The Hobbit (film series)

2011-12-29T22:26:10Z

68.112.111.250: The Director is Peter Jackson presently

{{currentevent}}
{{disambig-more|The Hobbit|[[The Hobbit (disambiguation)]]}}{{film infobox
| image= [[File:New Line - The Hobbit - An Unexpected Journey poster.jpg|250px]]
| name=The Hobbit
| director=[[Peter Jackson]]<ref name="HB1">
{{webcite|articleurl=http://www.thehobbitblog.com/?p=2563|articlename=Titles and Release Dates Announced|dated=31-May-2011|website=[http://www.thehobbitblog.com/ The Hobbit Blog]|accessed=21-Dec-2011}}</ref>
| producer=Peter Jackson [[Fran Walsh]] [[Carolynne Cunningham]]<ref name="HB1"/>
| writer=[[Guillermo del Toro]] [[Peter Jackson]] [[Fran Walsh]] [[Philippa Boyens]]<ref name="mtv1">{{webcite|author=Shawn Adler|articleurl=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1596511/guillermo-del-toro-hobbit-writing-team-has-chemistry.jhtml|articlename=Guillermo Del Toro Says 'Hobbit' Script Is Coming Together 'Magically'|dated=7-Oct-2008|website=[http://www.mtv.com MTV]|accessed=21-Dec-2011}}</ref>
| narrator=
| starring=[[Martin Freeman]] [[Richard Armitage]] [[Ian McKellen]]
| music=[[Howard Shore]]
| cinematography=
| editing=
| distributor=[[MGM]] [[New Line Cinema]]
| released='''The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey:''' December 14, 2012<ref name="HB1"/> '''The Hobbit: There and Back Again:''' December 13, 2013<ref name="HB1"/>
| runtime=
| country=New Zealand United States United Kingdom
| language=English
| budget=US$500 million
| website=[http://www.thehobbitblog.com/ Official Blog]
| imdb_id=0903624
}}'''''The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey'''''<ref name="HB1"/> and '''''The Hobbit: There and Back Again'''''<ref name="HB1"/>, known collectively as simply '''''The Hobbit''''', are two upcoming live-action films based upon [[J.R.R. Tolkien|J.R.R. Tolkien's]] [[The Hobbit|novel of the same name]]. They are conceived as prequels to [[The Lord of the Rings: The Motion Picture Trilogy]] with which they will form one 'continuous journey'.<ref name="mtv2">{{webcite|author=Shawn Adler|articleurl=http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2008/10/07/hobbit-films-will-be-one-continuous-journey-promises-guillermo-del-toro/|articlename='Hobbit' Films Will Be One 'Continuous Journey,' Promises Guillermo Del Toro|dated=10-July-2008|website=[http://moviesblog.mtv.com/ MTV Movie Blog]|accessed=21-Dec-2011}}</ref> The film will be distributed by [[MGM]] and [[New Line Cinema]]. [[Peter Jackson]] will serve as executive producer, co-writer and director for the two films. Filming began on [[21 March]], [[2011]].<ref name="BBCNews 1">{{webcite|articleurl=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-12803125|articlename=Hobbit filming finally under way|dated=21-March-2011|website=[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/ BBC News Online]|accessed=21-Dec-2011}}</ref>

==Plot==
The Hobbit films are set to be released in December 2012 and 2013, they will cover the events in ''[[The Hobbit]]'', and possibly [[Gandalf]]'s visits to [[Dol Guldur]]. The main plot however will be of [[Bilbo Baggins]], Gandalf and [[Thorin and Company]] as they set forth to the [[Lonely Mountain]].

=="Film Two"==
Film Two has been recently revealed in an interview with Del Toro and Jackson, to be a continuation of ''The Hobbit''. The interview which was included in Empire magazines 20th Birthday Special, expressed how the pair believed it would be better not to cram ''The Hobbit'' into one movie, but span it over two.

{{quote|We've decided to have The Hobbit span the two movies, including the White Council and the comings and goings of [[Gandalf]] to [[Dol Guldur]]|[[Guillermo Del Toro]]<ref name="Empire">{{webcite|author=Chris Hewitt|articleurl=http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=24610|articlename=World Excl: Jackson/Del Toro Talk Hobbit|dated=17-April-2009|website=[http://www.empireonline.com Empire Magazine]|accessed=21-Dec-2011}}</ref>}}

This interview goes with what Jackson and Del Toro said in a web chat with fans, when it was said that the story could take place during the events of the Hobbit; because of the fact that [[Gandalf]] continually disappears in the book. Jackson said "Those gaps are great! There's a lot of stuff going on, which is distracting him".<ref name="Unexpected">[http://www.wetanz.com/holics/index.php?itemid=695&catid=2 Transcript of ''An Unexpected Party'']</ref>

==Issues concerning production==
===Directorship===
The Hobbit as a movie has been anticipated by many fans since the release of [[The Lord of the Rings: The Motion Picture Trilogy|The Lord of the Rings]]. Even before the pre-production began there had been and are still possible issues which could delay the production of Peter Jackson's The Hobbit. In early 2005 it came to the public attention that Jackson was suing [[New Line Cinema]].<ref name="pj-sues">[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4312463.stm Director sues over Rings profits]</ref> This cast doubt on whether or not The Hobbit would ever be made. Jackson later told fans that, due to the dispute, he would neither direct nor produce the film.<ref name="pj-sues" /> In late 2007 it was confirmed that Jackson would not direct, but ''would'' be an executive producer for two Hobbit movies.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7150644.stm Jackson to produce Hobbit movies]</ref> It was later announced that [[Guillermo del Toro]] would direct the films, and that Jackson will be an active 'executive producer' with the possibility that he would help direct some scenes if necessary.<ref name="Unexpected" />

However, on 30 May 2010 it was revealed that del Toro could no longer commit himself to direct ''The Hobbit'' films, citing the continued delays in production in his reasoning. <ref>[http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2010/05/30/36920-guillermo-del-toro-departs-the-hobbit/ Guillermo Del Toro departs “The Hobbit”]</ref> Peter Jackson later announced that he would direct both films. <ref name="PJ-to-Direct">[http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2010/10/15/39138-press-release-from-new-linewarner-bros-oscar-winner-peter-jackson-to-direct-%E2%80%9Cthe-hobbit%E2%80%9D-in-two-installments/ OSCAR WINNER PETER JACKSON TO DIRECT “THE HOBBIT” IN TWO INSTALLMENTS], accessed [[24 October|October 24]], [[2010]]</ref>

===Christopher Tolkien's lawsuit with Newline Cinema===
In May 2008 it was reported that [[Christopher Tolkien]] would ask "for 'one last crusade' against the film's producers in his long-running legal battle over money owed for the Lord Of The Rings movies."<ref>[http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/movies/a96839/tolkiens-son-plans-to-stop-the-hobbit.html Tolkien's son plans to stop 'The Hobbit']</ref> On June 6, 2008, it was scheduled for him to go before a Californian judge to ask to "terminate" film rights to The Hobbit. However the dispute was later settled on 8 September 2009.<ref>http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118008242?refCatId=22</ref>

===Industrial dispute in New Zealand===
In September 2010, the production of ''The Hobbit'' films was again delayed when the International Federation of Actors issued the following order to all members of its associated unions:

{{quote|Resolved, that the International Federation of Actors urges each of its affiliates to adopt instructions to their members that no member of any FIA affiliate will agree to act in the theatrical film The Hobbit until such time as the producer has entered into a collective bargaining agreement with the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance for production in New Zeal]and providing for satisfactory terms and conditions for all performers employed on the productions.|International Federation of Actors <ref>[http://www.aftra.org/documents/100924_hobbit_factsheet.pdf FIA order to its members regarding the production of The Hobbit films.]</ref>}}

This meant that Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema considered moving the production elsewhere, possibly to eastern Europe.<ref>[http://movies.yahoo.com/feature/movie-talk-peter-jackson-running-into-union-trouble-on-the-hobbit.html Peter Jackson Running Into Union Trouble on 'The Hobbit']</ref> However, following talks with the New Zealand government, Warner Bros. decided to proceed as planned to film The Hobbit in New Zealand as originally planned. The New Zealand government subsequently passed legislation to amend their labour laws to ensure that production stayed in the country.<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-11649734 Hobbit legislation passed in New Zealand]</ref>

==Plot details==
===Special effects===
[[Weta Digital|Weta]] will continue their role in handling the special effects. Del Toro has stated he wishes to focus more on animatronics for the films.
{{quote|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.|Guillermo del Toro <ref>[http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2008/04/25/28747-guillermo-del-toro-chats-with-torn-about-the-hobbit-films/#more-28747 Guillermo del Toro Chats with TORN About ‘The Hobbit’ Films!]</ref>}}

The film will be released in both 2D and 3D.<ref>[http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118025794?refCatId=13 'The Hobbit' pics to shoot in February], [http://www.variety.com/home/ variety.com], accessed [[29 May|May 29]], [[2011]]</ref>

===Possible rating===
In an interview with the [[BBC]] Del Toro has commented on the level of horror and violence in the ''The Hobbit'', being, like Jackson, a director with a background in that genre.

{{quote|The intensity of the scenes of the Hobbit will have the intensity they had in the book when I was a kid reading them. The spiders of Mirkwood are a pretty harrowing experience and facing the great goblin in the caves is quite a thrilling moment. The [[Battle of Five Armies|Battle of the Five Armies]], the first encounter with Gollum - there are scary moments in the book. But they are already there. We are not inventing or trying to do horror for horror's sake we are trying to imbue those moments of intensity in the book into the movie.|Del Toro <ref name="BBC">http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/newsnight/review/8084025.stm</ref>}}

==People involved==
*Production - [[New Line Cinema]]<ref name="PJCasting1"/>
*United States Distribution - [[Warner Brothers]]<ref name="PJCasting1"/>
*International Distribution - [[MGM]]<ref name="PJCasting1"/>
*Director - [[Peter Jackson]]<ref name="PJCasting1"/>
*Second Unit Director - [[Andy Serkis]]<ref name="HB2">
{{webcite|articleurl=http://www.thehobbitblog.com/?p=2234|articlename=Andy Serkis to serve as Second Unit Director|dated=8-April-2011|website=[http://www.thehobbitblog.com/ The Hobbit Blog]|accessed=21-Dec-2011}}</ref>
*Producers - [[Peter Jackson]], [[Fran Walsh]], and [[Carolynne Cunningham]]<ref name="PJCasting1"/>
*Co-Producer - [[Philippa Boyens]]<ref name="PJCasting1"/>
*Executive Producers - [[Ken Kamins]] and [[Zane Weiner]]<ref name="PJCasting1"/>
*Writers - Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, and Guillermo del Toro<ref name="PJCasting1"/>
*Director of Photography - [[Andrew Lesnie]]<ref name="PJCasting1"/>
*Production Designer - [[Dan Hennah]]<ref name="PJCasting1"/>
*Conceptual Designers: [[Alan Lee]] and [[John Howe]]<ref name="PJCasting1"/>
*Composer - [[Howard Shore]]<ref name="PJCasting1"/>
*Make-up and Hair Designer - [[Peter King]]<ref name="PJCasting1"/>
*Costume Designers - [[Ann Maskrey]] and [[Richard Taylor]]<ref name="PJCasting1"/>
*Design and production of weaponry, armour, and prosthetics - [[Weta Workshop]] overseen by [[Richard Taylor]]<ref name="PJCasting1"/>

===Confirmed Cast===
[[Image:Hobbit Cast.jpg|right|thumb|'Bilbo' and the 'thirteen dwarves' (N.B. Rob Kazinsky has since been replaced by Dean O'Gorman to play Fíli).<ref name="PJCasting2"/>|400px]]
{| class="wikitable"
|- bgcolor="#CCCCCC"
! Actor !! Role
|-
| [[Richard Armitage]] || [[Thorin]]<ref name="PJCasting1">{{webcite|author=[[Peter Jackson]]|articleurl=http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=10150168211921558|articlename=Production begins in New Zealand on The Hobbit|dated=20-March-2011|website=[http://www.facebook.com/ Facebook]|accessed=21-Dec-2011}}</ref>
|-
| [[John Bell]] || TBA<ref>{{webcite|author=Brendon Connelly|articleurl=http://www.bleedingcool.com/2011/12/14/exactly-one-year-before-hobbit-opens-official-blurb-unveiled/|articlename=Exactly One Year Before The Hobbit Opens, The Official Blurb Is Unveiled|dated=14 December 2011|website=Bleeding Cool|accessed=23 December 2011}}</ref>
|-
| [[Cate Blanchett]] || [[Galadriel]]<ref name="PJCasting1"/>
|-
| [[Orlando Bloom]] || [[Legolas]]<ref name="PJCasting5">{{webcite|author=[[Peter Jackson]]|articleurl=http://www.facebook.com/PeterJacksonNZ/posts/10150265634081558|articlename=Ten years ago,...|dated=27-May-2011|website=[http://www.facebook.com/ Facebook]|accessed=21-Dec-2011}}</ref>
|-
| [[Jed Brophy]] || [[Nori]]<ref name="PJCasting1"/>
|-
| [[Adam Brown]] || [[Ori]]<ref name="PJCasting1"/>
|-
| [[John Callen]] || [[Óin]]<ref name="PJCasting1"/>
|-
| [[Benedict Cumberbatch]] || [[Smaug]]<ref name="PJCasting4"/>
|-
| [[Luke Evans]] || [[Bard]]<ref name="PJCasting4"/>
|-
| [[Martin Freeman]] || [[Bilbo Baggins]]<ref name="PJCasting1"/>
|-
| [[Stephen Fry]] || The [[Master of Lake-town]]<ref name="PJCasting3">{{webcite|author=[[Peter Jackson]]|articleurl=http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=10150257180211558|articlename=Casting News for The Hobbit|dated=19-May-2011|website=[http://www.facebook.com/ Facebook]|accessed=21-Dec-2011}}</ref>
|-
| [[Ryan Gage]] || [[Alfrid]]<ref name="PJCasting3"/>
|-
| [[Mark Hadlow]] || [[Dori]]<ref name="PJCasting1"/>
|-
| [[Peter Hambleton]] || [[Glóin]]<ref name="PJCasting1"/>
|-
| [[Ian Holm]] || Older [[Bilbo Baggins]]<ref name="PJCasting6">{{webcite|author=[[Peter Jackson]]|articleurl=http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=10150232032911558&id=141884481557|articlename=One comment that...|dated=22-April-2011|website=[http://www.facebook.com/ Facebook]|accessed=21-Dec-2011}}</ref>
|-
| [[Barry Humphries]] || [[Great Goblin|Goblin King]]<ref name="PJCasting4"/>
|-
| [[Stephen Hunter]] || [[Bombur]]<ref name="PJCasting1"/>
|-
| [[William Kircher]] || [[Bifur]]<ref name="PJCasting1"/>
|-
| [[Christopher Lee]] || [[Saruman]]<ref name="TelegraphCasting">{{webcite|articleurl=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/film-news/8311016/Christopher-Lee-will-star-in-the-Hobbit-prequel.html|articlename=Christopher Lee will star in the Hobbit prequel|dated=08-Feb-2011|website=[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/ The Telegraph]|accessed=21-Dec-2011}}</ref>
|-
| [[Evangeline Lilly]] || [[Tauriel]]<ref name="PJCasting4">{{webcite|author=[[Peter Jackson]]|articleurl=http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=10150286515141558|articlename=The Hobbit Casting Update|dated=19-June-2011|website=[http://www.facebook.com/ Facebook]|accessed=21-Dec-2011}}</ref>
|-
| [[Sylvester McCoy]] || [[Radagast|Radagast the Brown]]<ref name="IMCasting">{{webcite|author=[[Ian McKellen]]|articleurl=http://www.mckellen.com/cinema/hobbit-movie/110510.htm|articlename=2 Elves and another Wizard|dated=10-May-2011|website=[http://www.mckellen.com/ Ian McKellen's website]|accessed=21-Dec-2011}}</ref>
|-
| [[Ian McKellen]] || [[Gandalf]]<ref name="PJCasting1"/>
|-
| [[Bret McKenzie]] || [[Lindir]]<ref name="IMCasting"/>
|-
| [[Graham McTavish]] || [[Dwalin]]<ref name="PJCasting1"/>
|-
| [[Mike Mizrahi]] || [[Thráin II|Thráin]]<ref name="PJCasting1"/>
|-
| [[James Nesbitt]] || [[Bofur]]<ref name="PJCasting1"/>
|-
| [[Dean O'Gorman]] || [[Fíli]]<ref name="PJCasting2">{{webcite|author=[[Peter Jackson]]|articleurl=http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=10150239464391558|articlename=Casting news!|dated=30-April-2011|website=[http://www.facebook.com/ Facebook]|accessed=21-Dec-2011}}</ref>
|-
| [[Lee Pace]] || [[Thranduil]]<ref name="PJCasting2"/>
|-
| [[Mikael Persbrandt]] || [[Beorn]]<ref name="AFTONBLADETCasting">{{webcite|articleurl=http://www.aftonbladet.se/nojesbladet/film/article13349150.ab|articlename=Persbrandt den bäste för jobbet|dated=30-April-2011|website=[http://www.aftonbladet.se/ AFTONBLADET]|accessed=21-Dec-2011}}</ref>
|-
| [[Andy Serkis]] || [[Gollum]]<ref name="PJCasting1"/>
|-
| [[Conan Stevens]] || [[Azog]]<ref name="PJCasting3"/>
|-
| [[Ken Stott]] || [[Balin]]<ref name="PJCasting1"/>
|-
| [[Jeffrey Thomas]] || [[Thrór]]<ref name="PJCasting1"/>
|-
| [[Aidan Turner]] || [[Kíli]]<ref name="PJCasting1"/>
|-
| [[Hugo Weaving]] || [[Elrond]]<ref name="IMCasting"/>
|-
| [[Elijah Wood]] || [[Frodo Baggins]]<ref name="PJCasting1"/>
|-
|}

==Trailer==
{{#ev:youtube|eM--4UklaL4&}}

==Gallery==
{{Gallery
|title=Pictures from the production of ''The Hobbit films''
|height=200
|width=250
|lines=2
|Image:Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins.jpg|[[Martin Freeman]] as [[Bilbo Baggins]] in [[Bag End]].
|Image:Hobbit Ian Mckellan Gandalf.jpg|[[Ian McKellen|Sir Ian McKellen]] as [[Gandalf|Gandalf the Grey]]
|Image:Hobbit Ian Mckellan Gandalf2.jpg|[[Gandalf]] in [[Bag End]]
|Image:Hobbit Martin Freeman and Peter Jackson.jpg|[[Martin Freeman]] and [[Peter Jackson|Sir Peter Jackson]] on the set of [[Bag End]].
|Image:Nori, Ori and Dori.jpg|[[Nori]], [[Ori]] and [[Dori]].
|Image:Oin and Gloin.jpg|[[Óin]] and [[Glóin]].
|Image:Fili and Kili.jpg|[[Fíli]] and [[Kíli]].
|Image:Bombur, Bofur and Bifur.jpg|[[Bombur]], [[Bofur]] and [[Bifur]].
|Image:Balin and Dwalin.jpg|[[Balin]] and [[Dwalin]].
|Image:Richard Armitage Thorin.jpg|[[Thorin]].
|Image:The Hobbit films-Bofur, Bilbo, Bombur, Dwalin, Bifur and Nori.png|[[Bofur]], [[Bilbo Baggins]], [[Bombur]], [[Dwalin]], [[Bifur]] and [[Nori]].
}}

==See also==
*''[[The Hobbit]]''
*''[[The Hobbit (1966 film)]]''
*''[[The Hobbit (1977 film)]]''
*''[[The Hobbit (1968 radio series)]]''
*''[[The Hobbit (1979 radio series)]]''
*''[[:Category:Images from The Hobbit films|Images of the Hobbit films]]
**''[[:Category:Images from The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey|Images of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey]]

==External links==
*[http://www.thehobbit.com/index.html TheHobbit.com] (official website)
*[http://www.thehobbitblog.com/ TheHobbitBlog.com] (official blog)
*[http://www.facebook.com/PeterJacksonNZ Peter Jackson's Facebook page]

{{references}}

{{films}}
{{DISPLAYTITLE:''The Hobbit'' films}}
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The Hobbit (film series)