The Hobbit

[Rileydog]

true, and that could be filled in as parallel 'goings on' during the Hobbit to make 2 very solid films, but both titled Hobbit.

I only really know the novels, and not nearly as well as some other fans, and not much of the appendices or surrounding story that fills in some of the history. I did read a post about what could be covered regarding the necromancer hunt and the whole council meeting, chasing him, etc. But it just didnt feel like enough for a standalone movie.

But, if it was worked into the film as a side story, and even throw in the hunt for gollum after riddles in the dark, that could work.

Although I dont know the years and timeline of how they all fit together, but if anyone could do it, PJ could.

Are we going to open up a forum dedicated to this like the old LOTR / SW Forums, or maybe re-open the LOTR? I am sure there will be alot of speculation between now and 2010.

[umainebearman]

From the digital bits from an MGM press release -
ACADEMY AWARD WINNER PETER JACKSON AND NEW LINE CINEMA JOIN WITH MGM TO PRODUCE “THE HOBBIT,” EAGERLY-ANTICIPATED FANTASY ADVENTURE EPIC

NEW LINE AND MGM TO CO-PRODUCE AND SHARE WORLDWIDE DISTRIBUTION RIGHTS

PETER JACKSON AND FRAN WALSH TO EXECUTIVE PRODUCE TWO FILMS BASED ON “THE HOBBIT”

Los Angeles, CA (Tuesday, December 18, 2007) Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson; Harry Sloan, Chairman and CEO, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (MGM); Bob Shaye and Michael Lynne, Co-Chairmen and Co-CEOs of New Line Cinema have jointly announced today that they have entered into the following series of agreements:

* MGM and New Line will co-finance and co-distribute two films, “The Hobbit” and a sequel to “The Hobbit.” New Line will distribute in North America and MGM will distribute internationally.

* Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh will serve as Executive Producers of two films based on “The Hobbit.” New Line will manage the production of the films, which will be shot simultaneously.

* Peter Jackson and New Line have settled all litigation relating to the “Lord of the Rings” (LOTR) Trilogy.

Said Peter Jackson, “I’m very pleased that we’ve been able to put our differences behind us, so that we may begin a new chapter with our old friends at New Line. ‘The Lord of the Rings’ is a legacy we proudly share with Bob and Michael, and together, we share that legacy with millions of loyal fans all over the world. We are delighted to continue our journey through Middle Earth. I also want to thank Harry Sloan and our new friends at MGM for helping us find the common ground necessary to continue that journey.”

“Peter Jackson has proven himself as the filmmaker who can bring the extraordinary imagination of Tolkien to life and we full heartedly agree with the fans worldwide who know he should be making ‘The Hobbit,’” said Sloan, MGM’s Chairman and CEO. "Now that we are all in agreement on 'The Hobbit,' we can focus on assembling the production team that will capture this phenomenal tale on film."

Bob Shaye, New Line Co-Chairman and Co-CEO comments, “We are very pleased we have been able to resolve our differences, and that Peter and Fran will be actively and creatively involved with ‘The Hobbit’ movies. We know they will bring the same passion, care and talent to these films that they so ably accomplished with ‘The Lord of the Rings’ Trilogy.”

“Peter is a visionary filmmaker, and he broke new ground with ‘The Lord of the Rings,’” notes Michael Lynne, New Line Co-Chairman and Co-CEO. “We’re delighted he’s back for ‘The Hobbit’ films and that the Tolkien saga will continue with his imprint. We greatly appreciate the efforts of Harry Sloan, who has been instrumental in helping us reach our new accord.”

The two “Hobbit” films – “The Hobbit” and its sequel – are scheduled to be shot simultaneously, with pre-production beginning as soon as possible. Principal photography is tentatively set for a 2009 start, with the intention of “The Hobbit” release slated for 2010 and its sequel the following year, in 2011.

The Oscar®-winning, critically-acclaimed LOTR Trilogy grossed nearly $3 billion worldwide at the box-office. In 2003, “Return of the King” swept the Academy Awards®, winning all of the eleven categories in which it was nominated, including Best Picture – the first ever Best Picture win for a fantasy film. The Trilogy’s production was also unprecedented at the time.

For more information about “The Hobbit” films, please visit www.TheHobbitBlog.com.

---END---

[Niki]

It's great that Peter and Fran are involved. I just hope that Weta will do the effects, sets and props again, that Ngila Dickson will do costumes again and that filming will take place in New Zealand again.

[reapersaurus]

Originally Posted by umainebearman

From the digital bits from an MGM press release -

that was posted on Dec 18th.

[umainebearman]

Originally Posted by reapersaurus

that was posted on Dec 18th.

Yeah I know but didn't see where it had been posted here yet. Also didn't know how many people on here still went to the DB since the site has basically become "BILL HUNT LOVES BLU RAY!".

[reapersaurus]

No - I mean this information was posted HERE the 18th.
The 18th, there was discussion all over the internet about Peter Jackson, and the press release that you posted in its entirety (which is not from DigitalBits AFAIK - it's from a press release, which is directly linked to http://www.thehobbitblog.com/ ).

I'd post a "Welcome to Last Week" smilie, but even though it's applicable here, it would come off a tad crushing.
Glad you caught the memo

[umainebearman]

I don't do memos and won't conform to the new corporate filing system either!

Sometimes I don't catch up with these threads enough and going through and reading every post gives me a head ache.

Thats what I get for having 2 days off in a row.

[mighty mint]

Great...just freakin' great

LINKY

Tolkien Estate Sues New Line
Source: ComingSoon.net, The Tolkien Trust February 11, 2008

The estate of "Lord of the Rings" creator J.R.R. Tolkien is suing New Line Cinema, claiming the company failed to pay a cut of gross profits for the blockbuster films. Here is today's statement from The Tolkien Trust:

The trustees of The Tolkien Trust, a British charity, have filed an action against New Line Cinema for its failure to pay a contractually required gross profit participation in the three films based on the world-famous Lord of the Rings trilogy. The trustees of the estate of JRR Tolkien and HarperCollins Publishers are co-plaintiffs in the lawsuit. The suit was filed today in Los Angeles Superior Court.

The Lord of the Rings films produced by New Line are among the most financially successful films ever created by Hollywood and were released in 2001, 2002 and 2003 respectively. The cumulative worldwide gross receipts to date total nearly $6 billion. Notwithstanding the overwhelming financial success of the films, and the fact that the plaintiffs have a gross participation in each of the films, New Line has failed to pay the plaintiffs any portion of the gross profit participation at all.

The trustees' UK lawyer, Steven Maier, of Manches LLP, said: "The Tolkien trustees do not file lawsuits lightly, and have tried unsuccessfully to resolve their claims out of court. But in this case, New Line has left them no option at all. New Line has not paid the plaintiffs even one penny of its contractual share of gross receipts despite the billions of dollars of gross revenue generated by these wildly successful motion pictures. To make matters worse, to date New Line has even prevented the plaintiffs from auditing the last two films of the series. The trustees are very aggrieved by New Line's arrogance."

The complaint seeks, among other things, in excess of $150 million in compensatory damages, as well as punitive damages, and a declaration from the Court that the plaintiffs have a right to terminate any further rights New Line may have to the Tolkien works under the agreements, including The Hobbit, due to the serious and material nature of the breach of the agreements.

Bonnie Eskenazi, the trustees' US counsel who filed the complaint, said, "New Line has brought new meaning to the phrase 'creative accounting.' I cannot imagine how on earth New Line will argue to a jury that these films could gross literally billions of dollars, and yet the creator's heirs, who are entitled to a share of gross receipts, don't get a penny."

JRR Tolkien is the world-renowned author of the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy and "The Hobbit." The Tolkien Trust is a UK registered charity that has made grants to charitable causes all over the world totaling over $8 million in the last five years alone.

[umainebearman]

We might as well concede that this movie is never gonna get made. I don't know of any movie having so many problems that has turned out good besides Titanic and Star Wars.

But the one thing that is dragging this whole thing down is New Line and there greed. First the PJ thing with the money owed to Weta now this.

[littlebib]

Originally Posted by mighty mint

The complaint seeks, among other things, in excess of $150 million in compensatory damages, as well as punitive damages, and a declaration from the Court that the plaintiffs have a right to terminate any further rights New Line may have to the Tolkien works under the agreements, including The Hobbit, due to the serious and material nature of the breach of the agreements.

How does a charity get punitive damages? I thought that was for things like emotional distress and such.

[Rileydog]

i am astonished at how success and the saving of their company has gone to their heads.

what did they think they were gonna get away with?

you have a contract, you boast about making billions, then you dont pay? did you think they were going to miss it?

i think they will just ante up and not drag this out, seeing as they just resolved the PJ thing and dont wanna mess up $$$$ waiting to be grabbed up on the Hobbitt.

What else do they have in the hopper, Rush Hour 4?

[mighty mint]

They certainly are a company whose problems show consistency in spite of their protests.

[umainebearman]

Originally Posted by littlebib

How does a charity get punitive damages? I thought that was for things like emotional distress and such.

This is one of the big charities that The Tolkien Trust supports. I'm sure they are thinking the more money they can squeeze out of New Line the better.

http://www.worldwildlife.org/ Thats right The WWF. They probably tried to sue Vince McMahon and thats probably why he changed to WWE instead.

[Hockey Mask]

It'll never get made.

[sub780lime]

Originally Posted by umainebearman

This is one of the big charities that The Tolkien Trust supports. I'm sure they are thinking the more money they can squeeze out of New Line the better.

http://www.worldwildlife.org/ Thats right The WWF. They probably tried to sue Vince McMahon and thats probably why he changed to WWE instead.

Actually, they did sue Vince McMahon and the lawsuit went on for almost 10 years before the WWE was forced to change its name to the WWE. It was one of the stupidest things in my mind. Who the hell do you hear going around talking about the WWF in reference to the World Wildlife Organization. I never hear that in passing conversation. I never have.

[umainebearman]

K not that this maybe news to some people but the trip back to Middle Earth is indeed on.

Guillermo del Toro to direct 'The Hobbit' and sequel - Yahoo! News

[cherno]

Happy Day!

[mighty mint]

Originally Posted by umainebearman

K not that this maybe news to some people but the trip back to Middle Earth is indeed on.

Guillermo del Toro to direct 'The Hobbit' and sequel - Yahoo! News

Finally! All I can say is "pitter patter, let's get at'her!"

[Rileydog]

While it isnt 100% etched in stone, looks like we have a couple of expected actor confirmations.

IGN Advertisement

[umainebearman]

Yeah I just don't see this working without McKellen, Serkis, and Holms.

I never read The Hobbit so I'm not sure if any of the other characters from the LOTR trilogy made appearances. My only exposure to it is of course the animated "movie". As awful as that maybe I really enjoyed it all 50 times I've sen it. Its been forever since my last viewing but I'm betting John Rhys-Davies would make a great voice of Smaug the Dragon.