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Jackson Slated to Make Hobbit Movie, Sequel

syrinx writes "Peter Jackson, New Line Cinema, and MGM have agreed to work on two new movies: a film adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's 'The Hobbit', and a further sequel. From the article: 'The two Hobbit films ... 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.'" Not sure if it would be possible to nab Ian Holm as Bilbo, but here's hoping.

93 of 496 comments (clear)

  1. sequel? by BlueStraggler · · Score: 5, Funny

    Didn't he already shoot the sequel to The Hobbit?

    1. Re:sequel? by moderatorrater · · Score: 5, Interesting

      I would prefer he do a series of short films based on the Unfinished Tales, then a documentary based on the Silmarilion. That would be awesome beyond all reason.

    2. Re:sequEl? by Gaerek · · Score: 5, Funny

      The first movie will be entitled "The Hobbit." The second movie is tenatively entitled "Movie About Hobbits in an Effort to Milk the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit Properties for All They're Worth." Of course, this is a tenative title and subject to change.

    3. Re:sequel? by PlatyPaul · · Score: 2, Informative

      Thankfully/sadly (take your pick) he hasn't agreed to do The Silmarillion.

      Given the bad blood, including a recent "taunting" phonecall, it really is surprising that Jackson would accept the project.

      But, then again, money is money (especially when it's LOTS of money).

      --
      Misery loves company. Online misery loves unsuspecting random strangers.
    4. Re:sequel? by rehtonAesoohC · · Score: 4, Insightful

      That would be awesome for the nerds of us who stayed awake through the introduction to the Valar.

    5. Re:sequel? by Lev13than · · Score: 4, Funny

      Be ready for disappointment - we've seen this "shoot the prequels after the main trilogy" bit before. $5 says Bilbo stabs first, Gimli will be replaced by an annoying CGI sidekick, and we'll learn that the rings get their special power because they're made of high-strength mitochlorian alloy.

      --
      When you have nothing left to burn you must set yourself on fire
    6. Re:sequEl? by arkham6 · · Score: 2, Interesting

      More likely, this is Peter Jackson doing what he can not to butcher the Hobbit by having to cut the book down to a 2-3 hour movie. Most likely its going to be a movie in two parts, with part 1 being up until Bilbo escapes from the wood elves, and Part 2 being the Dragon, the battle of the 5 armies, and some other things tying the movie further into the first 3 (Gandolf poking around the necromancer's home and finding out he's Sauron perhaps?)

    7. Re:sequel? by Ed+Avis · · Score: 4, Funny

      Will it include The Ballad of Bilbo Baggins by Leonard Nimoy?

      --
      -- Ed Avis ed@membled.com
    8. Re:sequEl? by techpawn · · Score: 5, Funny

      NO just watch...
      First movie. The Hobbit: There
      Second movie. The Hobbit: And Back again

      Just like the iocane powder I found, I'd bet my life on it!

      --
      Ask not what you can do for your country. Ask what your country did to you
    9. Re:sequEl? by tomthegeek · · Score: 2, Funny

      Personally I can't wait for LoTR Fanservice: The Musical - On Ice

    10. Re:sequel? by Kagura · · Score: 2, Informative

      Lol, it's true. I gave up reading the Silmarillion the first time during the first couple chapters. Later on, when I tried it again, I pushed through the barrier and the book was amazing. You just have to live through the first 70 pages or so. :)

    11. Re:sequel? by psiogen · · Score: 2, Funny

      Also, much like The Lord of the Rings, each of the two films will consist of 2 hours of actual footage and 1 hour of slow-motion instant replays.

    12. Re:sequel? by fyrie · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Don't forget the part about fixing the ozone hole over Middle Earth.

    13. Re:sequel? by Keeper+Of+Keys · · Score: 2, Informative

      I'd be quite surprised if Gimli is in it at all; there are eleven dwarves in The Hobbit - all of them potentially annoying, but no Gimli. The closest we get is his cousin once removed, Balin.

    14. Re:sequel? by roc97007 · · Score: 4, Funny

      I can understand the source of your confusion -- "Peter Jackson" and "George Lucas" sound almost identical.

      --
      Oliver's law of assumed responsibility: If you're seen fixing it, you will be blamed for breaking it.
    15. Re:sequel? by pmdkh · · Score: 2, Informative

      But they have an expanded role in the movies. In the books, they defeat the Corsairs of Umbar (the ones coming from the south on ships) at Pelargir and then leave. Aragorn and the rest then travel to Minas Tirith on the Corsairs' ships to join the battle there. Wikipedia article for quick reference

      --

      "Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will."

      --Frederick Douglass

    16. Re:sequel? by BobNET · · Score: 2, Insightful

      The closest we get is his cousin once removed, Balin.

      What about Gimli's father, Glóin?

    17. Re:sequel? by torqer · · Score: 3, Informative

      I think you're trying to nitpick... So I thought I would respond in kind.

      There are 13 Dwarves in the hobbit. Well there are more (such as Dain), but 13 in the party set out to reclaim the lonely mountain... Bilbo makes the party not an unlucky number.

      thorin
      fili kili
      oin gloin
      bifur bufor
      bombur
      balin dwalin
      ori dori nori

    18. Re:sequEl? by Artifakt · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Expanding on what Gandalf did while he was away from the Dwarves and Bilbo, and better tieing the Hobbit to the LotR actually seems like a good thing, if the expansion really focuses on Sauron's temporary occupation of Mirkwood, etc. Jackson could stay pretty accurate to the original, just working off of parts found in the LotR appendices, Tolkien's notes, and the pre WW2 variant text of the Hobbit itself. There's a good story possible that would vary less from the original than his giving the female roles a larger part in LotR. (Something that I didn't mind, but seems to get some people all upset).
                The real question is, would this involve a face to face conflict between Gandalf and a (still much weaker) Sauron? Would Sauron be visualized as an EYE or just a dark wraith-like presence? And does Jackson bring in some of the other 4 wizards, or other powers that be in middle earth, or make it a Gandalf solo mission? I'm afraid a 1 on 1, gunslingers in the streets style conflict, mostly involving flashy magic, is the easiest path there.

      --
      Who is John Cabal?
    19. Re:sequEl? by UnknownSoldier · · Score: 3, Funny

      You mean like this? ;-)

    20. Re:sequel? by davidsyes · · Score: 3, Funny

      I read "Jackson Slated to Make Hobbit SQUEAL"...

      (OOPS)

      --
      Previously: "Linux... Toward the Sunrise..." Now: "Linux... Toward the-- No, now, part of Every Sunrise"
    21. Re:sequel? by RDW · · Score: 4, Funny

      'Will the sequel be an original story? Or is there an existing (unfinished?) story to base it on?'

      Jackson isn't really bothered either way. He pretty much wrote a new story for The Two Towers, with a few set pieces from the book (mainly battles) inserted to let us know which film we were watching. And a Hobbit sequel will give him plenty of time to explore the history of Lurtz:

      http://archives.theonering.net/movie/char/lurtz.html

      explain how the Elves developed the art of Shield Surfing:

      http://www.theonering.net/scrapbook/view/7427

      tell the sad story of how Denethor became such a messy eater:

      http://www.tk421.net/lotr/film/rotk/img/rotk0911.jpg

      get Bilbo's friends out of a tight situation with a hilarious dwarf tossing scene:

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dwarf_tossing#Popular_culture_references_to_dwarf_tossing

      and have Agent Elrond turn up with a sword at random moments:

      http://productimages1.colony1.net/5851/Elrond%20Bust.jpg

      just in time for a bit of gratuitous decapitation:

      http://en.wikipedia.org/?title=The_Mouth_of_Sauron

      Ian McKellen will be excellent, though.

    22. Re:sequel? by eyrieowl · · Score: 3, Interesting

      turning faramir into a flawed human almost like his brother instead of a noble character was done for time? making the elves and elrond out to be cowards was faithful to the original text? aragorn had to be pushed to be king, he didn't *always* recognize it as his birthright? jackson did an excellent job creating the world of lotr, but he fails utterly to understand the nobility in the books. he only can conceive of the hobbits as the heroes, doesn't understand or was incapable of portraying the unswerving nobility of aragorn, the rangers, and the elves. if all he did was shorten the books, he would have nothing but my utmost admiration. otoh, the hobbit is a more folksy book, and those grander themes are only hinted at, so mayhap it's better suited to his talents.

    23. Re:sequel? by davidsyes · · Score: 2, Funny

      Fade In:

      Coming Easter 2008 to a theatre near you: "Hobbitrail: The Assimilation and the Pre-Squeal"

      Smashcut:

      Here comes Peter Cottontail, hoppin' down the Hobbittrail, Hippity, Hoppity, hobbing all the way...

      Off-Screen:

      No proto-humans will be harmed in the making of this production..

      --
      Previously: "Linux... Toward the Sunrise..." Now: "Linux... Toward the-- No, now, part of Every Sunrise"
    24. Re:sequel? by jspayne · · Score: 2, Insightful
      I watched the movies without having read the books for some time. I found that I didn't notice most of the changes (except for some of the more abrupt cuts). My comments on your nit-picks:

      please explain the utter change to Aragon's and Faramir. Fran and Philippa are on record as saying that Tolkein's Faramir was not believable. Having just re-read the series, I still think this is the most harmful change that they made.

      the expanded role of Arwen Political correctness, merchandising.

      the presence of the Elves at Helms Deep My theory on this is cost savings - they had a bunch of Elven props & animations from the beginning of the movie, and they wanted to use them instead of creating new ones.

      why did Sauron have two fingers cut off instead of one? Unless Sauron wore the ring on his pinky or thumb, this makes sense.
    25. Re:sequel? by AdmiralWeirdbeard · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I think that the opening, with the creation of the world through the orchestra of the Valar would probably be one of the most epic and impressive audiovisual entertainments ever, if done right.

      --
      Come read my stupid blagablog. Rants and Giggles
    26. Re:sequel? by nightgeometry · · Score: 4, Insightful

      "The movies are for entertainment"...

      So what the fuck are the books for?

      --
      The best is the enemy of the good
    27. Re:sequel? by sm62704 · · Score: 2, Funny

      I saw the actual screenplay. Elrond is reincarnated as a computer virus that infects the Shire by turning everyone into copies of himself before Frodo lets himself be killed.

      --
      mcgrew's razor: Never attribute to stupidity that which can be explained by greedy self-interest
    28. Re:sequel? by bheer · · Score: 2, Insightful

      I managed to breeze through the Valars, but for me the dreariest part of the Silmarillon was when it got into the family squabbles (and the looong family trees) of the Elves in the middle, upto the tale of Beren and Luthien. If you think soap operas are bad, soap operas about ultra-longlived creatures are worse.

    29. Re:sequel? by zero_offset · · Score: 4, Funny

      Documentary based on the Silmarillion

      Now that is a brilliant idea.


      Oh god, no... are you insane? The Silmarillion was like the Old Testament "Numbers" but for people who fantasize about fucking elves. And yeah, "fucking" is a verb in that sentence. "And Elbereth begat Dorkagar who begat Losermir and Choadalwyn, and Choadalwyn began Unwashedereth who did dewll in his mother's basement."

      --

      Slashdot quality declines as the number of hot grits posts decreases. - Provolt's Law, Apr-09-2005

    30. Re:sequel? by niktemadur · · Score: 2, Insightful

      From what I recall (I read the books two decades ago), a good chunk of Fellowship Of The Ring consists of our intrepid heroes dining alfresco in the countryside, reciting songs about the exploits of warriors of yore, as well as an epic love story or two.

      But yeah:
      - Cutting The Hobbit in two would be an extremely cynical way of milking the cow for all she's worth.
      - Inventing further adventures for Bilbo would be sacrilege, especially with writers who take it upon themselves to twist Faramir out of shape because they (think they) know better than Tolkien, also adding a barrage of plastic-emotion Hallmark moments.

      However, we all know that Tolkien wrote tons of stuff not meant (in his eyes) for public consumption, reference volumes that fleshed out his broader understanding of Middle Earth. Every once in a while, additional material comes to light, "finished" by the likes of Tolkien Jr.

      The best case scenario is that maybe Jackson was given access to a stash of unpublished hobbit stories in the catalog.

      One thing is clear, though: No Silmarillion this time. Maybe next go around we'll get to see some combat between Glorfindel and one of the Balrogs.

      --
      Lil' Thindime, lilting a lacrimose lament, krashes the kwaint konfines of Kokonino Kounty
    31. Re:sequel? by PCM2 · · Score: 4, Funny

      Be ready for disappointment - we've seen this "shoot the prequels after the main trilogy" bit before. $5 says Bilbo stabs first, Gimli will be replaced by an annoying CGI sidekick, and we'll learn that the rings get their special power because they're made of high-strength mitochlorian alloy.

      Don't be ridiculous. Whatever changes Jackson makes to the original plot will only be to engage the audience and create a more enjoyable movie experience. For example:

      • We will find out exactly why nobody tosses a dwarf.
      • We will witness the pulse-pounding "River Elf Olympics," complete with log rolling, barrel tossing, and other feats of leaping and agility.
      • Dori will be revisioned as a bearded, female dwarf -- but will her fondness for gold jewelery doom the expedition?
      • Jackson has secured the rights to the "Down, down to goblin town" song from the Rankin-Bass production, to be sung by Meatloaf during the end credits.
      • Due to pacing issues, Gollum's riddle game will be replaced with a form of Sudoku based on elf-runes -- expect toy tie-ins to be hot sellers for the Christmas season!
      • Extended sequences featuring Sauron in his guise as the Necromancer, complete with much foreshadowing.
      • We are enthralled as Andy Serkis succumbs to the Gollum persona as the movies progress; he completes his transformation by the end of the second film. Also, we are treated to a sneak preview of the riddle (sorry, Sudoku) game, in which Bilbo sees Gollum playing against Smeagol.
      • Beorn saves the party by battling several dinosaurs and a giant ape.
      • While in the house of Elrond, Bilbo plays Cyrano to a young Aragorn as he attempts to court his lady love, Arwen.
      • Bilbo kills Smaug.

      Great fun for the whole family!

      --
      Breakfast served all day!
    32. Re:sequel? by Petrushka · · Score: 2, Insightful

      but i dont think hes a perfect director. however, since hes done 3 of them already, id rather he continued to do them to keep a similar look and feel to the movies.

      Jackson isn't the director for The Hobbit; he's a producer. The summary really ought to have made that clear. According to this morning's news, no director has yet been settled on. I haven't heard anything about a writer or writers. I guess Jackson will have a lot of creative input, but things could still fall through; remember at one point he was going to be the producer for a Halo movie too.

    33. Re:sequel? by bckrispi · · Score: 4, Funny

      I mean, Gimli's not even in The Hobbit.
      ... not yet.
      --
      Xenon, where's my money? -Borno
    34. Re:sequel? by RDW · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Who said anything about not enjoying it? I'm just disappointed we didn't get to see this idea in the final cut as well:

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6IAYNYaNCz8

      Though even Jackson has yet to achieve anything approaching the level of inspiration shown in an earlier adaptation:

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdXQJS3Yv0Y

    35. Re:sequel? by bigstrat2003 · · Score: 2, Interesting

      To each his own. Personally, I prefer the Silmarillion, for painting a more epic story, and for having more precise, formal language. It wouldn't work well as a movie at all, though, considering the book has gaps like, "And the siege of Angband lasted 400 years...". That sort of passage of time would make a movie pretty jarring.

      --
      "16MB (fuck off, MiB fascists)" - The Mighty Buzzard
    36. Re:sequel? by jonatha · · Score: 2, Interesting
      Fran and Philippa are on record as saying that Tolkein's Faramir was not believable. Having just re-read the series, I still think this is the most harmful change that they made.

      I felt the same way until I saw the extended cut of The Two Towers.

      I think the familial tension that scene establishes not only makes Jackson's treatment of Faramir forgiveable, it makes it better than Tolkien's original.

      --
      The SCO lawsuit makes me wish my company were in Utah. We need a new building.
    37. Re:sequel? by Buck2 · · Score: 2, Funny

      Bilbo kills Smaug? Well, thanks for ruining it all.

      JUST THANKS.

      --

      As my father lik@(munch munch)... ....
    38. Re:sequel? by aussie_a · · Score: 4, Funny

      A cure to insomnia.

  2. Slashdot trolls by ZeroExistenZ · · Score: 4, Funny

    finally have a place to apply.

    --
    I think we can keep recursing like this until someone returns 1
    1. Re:Slashdot trolls by Avatar8 · · Score: 2, Funny

      Yes, but they'll turn to stone if they step out of their mothers' basements and into the sunlight. :-)

  3. Re:Not that I care, but by rehtonAesoohC · · Score: 5, Informative

    Jackson has always wanted to do film The Hobbit, but due to legal issues they couldn't agree on terms.

    They've finally resolved, woo!

  4. Re:Not that I care, but by Chris+Burke · · Score: 4, Insightful

    But of course, like every such statement people make (e.g. "There's no way i'm sleeping with that donkey"), there is an unstated but very much present addendum of "unless someone gives me enough money, in which case hell yeah".

    P.S. examples are not from personal experience, and you can't prove otherwise.

    --

    The enemies of Democracy are
  5. Re:is this a good idea? by nuzak · · Score: 5, Insightful

    He will disappoint you. Bank on it. The other 99.99% of us will, however, probably like it.

    --
    Done with slashdot, done with nerds, getting a life.
  6. Hmmm... by CaptainPatent · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Peter Jackson did a great job in visualizing and bringing to life a story in which the plot was already fully written. I love the fact he's producing a version of "the hobbit" to go along with the LOTR Trilogy, but I'm not so sure about the sequel to it. I realize there is a gap between the two stories (around a 70 year gap actually) but what will the plot consist of?

    I suppose it could go both ways, the first way with Peter Jackson doing a great job of tying the two books together and leading straight into the LOTR trilogy, the other with Peter Jackson unzipping and urinating on JRR Tolkien's masterpieces.

    --
    Well, back to rejecting software patent applications.
    1. Re:Hmmm... by Selfbain · · Score: 2, Informative

      He actually did. There is an enormous amount of material he wrote that was summarized in the Silmarillion. You can buy large volumes of books containing his notes.

      --
      Well, it has never been successfully tested.
    2. Re:Hmmm... by pdjohe · · Score: 3, Informative
      Somebody already commented on possible plot details between the Hobbit and LOTR: http://slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=320733&cid=20896787

      What exactly happens, of any interest, in that period?

      Hmm.. I'm not 100% on the timeline but...

      Gandalf and Aragorn meet. The romance of Aragorn and Arwen. Aragorn serving with the Armies of Rohan.

      Gollum pursues Bilbo from the mountains. I beleive Gandalf investigates the creature and discovers its history in this period. Mordor also captures Gollum at some point.

      The Dwarves (including Balin of the hobbits) try and retake Moria.

      Sauruman is corrupted by Mordor through the Palantir.

      Sauroman corrupts Theoden through Grima Wormtongue.

      Sauron, identified as the 'Necromancer' was discovered as the source of evil in Mirkwood and was driven out by the White Council, only to resurface later rebuilding in Mordor.

      I dunno... I've seen movies made on smaller premises than that :)

    3. Re:Hmmm... by _Sprocket_ · · Score: 2, Funny

      I realize there is a gap between the two stories (around a 70 year gap actually) but what will the plot consist of? "Dude, where's my ring?"

      The rest pretty much doesn't matter.
  7. How many versions will we see of this film? by spineboy · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Gold edition, 3D, directors cut? I plan on seeing it since the LOTR was soooo dang good.
    I'm really quite interested to see how Smaug is done. The 3D done well might really up the bar for many action movies, and might set a new standard.

    However, the movie still has to be good - putting lipstick on a pig still looks awful.

    --
    ..........FULL STOP.
    1. Re:How many versions will we see of this film? by TheLazySci-FiAuthor · · Score: 3, Funny

      putting lipstick on a pig still looks awful.


      But have you seen the new lipstick? It uses subsurface scattering and revolutionary new food-stain shaders.
  8. Sequel?? by downix · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Did he get some kind of wizard trick to summon the dead spirit of JRR Tolkein to write a new novel which to utilize as a sequel?

    Why do I fear this "prequil" will suffer the same fate as the Lucas prequils, with Bilbo at the end screaming "NOOOOOOOOOOOO"

    --
    Karma Whoring for Fun and Profit.
    1. Re:Sequel?? by dubbreak · · Score: 5, Funny

      ..with Bilbo at the end screaming "DO NOT WANT"

      There, fixed that for you.
      --
      "If you are going through hell, keep going." - Winston Churchill
    2. Re:Sequel?? by dada21 · · Score: 3, Insightful

      You just NAILED another reason copyright is useless, or at least useless for the current years (beyond the life of the author).

      Here's a guy who just happens to be a KID of someone who created something fine. Someone else, who puts his money, time and name on the line decides to produce the movie. The movie is a success (by most), but the risk was huge. We're talking a risk of probably 9 figures? But yet the kid who has done nothing, can do nothing, and has no moral connection to the creation thinks he is due some money?

      That's the problem with copyright: the actions of an individual are prevented from even being done. If the rights to the movie weren't optioned out a long time ago, its possible the movie might never have been made. I can think of quite a few movies that are prevented from being made because of the rights of the long-dead authors being held closely.

      Sidenote: Just yesterday I inquired by Bozo the Clown (Chicago's version in Bob Bell) didn't wear the Bozo outfit when he accepted an award many years ago (before his death). I guess the guy who owned the rights to Bozo's look denied him the costume. Even worse, the guy who owned the rights wasn't even the guy who invented Bozo, but a guy who distributed Bozo shows. Unbelievable!

  9. Beorn by mamono · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I just hope he doesn't cut out Beorn like the cartoon did. Whereas I thoroughly enjoyed the LOTR movies, I was disappointed when Tom Bombadil was removed.

  10. Actors ... by gstoddart · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Not sure if it would be possible to nab Iam Holm as Bilbo, but here's hoping.

    He might be a little old to play Bilbo as he was well cast to play a Bilbo who settled down for quite some time, but much older than Bilbo was when Hobbit happened.

    I'm wondering if they'll be able to get Ian McKellen to play Gandalf again. I'm trying to think how many recurrent characters there were across the Hobbit and LOTR -- Bilbo, Gandalf, and maybe Elrond (it's been a long time since I read the Hobbit).

    Unless Sir Ian is otherwise booked, I bet he'd love to revive his Gandalf role.

    Though, I must confess, I'm a little unsure of what this other sequel is, and TFA appears to have died under the strain.

    Does anyone have more info on that?

    Cheers

    --
    Lost at C:>. Found at C.
    1. Re:Actors ... by njfuzzy · · Score: 5, Informative

      I believe that Sir Ian McKellen has said that he would be overjoyed to play Gandalf-- but not if Peter Jackson wasn't involved. I would say he's likely to reprise the role, which is more important than Ian Holm (who would clearly be too old) in terms of continuity. I'd say the other big role to worry about would be Gollum.

      --
      My Photography - http://ian-x.com
      The Deathlings (comic) - http://thedeathlings.com
    2. Re:Actors ... by gstoddart · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Lots of studio execs saying nice things about Peter Jackson that they don't believe.

      Peter Jackson helped generate several billion dollars in revenue. Believe it or no, I bet nobody in the studio system would dare to say anything but flattering things about him -- these movies will succeed because he'll be given the funding he needs from the start, and the right talent will happily come work with him on it.

      I mean, really, show of hands ... how many of us will go see it on general principles or on the sheer fact that Jackson is doing it with hopefully some of the same cast and same fervent attention to detail? If Ian McKellen comes back, I can guarantee I'll go.

      At this point, Jackson is the goose that laid the golden ring, err, egg. :-P I bet the execs have been fawning over him for months to get him to agree to do it -- I see they settled all pending litigation and made nice nice. Any other director doing this would fail due to fan hostility.

      Cheers
      --
      Lost at C:>. Found at C.
  11. The Sequel's title will be... by Korveck · · Score: 5, Funny

    "The daily life of Tom Bombadil, Treebeard, and Radagast" Sponsored by Green Peace.

  12. Re:is this a good idea? by ContractualObligatio · · Score: 2, Insightful

    This is, of course, a matter of opinion

    True, it's all opinion, but even art allows for some objectivity. "Abject disaster" sounds like the small minded bitchiness of someone whose opinion isn't worth listening to.

  13. Re:Martin Freeman Would Be Better by charlesbakerharris · · Score: 5, Informative

    Am I the only one who's noticed that Martin Freeman wasn't actually in the LOTR?

  14. Re:Not that I care, but by Kjella · · Score: 4, Funny

    P.S. examples are not from personal experience, and you can't prove otherwise. Unless I pay someone enough money for the tape, right?
    --
    Live today, because you never know what tomorrow brings
  15. Re:Note to director: no jar-jar by gstoddart · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Note to director: please don't add some pointless character to sell kids toys in this movie, just go "by the book", literally.

    But, Jackson didn't do that in LOTR did he? Except for some minor changes to the overall arc of the film, I found he did a pretty faithful job of it.

    I think he's the director we have the least to worry about. At least, I hope he is. The cinemas wanted him because he has proven he can make the movies (and, of course, make the money) - at least it's not Uwe Boll. ;-)

    Cheers
    --
    Lost at C:>. Found at C.
  16. Re:Not that I care, but by Chris+Burke · · Score: 4, Funny

    Unless I pay someone enough money for the tape, right?

    Ah, you're catching on.

    --

    The enemies of Democracy are
  17. Re:is this a good idea? by OmegaBlac · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Given the abject disasters that Jackson's "The Two Towers" and "The Return of the King" were
    Box office sales, the Oscars (ROTK garned a Best Film award of 2003), numerous film critics, the countless fans that enjoyed the trilogy, and many other film awards disagree with you there. Those two films may have strayed of the Tolkien path somewhat, but to call them an "abject disaster" is hilarious. Fortunately, your opinion is only shared by a small minority.
  18. the ending.. by savuporo · · Score: 5, Funny

    I hope they get the the ending right this time.

    --
    http://validator.w3.org/check?uri=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.slashdot.org Errors found while checking this document as HTML5!
  19. LOTR actors by syrinx · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I don't think Ian Holm will be able to be cast as Bilbo... they made him look younger for a brief shot in LOTR, but from what I remember it involved stretching the skin on his face, etc, and wouldn't be workable for a full movie.

    Ian McKellen and Andy Serkis I believe have both said they'd be very interested in coming back for a Hobbit movie as Gandalf and Gollum. The only other cross-over character bookwise would be Elrond; I don't know if Hugo Weaving has said anything one way or the other. (I suppose there was some guy in the FOTR movie who was ostensibly Gloin at the council scene, but I don't think anyone would notice if he came back or not...)

    They could sneak in cameos from other actors I suppose; there's nothing saying Legolas wasn't hanging out with his father in the Elves' home in Mirkwood. I don't know that I want Legolas showing up at the Battle of Five Armies to surf on an eagle shooting down wargs though.

    (Hey, so about 7 years in between accepted Slashdot submissions. Roland, I'm catching up!)

    --
    Quidquid latine dictum sit, altum sonatur.
  20. Saumel L Jackson? by fahrbot-bot · · Score: 4, Funny
    Was I the only one who was worried that the title was referring to Michael Jackson?

    For some reason, I initially thought of Samuel L Jackson. Wouldn't that be interesting? "Get away from the gemstone Mother F*cker!"

    --
    It must have been something you assimilated. . . .
    1. Re:Saumel L Jackson? by tyme · · Score: 3, Funny

      shouldn't that be: "What have I got in my pocket, Mother F*cker!?"

      --
      just a ghost in the machine.
  21. This would make the BEST sequel ever by hellfire · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I think Ben Stiller and Vince Vaughn came up with the best idea for a LotR sequel EVAR! Maybe this is what they mean? :)

    http://youtube.com/watch?v=EqMV_3JusXY

    --

    "All great wisdom is contained in .signature files"

  22. Comical dwarves? by uuxququex · · Score: 2, Insightful
    Do you remember that the dwarf was modified to bring comic relief to the movies? That alone grinds against a few nerves, don't you think?

    What was Jackson thinking there? "Hey, let's make an epic movie, based on an epic novel. And why not change the complete character of one of the key players?"

    I do understand that a movie is not a book, really. But this is not only unnecessary but it is annoying.

    1. Re:Comical dwarves? by Man+On+Pink+Corner · · Score: 4, Insightful

      What was Jackson thinking there? "Hey, let's make an epic movie, based on an epic novel. And why not change the complete character of one of the key players?"

      He was thinking, "Goddamn, this Tolkien guy needed to get laid. This whole thing is one giant sausage-fest, and ol' J.R.R.'s idea of comic relief appears to have been, well, Tom Bombadil. If I'm going to bring these stories to a wider audience, which I have to do in order to justify the production costs needed to do justice to the material, I'm obviously going to have to tweak a few things. I can have turn Gimli into a goofball and have Arwen save Frodo, or everything else about the production is going to suck. Gee. What do I do here?"

  23. Typo by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    But, then again, money is money (especially when it's LOTRS of money).
    Fixed ;)
  24. Re:sequal? by spocksbrain · · Score: 4, Funny

    The second movie will be a TV special entitled: "The Lord of the Rings Holiday Special", in which Gandalf and Frodo visit the shire to celebrate "Life Day". Meanwhile the town of Hobbiton is being overrun by ringwraiths who try to ruin everything but eventually learn the true meaning of Life Day. Also includes Liv Tyler singing the main theme of "The Lord of the Rings".

  25. wow by Kranfer · · Score: 2, Funny

    Wow, Peter jackson looks like he lost about 890572349087 pounds. Good for him. As for The Hobbit... Geeze, get a move on, I wanna see it yesterday already!

    --
    -- Josh
    "Whoopie! Man, that may have been a small one for Neil, but that's a long one for me!" - Pete Conrad
  26. Re:From Silmarillion to the Red Book? Hope so. by Notquitecajun · · Score: 2, Funny

    It also makes for an easy Christmas present. I didn't have to buy my brother and his wife anything for three years.

  27. TFA, apparently sucks, read the BBC story by captainjaroslav · · Score: 4, Informative

    I say "apparently" because TFA is actually blocked where I am right now, but the most common questions people seem to be asking in this discussion are:

    1) "Sequel, WTF?"

    and

    2)"Will Ian McKellen return as Gandalf?"

    According to this article:
    http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7150644.stm
    the answers are:

    1) No, there will not be a sequel based on some new not-created-by-Tolkien story, The Hobbit will be two movies.

    2) Yes.

    --
    I'm just sayin'.
  28. Um... No. There is a slight difference... by Etherwalk · · Score: 3, Informative

    > all of the changes I noticed were done for time.

    Look at the kind of language used. For example:

    "I will kill you if you touch him."

    "You fool. No man can kill me. Die, now."

    "I am no man. AAaaagggh!"

    comes from, limiting myself almost exclusively to dialog:

    `Begone, fould dwimmerlaik, lord of carrion! Leave the dead in peace!'

    `Come not between the Nazgul and his prey! Or he will not slay thee in thy turn. He will bear thee away to the houses of lamentation, beyond all darkness, where thy flesh shall be devoured, and thy shrivelled mind be left naked to the Lidless eye.'

    `Do what you will; but I will hinder it, if I may.'

    `Hinder me? Thou fool. No living man may hinder me!'

    Then Merry heard of all sounds, in that hour the strangest. It seemed that Dernhelm laughed, and the clear voice was like the ring of steel. `But no living man am I! You look upon a woman. Eowyn I am, Eomund's daughter. You stand between me and my lord and kin. Begone if you be not deathless! For living or dark undead, I will smite you, if you touch him.'

    comes from, in truth:

    Then out of the blackness in his mind he thought that he heard Dernhelm speaking; yet now the voice seemed strange, recalling some other voice that he had known.

    `Begone, fould dwimmerlaik, lord of carrion! Leave the dead in peace!'

    `Come not between the Nazgul and his prey! Or he will not slay thee in thy turn. He will bear thee away to the houses of lamentation, beyond all darkness, where thy flesh shall be devoured, and thy shrivelled mind be left naked to the Lidless eye.'

    A sword rang as it was drawn. `Do what you will; but I will hinder it, if I may.'

    `Hinder me? Thou fool. No living man may hinder me!'

    Then Merry heard of all sounds in that hour the strangest. It seemed that Dernhelm laughed, and the clear voice was like the ring of steel. `But no living man am I! You look upon a woman. Eowyn I am, Eomund's daughter. You stand between me and my lord and kin. Begone, if you be not deathless! For loving or dark undead, I will smite you, if you touch him.'

    The winged creature screamed at her, but the Ringwraith made no answer, and was silent, as if in sudden doubt. Very amazement for a moment conquered Merry's fear. He opened his eyes and the blackness was lifted from them. There some paces from him sat the great beast, and all seemed dark about it, and above it loomed the Nazgul Lord like a shadow of despair. A little to the left facing them stood she whom he had called Dernhelm. But the helm of her secrecy had fallen from her, and her bright hair, released from its bonds, gleamed with pale gold upon her shoulders. Her eyes grey as the sea were hard and fell, and yet tears were on her cheek. A sword was in her hand, and she raised her shield against the horror of her enemy's eyes.

    Eowyn it was, and Dernhelm also. For into Merry's mind flashed the memory of the face that he saw at the riding from Dunharrow: the face of one that goes seeking death, having no hope. Pity filled his heart and great wonder, and suddenly the slow-kindled courage of his race awoke. He clenched his hand. She should not die, so fair, so desperate! At least she should not die alone, unaided.

    The face of their enemy was not turned towards him, but still he hardly dared to move, dreading lest the deadly eyes should fall on him. Slowly, slowly he began to crawl aside; but the Black Captain, in doubt and malice intent upon the woman before him, heeded him no more than a worm in the mud.

    Suddenly the great beast beat its hideous wings, and the wind of them was foul. Again it leaped into the air, and then swiftly fell down upon Eowyn, shrieking, striking with beak and claw.

    Still she did not blench: maiden of the Rohirrim, child of kings, slender but as a steel-blade, fair but terrible. A swift stroke she dealt, skilled and deadly. The outstretched neck she clove asunder, and the hewn head fell like a stone. Backward she sprang as the huge sh

  29. I've got a bad feeling about this. by Steauengeglase · · Score: 2, Interesting

    The press release says that he will be the Executive Producer, not Director, so effectively he has only agreed to place his rubber stamper on the film and I'm sure he is contractually obligated to say that it is a magnificent film no matter what MGM/New Line have made. I can only imagine that New Line must have had him legally nailed to the wall when "settling" over the previous films). Sadly, this means there is nothing to keep these movies from being directed by committee. Unless he directs them I expect nothing to crap.

    1. Re:I've got a bad feeling about this. by east+coast · · Score: 2, Insightful

      While I can understand where you're coming from I can't help but think that with the success of LotRs that the cookie cutter is now set in stone. Regardless of Jackson's involvement in the new movies there is likely to be little deviation from the overall look and feel of the trilogy as long as New Line has their hooks in it.

      Whether this is a good thing or not depends on what camp you come from. All things being equal, little has an opportunity to change as far as the end product. Even if Jackson were to direct and he had a new outlook on Middle Earth I doubt it would get past the execs without a fight, and in that fight the winner would be decided by the golden rule. Jackson wouldn't stand a chance of persuading New Line.

      In all honesty I would feel comfortable in re-reading The Hobbit and telling people outright what would and would not be in the film. The first three has set a road map for the next two. While I'll go to see them I'm guessing it's going to be visually appealing but the story is going to be a meager shell of the book.

      --
      Dedicated Cthulhu Cultist since 4523 BC.
  30. Remake by conureman · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Frankly, I just hope I live long enough to see the next remake. Maybe some one could just sort of adapt the books, with some minor abridgement, and not ruin the story.

    --
    The cost of that cleanup, of course, will be borne by taxpayers, not industry.
  31. More Like by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    First movie. The Hobbit: There And Back
    Second movie. The Hobbit: Again

  32. Re:Note to director: no jar-jar by tjwhaynes · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I don't have the text in front of me, but from the wikipedia article on Paths of the Dead: The only weapon that they required was fear...

    Note it doesn't say that the only weapon they had was fear.

    Peter and Fran definitely cut a shorter path through this part of the text, using the Dunharrow Men directly in the Battle for the Pelennor Fields, rather than using the more mundane original modus operandi.

    I do feel that a lot of the flack that Peter and Fran got for their script arises where people feel (rightly or wrongly) that recreating the book in the movie is more important than making a coherent movie. If PJ et al had completely faithfully scripted a movie based entirely on the book, only the hardcore Tolkeinites would have survived a viewing of a trilogy with uneven pacing, no (meaningful) interaction with female characters apart from Galadriel and very long sweeps spent with one set of characters. That's not to disrespect the original text, which I have read many times - movies are different creatures to books, with different strengths and weaknesses.

    Cheers,
    Toby Haynes

    --
    Anything I post is strictly my own thoughts and doesn't necessarily have anything to do with the opinions of IBM.
  33. Re:Not that I care, but by ddavis539 · · Score: 4, Informative

    Somehow I think that this has more to do with the disappointing results from the Golden Compass movie, which New line was hoping would be a 3-year blockbuster holiday series. It appears that the various religious groups are convincing their members to stay away from it due to the anti-religious message in the books.

  34. I'd rather not by Yurka · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Unless Jackson is able to completely redo his visual style (and/or the way of thinking) for this project, I would not call this a good idea. "Hobbit" and "LOTR", even though separated in time by only several dozen years, evoke completely different feelings - with the former still staged inside a fairy tale, a time of wonders, while the latter is a clinical account of the fading of the Age; and since Jackson completely nailed that one, I find it hard to believe that the all-important overall tone is going to be adequate for the "Hobbit" project. He's going to film another installment of the same movie, and no mistake.

    --
    I can assure you, the best way to get rid of dragons is to have one of your own.
  35. Re:Note to director: no jar-jar by Krommenaas · · Score: 2, Informative

    I think he's the director we have the least to worry about. At least, I hope he is. The cinemas wanted him because he has proven he can make the movies (and, of course, make the money) Except Jackson probably won't be the director. The article only says he will be the "executive producer", which is Hollywoodese for "we pay him to be allowed to use his name".
  36. ONE BILLION DOLLARS TO RULE THEM ALL by peter303 · · Score: 3, Funny

    One billion to find them,
    On billion to take them all,
    And in the contracts bind them ...

    In the studios, where the lawyers lie.

  37. Re:good, might as well ruin the Hobbit too by Yunzil · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Don't write- just film the book. Thank you.

    Yes, because there's nothing the general audience adores more than a 20 hour movie, of which 15 hours are shots of people walking, accented by the occasional 2 hour Ent song.

  38. Re:If they're going to make up a new sequel... by sm62704 · · Score: 2, Interesting
    ... they might as well have the soundtrack performed by Led Zeppelin.

    You mean like

    The pain of war cannot exceed the woe of aftermath,
    The drums will shake the castle wall, the ring wraiths ride in black, Ride on.

    Sing as you raise your bow, shoot straighter than before.
    No comfort has the fire at night that lights the face so cold.

    Oh dance in the dark of night, Sing to the morning light.
    The magic runes are writ in gold to bring the balance back. Bring it back.

    At last the sun is shining, The clouds of blue roll by,
    With flames from the dragon of darkness, the sunlight blinds his eyes.
    or how about

    Mine's a tale that can't be told, my freedom I hold dear.
    How years ago in days of old, when magic filled the air.
    T'was in the darkest depths of Mordor, I met a girl so fair.
    But Gollum, and the evil one crept up and slipped away with her, her, her....yeah.
    Yes, I'm a Zeppelin fan. So sue me.

    -mcgrew
    --
    mcgrew's razor: Never attribute to stupidity that which can be explained by greedy self-interest
  39. Right by Colin+Smith · · Score: 2, Funny

    Maybe some one could just sort of adapt the books, with some minor abridgement, I look forward to your 32 hour spectacular.
    --
    Deleted
  40. Re:Not that I care, but by ChaosDiscord · · Score: 3, Informative

    It appears that the various religious groups are convincing their members to stay away from it due to the anti-religious message in the books.

    While that may be true, it may not be the reason for the low revenue. It's possible that it just isn't a very good movie. It's currently running 43% at Rotten Tomatoes, which is pretty bad. I've seen the movie, and while it's not that bad, it's seriously flawed.

  41. There is too much that wasn't said... by geekwench · · Score: 2, Interesting

    While this comment is likely to get buried in the avalanche that preceeded it, I feel that it's necesary to point a few things out.

    Most glaringly, the press release doesn't have any mention of Warner Bros. MGM doesn't hold the film rights to The Hobbit; Warner Bros. does, after purchasing them from the Saul Zaentz Corporation. The only thing that the press release mentions is that legal difficulties over The Lord of the Rings have been resolved, none of which involved the labyrinth of licensing issues around Tolkien's other works. Warner Bros. has been blocking the idea of letting the rights go ever since The Fellowship of the Ring turned out to be a hit. I see no indication that this has changed.

    Second, although TheOneRing.net has a pretty good track record, they've been wrong before. Several years ago, they trumpeted the release of a "trailer" for The Hobbit, and later had to correct themselves when it turned out to be a fan-created work. Yes, TORn links to MGM's official media release page, but the only other link is to The Hobbit Blog. The blog seems to be officially sponsored by New Line, but the only link to it is in the sign-up page (for New Line's privacy policy), and the only link from New Line to the blog is in the press release, which is also posted on New Line's site. There aren't a lot of branches on this particular "family tree".

    Next, there's Christoper Tolkien's long-standing disdain for any and all film adaptations of J.R.R.'s work. There wasn't much that he could do about The Hobbit and LotR, because his father sold the film rights to Zaentz himself. However, Christopher takes his position as his father's literary executor very seriously, and the chances that he will give the nod to use of any of his father's notes for a film that fills in the gap between The Hobbit and LotR are minute to the point of nonexistance.

    I doubt that this is an elaborate hoax. I could see hacking one film studio site, but not two. However, I would be much more sanguine about the project if there were a linked article from an industry publication such as Variety, and preferably one that went into detail about how the legal wrangles with Warner Bros. and Zaentz were resolved.

    --
    Doing my level best to piss off the religious right wing...
  42. Re:Not that I care, but by nuttycom · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Or maybe The Golden Compass was just wretchedly directed?

    I swear, with virtually no changes to the script it could have been a decent movie if they'd just made it 20 minutes longer by means of 4-second increments distributed throughout. The pacing was horrendous - it left no time for anything resembling decent character development. Which, of course, is essentially what the first book is all about.

  43. Ian Holm? by Arancaytar · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I seem to remember some comment saying it was difficult to make him look like a "younger" Bilbo in the introduction for a single scene. Would he be able to play the young Bilbo for the entirety of a film?

    (If so, it would be cool if they managed to insert a part of the LotR ring-finding scene as it is, retroactively turning it into a flashback scene from the prequel while maintaining continuity with the other scenes in the Hobbit film itself. Movie continuity is an amusing topic.)