a major player of Directing, so he needs to do The Hobbit which will bring millions.

[Foggy]

Personal I don't see this happening. It was a ruthless thing MGM did, they basically made New Line stop making it, as they have the rights to the name, made them then decide to share the taking of the movie and pay half for the budget, and then after the deal was signed, try and get New Line to buy them as they were bankrupt.

Del Toro left because he had other movies he wanted and was contracted to make and he couldn't wait any longer for The Hobbit sort itself out.

[jhiggy23]

Originally Posted by Foggy

Such a silly person

Anyway, I think PJ needs this now that Del Toro has gone. Jackson hasn't had a good commercial successful film since LotR, King Kong and Lovely Bones both underperformed, and now he's losing his credibility as a major player of Directing, so he needs to do The Hobbit which will bring millions.

King Kong---if by underperform you mean winning three Oscars, having $550 million in worldwide gross, plus an additional $100 million in dvd sales, and being very well received critically with 77% on Rottentomatoes, yeah it underperformed

[Foggy]

Originally Posted by jhiggy23

King Kong---if by underperform you mean winning three Oscars, having $550 million in worldwide gross, plus an additional $100 million in dvd sales, yeah it underperformed

I've been told LIES

[jhiggy23]

Originally Posted by Foggy

I've been told LIES

haha despite all those statistics I threw out there, it was supposed to do better, being Jackson's first film since LOTR and being another big budget film. So you're not that off-base!

[vegeta88]

I thought Guillermo Del Toro would have been a great director for the series. I hope that Peter Jackson decides to helm the series now as I think those are the two most qualified directors for The Hobbit movies.

Originally Posted by Petra_Kalbrain

[...]
As for this affecting the LOTR EE trilogy BD release? I think that it might help it along. With no director and a ubiquitous production date, they will probably want to get it to market ASAP... especially if they are financially struggling as much as it seems that they are.

I hope you are correct, I am holding off for that release. Unfortunately, that would also mean that they will milk each release for all its worth, which means no uber edition with both cuts.

[emoxley]

Originally Posted by Petra_Kalbrain

Obviously you don't know what you are talking about. PJ didn't direct District 9. He simply produced it. That means that PJ was simply in charge of raising and managing the money. Neill Blomkamp directed District 9. So, if you don't like District 9, then don't like Neill Blomkamp. PJ gave Neill great freedom to make the film his own way.


As for this affecting the LOTR EE trilogy BD release? I think that it might help it along. With no director and a ubiquitous production date, they will probably want to get it to market ASAP... especially if they are financially struggling as much as it seems that they are.

I didn't remember his name, and didn't go find the movie to look. I just knew PJ was involved, and I didn't care for it. The fact that I couldn't remember it was District 9, instead of 29, says something too. Didn't leave much of an impression.

BTW........... I did like King Kong too. It slipped my mind when I typed that post.