"The Hobbit" greenlighted with Peter Jackson

[roninblade]

source: TheOneRing.net

PETER JACKSON AND NEW LINE CINEMA JOIN WITH MGM TO PRODUCE “THE HOBBIT”

December 18th, 2007 by xoanon

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.

2 new movies! The Hobbit and a sequel. i wonder where they'll get the story for the sequel. ano kaya kakalabasan ng Battle of Five Armies.

[Jun aka Pekto]

So long as there isn't a lot of singing like the animated version. Yek.

[CVT]

It's a good prequel....

However, will there be as much exciting storyline adventure as the LOTR?

4909:coffee:

[JohnM]

I hope they get the script right. The Hobbit is not really that action-packed. Can't wait to see the final battle

[Jun aka Pekto]

It's a good prequel....

However, will there be as much exciting storyline adventure as the LOTR?

4909:coffee:

I'm reading "The Atlas Of Middle Earth". 77 years elapsed between Bilbo finding the ring and Frodo setting out to destroy it. Back then:

It was still Saruman The White (and one of the good guys still) and Gandalf The Grey

Sauron reestablished himself in Mordor

Balin the dwarf was still alive and set out to reclaim Moria

Gollum left Moria in search of "Thief (Bilbo) Baggins"

Gondor's battles for Osgiliath.........

I'd say, yes. There should be plenty of exciting stories following "The Hobbit"

[66bunny]

I enjoyed reading The Hobbit, kaya siguro two part para nasa 2nd part ang Battle of Five Armies.

The first part will be more of travel and the discovery of The Ring.

Great!

[Jun aka Pekto]

I enjoyed reading The Hobbit, kaya siguro two part para nasa 2nd part ang Battle of Five Armies.

The first part will be more of travel and the discovery of The Ring.

Great!

I hope not. While reading The Hobbit, Bilbo found the ring by page 68. The story does not end until page 304.

Peter should do the whole book as the first movie. Then, he'll have a lot more leeway with the sequel which should cover the time between The Hobbit and Fellowship Of The Ring. It shouldn't be a problem because Bilbo doesn't age much during that time frame because of the ring. It should also cover the point in time when Bilbo takes Frodo in. That would make for good continuity.

It's also quite action-packed:

Being captured by trolls early on
The finding of Sting, the elven sword Bilbo passed on to Frodo in Fellowship Of The ring
Stumbling into the Kingdom of the Orc King and being captured
The finding of the ring by Bilbo and the subsequent riddle contest with Gollum
The escape from the Orc Kingdom and being besieged in the forest by orcs and wargs
The battle with the spiders in Mirkwood forest and subsequent capture by woodland elves
The escape from the elves
The slaying of Smaug the dragon
The Battle Of Five Armies

[mikmik316]

Obviously New Line has no choice since disappointing ang Golden Compass..... Can't wait for the Chronicles of Narnia this 2008!!!!!!

[roninblade]

update: 2008-01-30

Guillermo Del Toro to Direct Peter Jackson's Hobbit Series
from: http://www.bigpictureradio.com/2008/...ect-peter.html

It seems natural for Guillermo del Toro to take over where Peter Jackson left off, and now The Hollywood Reporter says a deal for Del Toro to direct back-to-back installments of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit could happen very soon.

In addition to being one of the most in demand directors alive - not to mention on of the very few who so closely resembles Milton from Office Space - Del Toro is also a wise choice sylistically. His work on the Oscar-nominated Pan's Labyrinth revealed his storytelling abilities more than previous efforts, but even in Blade 2 you could tell you were watching the work of someone unique.

Since the December resolution of a bitter lawsuit between New Line and Jackson over residual payments for the Lord of the Rings trilogy, Hobbit has been on a fast track. Jackson will produce, but has no time to direct or write, due to other commitments.

As with the Rings trilogy, the Hobbit films will be shot simultaneously, according to the Reporter. It's a $300 million safe bet for New Line, who will see the films go into production next year, assuming the writers strike doesn't drag out another six or eight months, with the films to be released in 2010 and 2011.

And somewhere, there's a guy dressed up in character already waiting in line.

[niky]

Good news... can't wait for this!

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RE: Books... truthfully... I actually enjoyed "The Hobbit" more than "The Lord of The Rings"... it really takes a while for the story to start going in Books Two and Three... there's just so much.... walking!