This page contains articles relating to the upcoming movie The Hobbit. It is the prequel to The Lord of The Rings trilogy. The movie casts Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins. Please visit LMR's Martin Freeman Page - Home and LMR's The Hobbit Page - Home.
| * THE HOBBIT ARTICLES BY MONTH AND YEAR * |
Hobbit gets second Bilbo, loses dwarf
By Dave Burgess
Stuff.co.nz - The Dominion Post
April 25, 2011
Fans of The Lord of the Rings have another reason to like The Hobbit, with confirmation that Sir Ian Holm will reprise his role as the older Bilbo Baggins.
As director Sir Peter Jackson broke the news of Holm's return, he was able to refer to the skilful casting of Martin Freeman as a younger Bilbo.
"One comment that came up from the recent video blog was the Bilbo voice at the end. Many of you assumed it was Sir Ian Holm," Jackson said on Facebook.
"Whilst Ian will be returning as the older Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit, that recording was actually Martin Freeman's voice, taken from a script read-through we recorded when the cast first arrived.
"I have to admit, I wasn't sure who it was when I first heard it, either."
That backs the self-belief that Freeman displayed at the start of filming in February when he joked that he "wasn't tying himself up in knots" about living up to Holm's depiction of Bilbo in The Lord of the Rings.
"Without being big-headed or falsely modest, I think I'm a good match for him," he said at the time.
Other stars returning for The Hobbit, the two-part, 3D prequel to The Lord of the Rings trilogy, include Sir Ian McKellen as Gandalf, Andy Serkis as Gollum, and Orlando Bloom as Legolas.
Elijah Wood is reprising his role as Frodo Baggins, even though the character did not appear in JRR Tolkien's book of The Hobbit, which is set 60 years before the trilogy.
Jackson also said on Facebook that he would use the four-day Easter break to recharge his batteries and "do a few script tweaks for future scenes".
However, in another Facebook posting on Sunday night, Jackson announced that British actor Rob Kazinsky was pulling out of his role of Fili the dwarf for personal reasons.
"Rob has been terrific to work with and his enthusiasm and infectious sense of humour will be missed by all of us," Jackson's post said.
"I should say that Rob's departure will not affect ongoing filming of The Hobbit, nor will it impact work done to date, as we had yet to film much of Fili's storyline."
Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit Adds Ian Holm, Loses Rob Kazinsky
Spinoff Online
April 25, 2011
In the same weekend that Peter Jackson confirmed Ian Holm will return as the older Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit, the director revealed the project has lost one of its company of dwarves.
Rob Kazinksy, the British actor cast as Fili, was forced to leave The Hobbit “for personal reasons,” Jackson announced Sunday on his Facebook page. “Rob has been terrific to work with and his enthusiasm and infectious sense of humour will be missed by all of us,” he wrote.
Kazinksy, best known for his role on EastEnders, confirmed his departure on Twitter, saying, “Thanks for all your support, Peter and team have been the most wonderful and supportive team to work for and it’s with a truly sad heart that things have turned out this way. The Hobbit will go on to be as great as I’ve seen and I will miss the family and friends that I’ve here.”
Jackson said there will be no interruption in shooting.
“I should say that Rob’s departure will not affect ongoing filming of The Hobbit, nor will it impact work done to date, as we had yet to film much of Fili’s storyline,” he wrote. “At the moment we are shooting scenes featuring Bilbo without the Dwarves, which will give us time to find a new Fili. I’ll keep everyone posted with updates as they come.”
The news came just two days after Jackson announced that Holm will join returning Lord of the Rings cast members Ian McKellan, Andy Serkis, Elijah Wood, Cate Blanchett and, most likely, Orlando Bloom in The Hobbit. Martin Freeman stars as the younger Bilbo Baggins in the two-movie project, which takes place 60 years before the events of The Lord of the Rings. The movies will be released in 3D in 2012 and 2013.
British actor quits filming of The Hobbit to return home
By Paul Chapman in Wellington
Telegraph.co.uk
April 25, 2011
He had been cast as Fili, one of 13 dwarves who accompany the character Bilbo Baggins on his journey to defeat the dragon Smaug in JRR Tolkien's classic tale.
Although scenes featuring Kazinsky had already been shot in New Zealand, director Peter Jackson said his departure "will not affect ongoing filming of The Hobbit, nor will it impact work done to date, as we had yet to film much of Fili's storyline".
Announcing the development on his Facebook page, Sir Peter said: "Rob has been terrific to work with, and his enthusiasm and infectious sense of humour will be missed by all of us.
"At the moment we are shooting scenes featuring Bilbo without the Dwarves, which will give us time to find a new Fili."
Mr Kazinsky told fans on Twitter: "It's with a sad heart that things have turned out this way."
He gave no details of what had prompted his decision.
The 27-year-old actor is best known for his role as Sean in the popular BBC soap opera.
Producers are now scrambling to find a replacement, with filming currently under way at studios in Wellington, the New Zealand capital.
Meanwhile, Sir Peter also revealed that Sir Ian Holm will reprise his role as the older Bilbo.
Martin Freeman of The Office has been cast as a younger Bilbo, in the prequel to the Oscar-winning Lord of the Rings trilogy.
Other stars returning include Sir Ian McKellen as Gandalf, Andy Serkis as Gollum, and Orlando Bloom as Legolas.
Elijah Wood is reprising his role as Frodo Baggins, even though the character does not appear in the book of The Hobbit, set 60 years before the trilogy.
A string of setbacks, including funding problems with MGM studios, the resignation of original director Guillermo Del Toro, and Sir Peter needing emergency surgery, led to some in the industry dubbing the production as "cursed".
The first film in the two-part prequel is due to reach cinemas in December 2012.
Ian Holm Will Play Bilbo In The Hobbit
By Josh Tyler
CinemaBlend.com
April 24, 2011
Here’s some great news for Lord of the Rings. Ian Holm played the character of Bilbo, rather brilliantly, in the Lord of the Rings films. Though the character of Bilbo is much younger in The Hobbit and has thus been recast to be played by Martin Freeman, it looks like Holm will still make an appearance as the character.
The first hint of this came during director Peter Jackson’s recent video blog from the set, which closed with narration that sounded a lot like Ian Holm as Bilbo. Actually, it wasn’t, just Martin Freeman doing the character (a nice indication of just how good Freeman may be at this), but that got people asking questions. A few moments ago Hobbit director Peter Jackson answered.
Posting on his official Facebook page Peter Jackson had this to say on the subject of Ian Holm in The Hobbit:
"Ian will be returning as the older Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit".
Pretty clear. How will he fit in, since The Hobbit is set decades earlier and someone else is playing the character? Well remember the original Lord of the Rings movies were framed by Ian’s Bilbo writing a book about his journey. At the start of those films, Bilbo was finishing up the writing of his tale and turning it over to Frodo. That could be a great way to revisit an elderly Ian, writing his exploits, and looking back on them, before we flash back to seeing them actually happen. Peter Jackson isn’t saying, of course, but that theory seems about as good as any.
Steven Moffat 'lending' Freeman to 'Hobbit'
By Tara Fowler
Digital Spy
April 24, 2011
Steven Moffat has revealed that Martin Freeman refused to join The Hobbit until it was certain that he could remain on Sherlock.
Freeman was offered the role of Bilbo Baggins in the J.R.R. Tolkien adaptation in October, but he turned it down to continue his role on Sherlock, in which he plays Dr Watson. However, the shooting schedule for The Hobbit was ultimately accommodated around that of the BBC drama so that Freeman could play both roles.
Moffat spoke to Entertainment Weekly about the second series of Sherlock, stating that Freeman is being loaned to The Hobbit.
"We are lending Martin Freeman to The Hobbit, let's get that the right way round," he said, when asked if he was stealing Freeman back from the Lord of the Rings prequel.
Moffat went on to state that Freeman was entirely committed to Sherlock.
"[Freeman] wouldn't have been in The Hobbit unless Sherlock could be accommodated," he added. "It's not exactly a small deal these days, Sherlock."
OUT OF HIS HELMET: Director Peter Jackson with Hobbit cast members, dwarfs Stephen Hunter, Adam Brown and Graham McTavish, and lead hobbit Martin Freeman.
KEVIN STENT/Sunday Star-Times
The Roxy cinema opening in Miramar
Miramar finally gets its own cinema
The Dominion Post
April 17, 2011
Usually at the centre of a red carpet event is a movie and its stars. But in Wellington tonight it's the cinema itself that gets much of the attention.
Miramar's former Capitol Theatre, built in 1928, has had a $7 million revamp as The Roxy thanks to some of the biggest players in the film industry including Sir Peter Jackson, Jamie Selkirk, Sir Richard Taylor and his wife Tania Rodger.
It boasts an opulent, 1930s interior and includes two cinemas - one seating 164 people and the other 55 - along with a restaurant and cocktail bar. Weta Workshop has been involved in the refit, contributing bronze, sculptured robots in the grand hall.
The Roxy was unveiled at an invitation only official opening tonight, where the guests will include several of the cast from The Hobbit and film industry big wigs.
Dominion Post arts editor Tom Cardy was there and tweeted throughout the event, taking readers inside the ritziest cinema in town.
Hobbit fans get a behind the scenes glimpse of filming
TVNZ.co.nz
April 15, 2011
Sir Peter Jackson has given fans a first glimpse from behind the scenes of The Hobbit movies.
A 10-minute video has been released on his Facebook page revealing the preparations for filming the two-part saga.
"For a long time I thought going back to the amazing experience of Lord Of The Rings wouldn't be a good idea," Sir Peter says in the film.
"Now I've come around. Films are hard to make but what makes them fun are the people you work with."
Walking around the production studios in Wellington, Sir Peter shows off some of the sets that will be used in the film which are exact copies of those used in the original trilogy.
Fans also get an insight into the costume department, which the filmmaker describes as"like a wizard's workshop", and see some of the film's stars having horse and sword training.
Leading actors Sir Ian McKellen, Martin Freeman and Andy Serkis are also shown preparing for the shoot.
The whole project is expected to take two to three years and Sir Peter promises to keep making regular video updates of progress.
The new films are set to be released in two parts in 2012 and 2013.
Peter Jackson debuts exclusive Hobbit preview online
NZ Herald News
April 14, 2011
Peter Jackson has released the first production video from the set of The Hobbit movies now filming in New Zealand.
The 10-minute piece, which Jackson debuted on his Facebook page, returns to Hobbiton to show exclusive behind-the-scenes footage of the movie including special effects work, fight training, dwarf costumes being created and more.
"It's like a sort of a big wizard's workshop," Jackson said on the video as he toured the production.
Many of the sets and locations from Jackson's Lord of the Rings films have been recreated for the new films, which will be released in two parts in 2012 and 2013.
Several of the actors also appear in the video, including Sir Ian McKellen as Gandalf the wizard and Martin Freeman, who will be playing Bilbo Baggins.
- Herald Online
Hobbit films more life-like than ever
Tamara McLean, AAP New Zealand Correspondent
April 14, 2011
Sir Peter Jackson is a filmmaker famed for pushing boundaries and his latest creation, The Hobbit, will be no exception.
The acclaimed Kiwi director has revealed the much-anticipated prequel to the Lord of the Rings will go where no film has gone - into the realm of ultra fast film speed.
For almost a century films have been shot at 24 frames per second, enough to allow reasonably smooth and seamless viewing for most shots.
The Hobbit, however, will use 48 frames per second, a considerably more expensive option that Jackson promises "looks much more life-like, and it is much easier to watch, especially in 3-D".
"It looks great, and we've actually become used to it now, to the point that other film experiences look a little primitive," the director said on his Facebook page.
This "hugely enhanced clarity and smoothness" eradicates the "blurring" or "strobing" effect seen when the camera pans or moves quickly, he said in his blog.
He predicted many film purists will criticise the shift but he assured them they would adjust easily, and signalled it was the way the film world was heading.
"It's similar to the moment when vinyl records were supplanted by digital CDs," Jackson said. "There's no doubt in my mind that we're heading towards movies being shot and projected at higher frame rates."
He's not the only convert. Last month, director James Cameron announced he too was planning to shoot his sequel to Avatar at a higher frame rate.
Jackson said his decision would "future proof" the $US50 million ($A47.71 million) two-film production, one of the most costly and widely-anticipated Hollywood releases of all time.
The problem, however, is whether theatres will be able to update screening technology in time for the first film's release in December 2012.
Jackson said he was "hopeful that there will be enough theatres capable of projecting 48 frames per second by the time The Hobbit comes out" but conceded "we don't yet know what the reality will be".
Practicalities aside, Jackson fans are clearly thrilled by the development, with 2700 "liking" his status update and hundreds adding comments commending his pioneering abilities.
Filming for the blockbusters started in the New Zealand capital Wellington in March. It was a late start for the films which have suffered a series of setbacks including an actors' boycott, studio funding problems and Jackson's stomach ulcer.
British actor Martin Freeman will play the film's unlikely hero, adventurous hobbit Bilbo Baggins. Cate Blanchett, Sir Ian McKellen, Elijah Wood, Orlando Bloom and Andy Serkis will also star in the movies, as will Flight of the Conchords co-star Bret McKenzie.
Exclusive: Elijah Wood on The Hobbit
Source: Scott Huver
ComingSoon.net
April 10, 2011
Who's even more excited than you to get his first glimpse of Peter Jackson's new two-part film adaptation of The Hobbit? Elijah Wood, that's who. The actor, who played Frodo Baggins in "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy, will be reprising the role in some capacity as the prequel films follow the early Middle Earth adventures of his uncle Bilbo Baggins, played by Martin Freeman (he'll be joined by other original castmembers, including Ian McKellen, Cate Blanchett, Andy Serkis and Orlando Bloom).
Wood gave ComingSoon.net a sense of what he's looking forward to as he re-dons his beloved Hobbit feet.
ComingSoon.net: Just a couple of days ago, I spoke with Orlando Bloom and he said he had received the full script for "The Hobbit" films.
Elijah Wood: He did? I've not read it yet. No, no, no.
CS: What are you most excited about to have the opportunity to be a part of the prequels? Since it wasn't necessarily built into the original novel that you guys from the "Rings" films would be there.
Wood: Yeah, not at all. Look, I'm just looking forward to going back to New Zealand and spending a bit of time there. There will be plenty of old friends that will be a part of it. Largely I would imagine the entire crew would be relatively the same. So in some ways I think it's going to be a very surreal journey. It will feel like traveling back in time a little. But I'm excited. There's a lot of new elements to this. They're shooting on the Red [camera]. They're shooting in 3D, so that should be interesting. And I'm excited to read the script. I'm very excited to see what they've done with "The Hobbit." They've stretched it out over the course of two films – I'm so curious as to what other elements they've woven in, because there are certainly additional works that refer to that same time period that they could weave into it. So I'm just very excited to sort of see what the ultimate vision is. I was down there about a year ago, February, and I saw some of the design. This is when Guillermo [del Toro] was still attached. So I've seen a lot of the design work. I mean, it's extraordinary! And Alan Lee and John Howe are back in the art department doing designs for it. I think it's going to feel very familiar, and different as well.
CS: And you'll probably go down to New Zealand to shoot at the end of the year?
Wood: Yeah. Around December or November.
CS: And the show schedule has been built to make it easy for you, with your new TV series "Wilfred"?
Wood: Yeah, I mean I was meant to go down in February but they pushed a month, which conflicted with "Wilfred." So I'm now going to go their summer time.
CS: Okay. And when's the last time you were all together? Because you guys traveled the world together.
Wood: It was probably 2003 when we were all together. I mean I've seen Peter and I've been to New Zealand a few times since. And I've seen Viggo and, you know, we all are kind of connected. But in terms of all of us being together in one space - probably 2003.
CS: And you all got symbolic tattoos while filming the original trilogy - maybe you'll add another on "The Hobbit"?
Wood: Yeah, right - Maybe!
The two films are planned for release in late 2012 and 2013, respectively.
Gollum Actor Andy Serkis to Serve as Second Unit Director on 'The Hobbit' (Exclusive)
Carolyn Giardina
Hollywood Reporter
April 6, 2011
Andy Serkis, who played the iconic Gollum in Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings, is taking on a new role in The Hobbit 1 and 2. In addition to reprising his role as the tragic creature, Serkis also has been tapped by Jackson to serve as second unit director on the two films, which are now in production in New Zealand.
“I think I understand Peter’s sensibility and we have a common history of understanding Middle Earth,” Serkis told The Hollywood Reporter. “A lot of the crew from The Lord of the Rings was returning to work on The Hobbit. There is really a sense of Peter wanting people around him who totally understand the material and the work ethic."
Serkis has already done some directing, including performance capture on a couple video games including Heavenly Sword. But, he said, “When Peter asked me. There was this email out of the blue. It was a fantastic surprise.”
When he completes The Hobbit movies, Serkis aims to direct his first live-action feature. In addition, he and producer Jonathan Cavendish (Bridget Jones’ Diary) plan to launch a perform capture studio and training center, dubbed The Imaginarium, which will produce its own material as well as service other projects.
As for his return to Middle Earth, details are being kept under wraps, but Serkis told THR that his directing responsibilities would go beyond performance capture. “It is wide ranging and encompasses a lot of directing aspects of filmmaking and story. Yes, there is some performance capture, but I will be very much on the live action sets and locations helping Peter to tell the story."
“The learning curve is The Hobbit is being shot in 3D,” he added, noting that the 3D would be used “dramatically, to give a point of view.”
“In the same way Lord of the Rings was an interpretation of the book, The Hobbit is being treated the same way,” Serkis said. “It will be faithfully represented with a fresh interpretation.”
The busy actor just completed shooting his performance in the film. “He is very much a Gollum that people will recognize,” Serkis offered, noting that the character would be seen in his “truest form.”
The actor also has performances in two additional anticipated movies are on the way, both of which are performance capture. He will play Caesar in the Planet of the Apes prequel Rise of the Apes, slated for an Aug. 4 debut; and Captain Haddock in the December release The Adventures of TinTin: The Secret of the Unicorn.
“When we created Gollum the first time, performance capture was it its infancy,” he said, noting that today, “within the industry, there is more appreciation for it as an acting art form. It’s all about character, learning what the character thinks, feels, how he carries pain.”
Serkis said it’s “thrilling” to reprise the role of Gollum. “I was looking forward to doing it. He never really left me.”
'Conchords' star McKenzie an elf in 'The Hobbit'
"Flight of the Conchords" star Bret McKenzie will play Lindir, an Elf of Rivendell
By Dave McNary
Variety.com
April 4, 2011
EXCLUSIVE: "Flight of the Conchords" star Bret McKenzie has joined the cast of "The Hobbit," which began shooting March 21.
New Zealand-based McKenzie made brief appearances as an extra in the first and third "Lord of the Rings" pics in which he achieved fan fame on the Internet with the fan-created nickname "Figwit." He's playing Lindir, an Elf of Rivendell, in "The Hobbit."
McKenzie and fellow New Zealander Jermaine Clement formed the comedy-music duo Flight of the Conchords in 1998, leading to a BBC radio series and an HBO series.
Producer-director Peter Jackson is shooting the two films in New Zealand in 3D over the next 14 months at Stone Street Studios in Wellington and on location around the country. "Hobbit" cast includes Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins and Andy Serkis, Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen and Cate Blanchett reprising their roles from "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy.
J.R.R. Tolkien novel's set 60 years before "Lord of the Rings" with Bilbo the unassuming Hobbit who becomes a hero by obtaining a powerful ring in the face of challenges by the wicked Gollum and a dragon named Smaug.
New Line parent Warner Bros. reached a deal in January to handle worldwide distribution on "The Hobbit," taking over most international distribution and homevideo on the two films from MGM in exchange for funding MGM's half of the production costs. The "Hobbit" pics are aimed for release in late 2012 and late 2013.
Jackson, Fran Walsh and Carolynne Cunningham are producing, with co-writer Philippa Boyens serving as co-producer and Ken Kamins and Zane Weiner as exec producers. Walsh, Boyens, Guillermo del Toro and Jackson penned the screenplays.
Conchord could soar in Hobbit role
By Dave Burgess
The Dominion Post
April 1, 2011
Bret McKenzie could be going from being Figwit in the Lord of the Rings to a big-screen presence in The Hobbit.
The Dominion Post can reveal that Sir Peter Jackson is trying to tempt the Flight of the Conchords co-star to take a role in the 3-D Hobbit films now being shot in Wellington.
It would spell a remarkable turnaround for McKenzie, who had a three-second spot as a pouting elf in the first Rings film.
A fan saw him on screen, as Frodo was frantically trying to deliver the ring to Mordor, and thought. "Frodo is great...who is that?" And from that, the acronym Figwit was born.
It spawned the tongue-in-cheek figwitlives.net website in honour of the spunky elf - McKenzie was listed as one of Who magazine's 100 sexiest people in 2008 - and an hour-long documentary called Frodo is Great ... Who is That?!!
The final Rings instalment The Return of the King also saw the return of McKenzie, as an elf escort to Liv Tyler. He got one line.
He and fellow Conchords star Jemaine Clement later recorded the parody song Frodo, Don't Wear the Ring, which featured on their hit TV series and included the lines, "Frodo, don't wear the ring/ The magical bling bling/ You'll never be the lord of the rings".
McKenzie was at Wednesday night's opening of Miramar's new Roxy theatre along with Jackson and Hobbit cast members Martin Freeman, Sir Ian McKellen, James Nesbitt and Adam Brown.
Hobbit spokeswoman Melissa Booth did not reply to questions about McKenzie and his role in the film.
