The Hobbit.....Announced & Confirmed

[Sadogoat]

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 (http://www.TheHobbitBlog.com).

[DentFoster]

I'll definitely be checking these out, but am a little aggrivated at it being broken into two movies. Sounds like greed to me.

[Sadogoat]

As I understand things, it won't be broken into two movies.

Movie 1 will be the adaptation of The Hobbit.

Movie 2 will be put together from Tolkien's notes on the events that transpired between The Hobbit and The Lord Of The Rings. Most of these appeared in Unfinished Tales.

[DentFoster]

Alrighty then, that's acceptable. :)
Thanks for clearing that up Sadogoat.

[Countbad]

WoW they got Peter Jackson back on board for this? Thats awesome news. I thought him and New Line were irreconcilable (sp?). Anyways should be good. Anyone read the unfinsihed tales and could give a brief summary?

[Sadogoat]

Unfinished Tales is basically a collection of stories that fill in the gaps in Tolkien's other books. Examples of these include:

* How Gandalf met Thorin at Bree and recommended that he take Bilbo Baggins with him to Erebor (ie. the beginnings of The Hobbit).

* The search for the Shire by the Nazgul - and how they learned of its location via the treachery of Saruman and Grima Wormtongue.

* What transpired at the Battle Of The Fords Of Isen, in which Theodred, son of Theoden, was slain.

Also more on the doings of Galadriel and the Istari during these years.

How they'll compile a structured movie narrative out of these things is anyone's guess.

[Darkness]

"Sounds great to me. I look forward to hearing more." :)

[Godzilla_Rules]

I am suprised that it took him this long to do this project. I been eager for this movie for a long time.

[Corpse Grinder]

FINALLY!!! I've been waiting and hoping that Jackson and New Line would settle their differences. Now I have to wait for the zombie outbreak to happen after the sequel!

[jackskellington]

Didn't really care for the LOTR movies, so I'll be skipping this one as well. But I am excited for Peter Jackson. He is quite an amazing director and, after the success of the trilogy, should be the only one allowed to do this new one. I certainly wish he would get back to doing horror, though.

[jackskellington]

Oops!! Guess I didn't read closely enough...

While MGM and New Line want to keep Jackson's involvement in the film as broad as possible, hinting that he may take up both writing and directing responsibilities, Jackson's manager Ken Kamins told Hollywood Insider that Jackson won't be directing the films. "Peter won't be directing because he felt the fans have waited long enough for The Hobbit. It will take the better part of every day of the next four years to write, direct and produce two Hobbit films. Given his current obligations to both The Lovely Bones and Tintin, waiting for Peter, Fran, and Phillippa to write, direct and produce The Hobbit would require the fans wait even longer."

Oh well. Even if he isn't directing, it'll probably still be well worth the long wait for the fans of those movies.

[UNDEAD FRED]

I never really wanted to watch the LOTR trilogy before. I got it not long ago, and watched them for the 1st time. I wont say I was blown away by them, but I enjoyed all three of them. I really got into the whole story. Not as good as the real trilogy Star Wars, but now I want to see the extended versions. I will go see these movies when they come out.

[jackskellington]

From Coming Soon...

Del Toro in Talks to Direct Hobbit Films
Source: The Hollywood Reporter January 28, 2008


Guillermo del Toro is in talks to direct back-to-back installments of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit, which is being co-financed by New Line and MGM, says The Hollywood Reporter.

Few filmmakers have the cachet that del Toro has, as well as a deep love for the source material, an assured grasp of fantasy filmmaking and an understanding and command of geek culture as well as its respect. Del Toro has built that goodwill through such films as the Oscar-nominated Pan's Labyrinth, Hellboy, Blade 2 (which was made by New Line) and The Devil's Backbone.

Because of other commitments that included The Lovely Bones and Tintin, "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy director Peter Jackson could not take on writing and directing roles, opting instead to become an executive producer with approval over creative elements of the pair of films.

Because of the strike, no writer has been hired to adapt Tolkien's children's classic, though that process will be fast-tracked once it's resolved. Del Toro and Jackson will oversee the two films' writing.

Principal photography for the films, which will be shot simultaneously, is tentatively set for 2009. The production budget is estimated at $150 million per film. The release of the first film is slated for 2010 and the second in 2011.