The Hobbit Trilogy Discussion Thread

[Buddy Ackerman]

By the way, as certain as I am that we'll get it in December 2014 and not summer 2014, I will be very, very happy to be wrong.

EDIT - especially as Collider and Variety have it down for summer 2014. But I'll stubbornly wait until an official announcement (as Jackson didn't include it in his I don't know where they're getting it from).

EDIT AGAIN - and apparently theonering.net - who I trust to have checked with the right people - are also listing it as summer 2014. So, if true, I look a bit of an idiot for my last couple of posts but I'll be much happier getting to see it that little bit sooner.

[Velmeran]

A Summer 2014 release, would allow them to release Hobbit and Middle-Earth boxed sets for Christmas 2014....

Wouldn't be surprised if that played into it a little bit. And then get everyone to double/triple/whatever dip again the next year when they release EE box sets --- though to be honest I'm even more skeptical now that we would have EE's, given the fact that we're getting an extra film.

[dyne]

Saw the trailer before TDKR on Saturday. The words at the start said coming next December. First thing my brother says is "I thought this was releasing this year." Then the end says December 2012. Normally you would see it worded as "Coming This December."

[Buddy Ackerman]

Originally Posted by dyne

Saw the trailer before TDKR on Saturday. The words at the start said coming next December. First thing my brother says is "I thought this was releasing this year." Then the end says December 2012. Normally you would see it worded as "Coming This December."

That's because the trailer itself was released in December 2011. Here in the UK we have one with 'this December' as I don't believe any cinemas got the trailer until a month or so ago.

[Buddy Ackerman]

Originally Posted by Velmeran

A Summer 2014 release, would allow them to release Hobbit and Middle-Earth boxed sets for Christmas 2014....

Wouldn't be surprised if that played into it a little bit. And then get everyone to double/triple/whatever dip again the next year when they release EE box sets --- though to be honest I'm even more skeptical now that we would have EE's, given the fact that we're getting an extra film.

True on both accounts.

There is a risk of no EE which will be a shame but if it means nine hours and three films instead of seven hours of extended films then I'm happier this way. Though I'm sure there'll still be some leftover scenes. Most of the stuff cut from LOTR weren't big story moments, they were character moments that Jackson felt took away from the plot for casual viewers, there's bound to still be those sort of scenes.

[irockmysocks]

The hobbit facebook just confirmed a summer 2014 release!!!

[Buddy Ackerman]

Originally Posted by irockmysocks

The hobbit facebook just confirmed a summer 2014 release!!!

Haha - well, that well and truly has shown me! Maybe I'll go back and edit all my posts, remove the evidence of how wrong I was

The full press release for those who want to read it (which mentions the third film being 'slated' for summer 2014) -

[Show spoiler]

New Line Cinema, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, and Warner Bros. Pictures Announce Third Film in The Hobbit Trilogy


BURBANK, CA, JULY 30, 2012 — Peter Jackson will make a third film in his upcoming adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s enduringly popular masterpiece The Hobbit, it was jointly announced today by Toby Emmerich, President and Chief Operating Officer, New Line Cinema, Gary Barber and Roger Birnbaum, Co-Chairman and Chief Executive Officers, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, and Jeff Robinov, President, Warner Bros. Pictures Group.



Jackson, the Academy Award®-winning filmmaker behind the blockbuster “The Lord of the Rings” Trilogy, recently wrapped principal photography on what he originally planned to be a two-film adaptation of The Hobbit, which is set in Middle-earth 60 years before The Lord of the Rings.



Jackson stated, “Upon recently viewing a cut of the first film, and a chunk of the second, Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens and I were very pleased with the way the story was coming together. We recognized that the richness of the story of The Hobbit, as well as some of the related material in the appendices of The Lord of the Rings, gave rise to a simple question: do we tell more of the tale? And the answer from our perspective as filmmakers and fans was an unreserved ‘yes.’ We know the strength of our cast and of the characters they have brought to life. We know creatively how compelling and engaging the story can be and—lastly, and most importantly—we know how much of the tale of Bilbo Baggins, the Dwarves of Erebor, the rise of the Necromancer, and the Battle of Dol Guldur would remain untold if we did not fully realize this complex and wonderful adventure. I’m delighted that New Line, MGM and Warner Bros. are equally enthusiastic about bringing fans this expansive tale across three films.”



Emmerich stated, “We completely support Peter and his vision for bringing this grand adventure to the screen over the course of three films. Peter, Fran and Philippa’s reverence for the material and understanding of these characters ensure an exciting and expanded journey that is bound to please fans around the world.”



“With the abundance of rich material, we fully endorse the decision to further develop what Peter, Fran and Philippa have already begun. We are confident that, with the great care the filmmakers have taken to faithfully bring this journey to the screen, the film will be welcomed by the legions of fans across the globe,” said Barber and Birnbaum.



Robinov added, “Peter, Fran and Philippa have lived in this world and understand more than anyone its tremendous breadth and scope, and the relationships that bind it together. We strongly support their vision to bring this great work fully to life.”



The first film in the trilogy, “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” will be released December 14, 2012, with the second film releasing on December 13, 2013, and the third film slated for summer 2014. All three films will be released in 3D and 2D in select theatres and IMAX.



From Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson comes three films based on The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien. The trilogy of films are set in Middle-earth 60 years before “The Lord of the Rings,” which Jackson and his filmmaking team brought to the big screen in the blockbuster trilogy that culminated with the Oscar®-winning “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.”



Ian McKellen returns as Gandalf the Grey, the character he played in “The Lord of the Rings” Trilogy, with Martin Freeman in the central role of Bilbo Baggins, and Richard Armitage as Thorin Oakenshield. Returning cast members from “The Lord of the Rings” Trilogy also include Cate Blanchett, Orlando Bloom, Ian Holm, Christopher Lee, Hugo Weaving, Elijah Wood, and Andy Serkis as “Gollum.” The international ensemble cast also includes (in alphabetical order) John Bell, Jed Brophy, Adam Brown, John Callen, Billy Connolly, Luke Evans, Stephen Fry, Ryan Gage, Mark Hadlow, Peter Hambleton, Barry Humphries, Stephen Hunter, William Kircher, Evangeline Lilly, Sylvester McCoy, Bret McKenzie, Graham McTavish, Mike Mizrahi, James Nesbitt, Dean O’Gorman, Lee Pace, Mikael Persbrandt, Conan Stevens, Ken Stott, Jeffrey Thomas, and Aidan Turner.



The screenplay for “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” is by Fran Walsh & Philippa Boyens & Peter Jackson & Guillermo del Toro. Jackson is also producing the film, together with Carolynne Cunningham, Zane Weiner and Fran Walsh. The executive producers are Alan Horn, Toby Emmerich, Ken Kamins and Carolyn Blackwood, with Boyens and Eileen Moran serving as co-producers.



Under Jackson’s direction, all three movies are being shot in digital 3D using the latest camera and stereo technology. Additional filming, as with principal photography, is taking place at Stone Street Studios, Wellington, and on location around New Zealand.



“The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” and its successive installments are productions of New Line Cinema and MGM, with New Line managing production. Warner Bros. Pictures is handling worldwide theatrical distribution, with select international territories as well as all international television licensing, being handled by MGM.

[irockmysocks]

Originally Posted by Buddy Ackerman

Haha - well, that well and truly has shown me! Maybe I'll go back and edit all my posts, remove the evidence of how wrong I was

The full press release for those who want to read it (which mentions the third film being 'slated' for summer 2014) -

Sometimes its great to be proven wrong haha

[irockmysocks]

Im listening to the lotr soundtrack right now. Ill probably watch the trilogy this week. I am excited.

[Buddy Ackerman]

Another huge benefit to the trilogy plan - an extra soundtrack of Howard Shore's incredible, wonderful and epic Middle-Earth music. That alone is worth it.

EDIT - I wrote this before I saw your post, irockmysocks

[irockmysocks]

Originally Posted by Buddy Ackerman

Another huge benefit to the trilogy plan - an extra soundtrack of Howard Shore's incredible, wonderful and epic Middle-Earth music. That alone is worth it.

EDIT - I wrote this before I saw your post, irockmysocks

Great minds think alike :P

[radagast]

Originally Posted by irockmysocks

I'll be 22 when the last movie is out

I'm 58 now. I do not feel sorry for you.

[radagast]

Another article:

http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2012/...ogy-of-movies/

[Blu-Benny]

awesome news!!

[Buddy Ackerman]

This may have been a factor in releasing the film in summer rather than Christmas - up until today Avatar 2 had December 2014 spoken for. No wonder they wanted to avoid it. I'd completely forgotten about that until I saw this piece of news - it's now been moved back to 2015 though.

I don't think that will change anything but I'm sure Avatar 2 having that date during the plans was part of what kept them away from December.

[motorheadache95]

Originally Posted by Buddy Ackerman

Haha - well, that well and truly has shown me! Maybe I'll go back and edit all my posts, remove the evidence of how wrong I was

The full press release for those who want to read it (which mentions the third film being 'slated' for summer 2014) -

[Show spoiler]

I would have thought exactly the same thing you did. After all, all three Lord of the Rings films were released a year apart over three years. It would have seemed like perfectly common sense to expect the same thing with this trilogy.

Not that I'm complaining or anything.

[Puonti]

More PJ Middle-Earth goodness. I approve!

[TheWildWhelk]

I do wish people would realise that Jackson isn't taking a single 315 page book and stretching it out to 3 films! The Hobbit book is spanning a whole 2 films, with the third film being a bridging film about the assault on Dol Guldur, which contains enough action to be a finale of any fantasy film! I genuinely believe that Jackson may have looked at what he had shot and realise he was reaching a point of narrative critical mass with simply too much going on at the end of a bloated 2nd film. Smart move to move huge swathes of it to a 3rd film.

[Duffy12]

.

Hmmm...

What I am wondering right now is just how long each film will be.

.

[Buddy Ackerman]

Theonering.net have confirmed that the third film isn't a bridge film. The whole trilogy will tell the story of The Hobbit with all of the extra Middle-Earth history woven throughout.