THE HOBBIT (2012/2013): News, Rumors, Pics Till Release

[Candlelight]

I'm starring in it.

I play 132nd tree from the left.

 

[Greylock Crescent]

You're an Entwife?

 

[Greylock Crescent]

Riddles in the Dark: Photos of Andy Serkis as Gollum and Martin Freeman as Bilbo

 

[The Nth Doctor]

Anyone who isn't should follow Ian McKellen's blog on the films. His most recent entry is about being screen tested and he talks about his costume for the films. The most interesting tidbit is the return of the silver scarf barely seen in The Fellowship of the Ring.

 

[Greylock Crescent]

^ Well, that and the trials and tribulations of his prosthetic nose. lol

 

[Skywalker]

Aha, now we have visual proof! The movie is actually happening!

 

[The Nth Doctor]

My casting news via TheOneRing.Net

Joining the all-star cast is actor Stuart Townsend as the grim and heroric Bard. Bard is a skilled archer from the town of Dale, who finds himself holding the fate of his people on the string of his bow. Stuart is no stranger to Middle-earth as he was originally cast as Aragorn in the Oscar-winning “The Lord of the Rings” Trilogy but left the production for personal reasons. “This is a great chance for Stuart to return to Middle-earth and bring his immeasurable talents to the production,” said casting director Thomas Williams.


Saiorse Ronan also joins the cast in the role of Itaril, a quick and lithe Silvan elf who is dedicated to protecting the Elf King of Mirkwood. Ms. Ronan was previously directed by Peter Jackson in 2009′s critically acclaimed ‘The Lovely Bones.’

While I think it's cool that Stuart Townsend is getting a second chance at Middle-Earth fame (although I had been hoping on the age old fan rumor David Tennant portraying Bard coming true), I'm not terribly keen on this entirely new character played by Saiorse Ronan. I'm a fan of the actress and I'm sure she'll do a great job with the role, I just don't see it necessary. Only time will tell.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

More casting news via TheOneRing.Net:

Joining the all-star cast is actor Stuart Townsend as the grim and heroric Bard. Bard is a skilled archer from the town of Dale, who finds himself holding the fate of his people on the string of his bow. Stuart is no stranger to Middle-earth as he was originally cast as Aragorn in the Oscar-winning “The Lord of the Rings” Trilogy but left the production for personal reasons. “This is a great chance for Stuart to return to Middle-earth and bring his immeasurable talents to the production,” said casting director Thomas Williams.

Saiorse Ronan also joins the cast in the role of Itaril, a quick and lithe Silvan elf who is dedicated to protecting the Elf King of Mirkwood. Ms. Ronan was previously directed by Peter Jackson in 2009′s critically acclaimed ‘The Lovely Bones.’

While I think it's cool that Stuart Townsend is getting a second chance at Middle-Earth fame (although I had been hoping the age-old fan rumor of David Tennant portraying Bard would come true), I'm not terribly keen on this entirely new character played by Saiorse Ronan. I'm a fan of the actress and I'm sure she'll do a great job with the role, I just don't see it necessary. Only time will tell.

 

[Starbreaker]

Personal reasons?? Peter Jackson fired him! I've heard him say so.

 

[Set Harth]

He was too young-looking to play Aragorn anyway.

 

[Skywalker]

Yeah, Townsend was way too young to play Aragorn. I remember the leaked image of Townsend in costume as Aragorn (I think it was just a makeup test), and he looked all wrong for the part. Sucks that he was let go, but I think they made the right decision.

But I don't have any problems with Townsend, as an actor, and I really like the idea of him as Bard. Moreso than David Tenant, a.k.a. the Walking Beanpole.

I'm not terribly worried about Saiorse Ronan's character. It's likely Itaril will just be a minor role with no major impact on the story. I'm guessing she'll have a couple small scenes when Thorin and Company are in Mirkwood, and she'll probably be at the Battle of Five Armies, too.

Plus there were a lot of random minor characters in LOTR who weren't actually in the books, and none of them really made a major impact on the story. Well, except for Lurtz.

 

[DarthPipes]

Townsend STILL looks too young to play Aragorn. Viggo was the absolute right casting.

I'm still not happy this is going to be two movies. The Hobbit is less than 300 pages wrong...I would rather take one three-hour movie. I've seen the results of Peter Jackson stretching out flims...you get garbage like King Kong.

 

[Skywalker]

Stretching it out to two films was probably Warner Bros.' idea. Cha-ching!

 

[The Nth Doctor]

Well, TORN got me.

The above reported news was an April Fool's Joke and I fell for it hook, line, and sinker.

In my defense, I'm floating in the Pacific Ocean so it was April 2nd already when I read the article.

That all being said, Saiorse Ronan as Itaril is still a persisting rumor, one that's gotten strength from a short magazine article where Ronan confirmed she's in the films.

 

[Skywalker]

Bah! I hate April Fools'.

 

[Set Harth]

I'm not terribly worried about Saiorse Ronan's character. It's likely Itaril will just be a minor role with no major impact on the story.

If they feel the need to introduce a character into the Elvenking section who wasn't in the book, I can think of an extremely logical candidate. But I haven't yet heard any rumor or other indication that he is slated to appear in the film.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

I'm not terribly worried about Saiorse Ronan's character. It's likely Itaril will just be a minor role with no major impact on the story.

If they feel the need to introduce a character into the Elvenking section who wasn't in the book, I can think of an extremely logical candidate. But I haven't yet heard any rumor or other indication that he is slated to appear in the film.

If you're thinking of Legalos, Orlando Bloom is all but confirmed to appear.

 

[Candlelight]

The Hobbit to be shot at 48fps

http://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/film/4877161/Jacksons-Hobbit-to-be-more-lifelike

Peter Jackson has revealed he will shoot The Hobbit using extremely lifelike film technology never seen before in mainstream theatres.
In a blog post on his Facebook page today, the director said he is shooting the Lord of the Rings prequel at twice the normal frame rate - use 48 frames per second instead of the normal 24.
Films have been shot at 24 frames per second since the late 1920s, and although many modern cameras are capable of shooting at the faster rate, most cinemas are not capable of projecting the footage they capture.
Jackson said they had chosen to shoot the Hobbit at the faster rate to make the film "more lifelike" and easier to watch in 3D.
When projected at the higher frame rate, the "result looks like normal speed, but the image has hugely enhanced clarity and smoothness," he said.
"It looks great, and we've actually become used to it now, to the point that other film experiences look a little primitive. I saw a new movie in the cinema on Sunday and I kept getting distracted by the juddery panning and blurring. We're getting spoilt!"
Jackson said Warner Bros were supporting the move to shoot in 48 fps, despite there never being a wide release feature film made at the rate before, and the lack of cinemas capable of projecting the material.
"We are hopeful that there will be enough theatres capable of projecting 48 fps by the time The Hobbit comes out where we can seriously explore that possibility with Warner Bros," he said.
"However, while it's predicted that there may be over 10,000 screens capable of projecting The Hobbit at 48 fps by our release date in December, 2012, we don't yet know what the reality will be."

Beating James Cameron to the punch with Avatar 2. Love it.

 

[Skywalker]

Re: The Hobbit to be shot at 48fps

Great, now Cameron's gonna want to shoot Avatar 2 at...I dunno...some ridiculous frame rate. Unless 60 is the highest or something.

 

[bigdaddy]

Re: The Hobbit to be shot at 48fps

Well the lame Cameron bitching - bashing didnt take long.