Rumor: Peter Jackson To Direct New Middle Earth Film, Linking The Hobbit To Rings?

[GreenScar]

Editor’s Note: I want to stress that for now, all of this, is only a rumor. I’d love to see it happen, but I doubt it’s actually true.

The scattershot news blast of 3D-crazy blog Marketsaw today brings us some rip-roaring Hobbit gossip, and I can’t help but dream it’s all true, every last word of it (except for the bit I don’t quite ‘get’, but more on that later). First of all, in a nutshell: Peter Jackson wants Guillermo del Toro’s two Hobbit films in 3D, he’s planning a third ‘bridge’ film that he’ll direct himself, Smaug is going to be a blend of CG and practical work and has been described as being “darker” than in the book. Now, in detail…

There’s every likelihood that Jackson and Del Toro have at least discussed the filming of the Hobbit movies in stereoscopic 3D. According to the Marketsaw scooper “Peter Jackson is very keen to have the two part Hobbit tale set in 3D. Del Toro however is holding back on that school of thought. At least for the time being.” Come on, Guillermo!

When we initially had confirmation of the Hobbit film, the plan seemed to be for three films. The first two would adapt the book and the third would bridge this material to Jackson’s Rings trilogy. The material for this narrative would apparently be worked up from the appendices that Jackson already had been granted rights to use.

Then, the story changed. There were just going to be two Hobbit films, splitting the novel across them, and no bridge movie. If this new rumour is true and the bridge is back, why might that be? It’s likely a mix of Del Toro only wanting to direct only two pictures and Jackson both wanting to use the appendices up and, when the time is right, return to Middle Earth himself. Sounds plausible… right?

The discussion of Smaug is pretty vague and not entirely useful:

Doesn’t mean much to me. Calling a film “dark” never really has. Sounds like a catch-all for various kinds of “cynical and cool in some way that gives me a blush and rising pulse”. To say Smaug is darker only really means something if we’re talking actual color scheme here, I’d say, and of course we’re not.

Anyway, some interesting rumours to chew over and, if Marketsaw’s record is anything to go by, fairly likely to come from a strong source. Do you want this bridge? Or does Jackson have better things to do?

Wouldn't this be cool though?

[Diesel]

I'd like to see Jackson do a bridge movie to the original films for sure.


3D, not so much.

I don't understand this obsession with 3D all of a sudden, albeit I've yet to actually see a movie in 3D. But it can't be that great can it?

[PH3AR]

He needs to go to a different genre maybe he should give a romantic comedy a try!

[Coqui2k]

Originally Posted by PH3AR

He needs to go to a different genre maybe he should give a romantic comedy a try!

Funny

[Batman1980]

I could see this happening AS LONG AS THERE ARE ENOUGH TOLKIEN NOTES. I love Jackson but I love Tolkien more and I don't want Tolkien's name ruined by a director making a movie with material that just isn't there.

[MCT]

The Hobbit in 3D = *spooge flying from my boxers*

[adh56]

Wow that would be amazing for a 3rd movie but I'm skeptical about the whole 3-D thing.

[vegeta88]

If done without the gimmicky shots (pointy thing coming at the audience) I think 3D is a pretty awesome movie experience that just immerses audiences into the film like surround sound.

Also, I'd be up for a bridge movie; more Middle Earth? Heck yeah! But they need to get on these movies sooner rather than later; Sir Ian McKellen isn't getting any younger

That is interesting thought that PJ wants to helm again.

[SillyMammo]

I'm all for it, but it could be a long way off. The 1st Hobbit movie isn't out until 2011. Also, how does the whole Tolkien Estate rights thing work out?

[Blu-Curry]

I don't feel too good with the whole 3D idea. All those 3D spiders and arrows coming at ya might be too overwhelming fo some people.

[kernel_thai]

Much more interested in the bridge movie than the Hobbit.

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by PH3AR

He needs to go to a different genre maybe he should give a romantic comedy a try!

Well, they don't get MORE Lifetime Network chick-flick than "The Lovely Bones"...

[Geezer00003]

Originally Posted by PH3AR

He needs to go to a different genre maybe he should give a romantic comedy a try!

Didn't he do that with King Kong?

[Penitus]

Am I the only person who hated 3D?

[Dubstar]

Originally Posted by MCT

The Hobbit in 3D = *spooge flying from my boxers*

charming...

[MAPdead]

I am all for Jackson returning as long as it stays true to the series.

[Maximus]

Well there are two movies planned, and only one of them is based on the The Hobbit...

Not sure if Jackson has a hand in the second one though, according to this report he does.

[Diesel]

Originally Posted by Maxpower1987

Well there are two movies planned, and only one of them is based on the The Hobbit...

Not sure if Jackson has a hand in the second one though, according to this report he does.

Last I read outside of this thread, the novel is being spread across both films now.

[Diesel]

Hobbit Rumors Debunked: No Trilogy or Radcliffe

Along with the previous casting rumors of who will play the titular character in Guillermo del Toro and Peter Jackson’s adaptation of The Hobbit, we also recently had a rumor floating around saying that The Hobbit would be split into three movies. Today, however, we have news that debunks one of the rumors, and at least part of the other.

The latest Hobbit rumors pertain to the casting of Bilbo Baggins, which we last heard was a three-man race between Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter), David Tennant (Doctor Who) and James McAvoy (Wanted). Courtesy of the LA Times’ Hero Complex (as well as the actor himself), we now know that Daniel Radcliffe will NOT be starring in The Hobbit as Bilbo Baggins (or anyone else for that matter). Here’s a quote from the actor:

I’m very glad to hear that Radcliffe’s name has been officially crossed off the list of Baggins candidates, for the very same reason the actor himself cites. The Hobbit/Lord of the Rings universe is too similar to the vein of Harry Potter movies, which Radcliffe is still very much associated with (do you think will he ever be able to shake that image off?). On top of that, I also don’t think Radcliffe is right for the role of Bilbo, and I would much rather see either of the other rumored actors, McAvoy or Tennant, get the role.

Then there was this latest rumor (which comes from MarketSaw) about The Hobbit being cut into three movies instead of the two films it was previously confirmed to be. According to the rumor, the The Hobbit is going to be split into two parts with a third movie serving as a bridge between The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Here’s a quote from Market Saw’s source:

The rumor also states that del Toro would still direct the two Hobbit movies, with Peter Jackson himself directing the “bridge movie.” However, after deciding to e-mail del Toro outright to check the validity of these rumors, Latino Review got a reply from the director himself that debunks them. Del Toro says that all of it is speculation, with some of it being, “quite wild and inventive.”

Market Saw also has some info - which may be true or not - on the characters of The Hobbit book being darker in the movie version. We’ll just have to speculate as to how much darker they will be - that’s if the info turns out true, of course.

When The Hobbit was first announced, the rumor was that the structure of the two movies would be one Hobbit movie and one bridge movie. That rumor turned out to be untrue and now this one looks to be untrue as well. It would have been nice, in a way, if there WAS some kind of “bridge movie” so that we could see some of the characters and actors from LOTR make a return to the big-screen. However, I’m still happy with the way they seem to be going with the project.

It’s inevitable these sort of rumors come up - particularly with a high-profile project like The Hobbit. I’m guessing that we’ll be seeing (and shooting down) lots more of these rumors over the next couple of years.

The first film of The Hobbit is set to hit theaters in December, 2011, with the second following a year later in December, 2012.

[mjbethancourt]

Originally Posted by Maxpower1987

Well there are two movies planned, and only one of them is based on the The Hobbit...

Not sure if Jackson has a hand in the second one though, according to this report he does.

Totally wrong. The 'Hobbit' spans both movies, that's confirmed by Jackson and Del Toro.

It's not a report, it's a rumor blog.

Absolutely no plans for a third film, that one has been debunked over and over, straight from the top.

3D is very likely. Jackson has been pushing to release a 3D feature for many years now, and with the mind-boggling budget they will get for this film, this is probably it. As with other 3D features, if you're not interested, you don't have to see it, there will be a standard 2D version for the no-fun gang.