Luke Evans Auditioned for The Hobbit Online

In an interview with MTV, Luke Evans (Bard the Bowman) discusses how he was cast in The Hobbit. It turns out it was done online with his video being submitted over the internet. He also talked about where he was when he received the good news which was apparently nearly a year ago which shows how much planning (and secrets) has gone into The Hobbit production.

SDCC: Luke Evans Talks The Hobbit

While promoting Immortal, Luke Evans talked briefly about his casting as Bard for The Hobbit films with Collider. He will be filming his role starting next week for up to a year indicating that his role is significantly expanded from the brief, but pivotal, role the character had in the novel.

Do you have more swords and sandals films in you?
EVANS: Yes. I’m just about to start a very, very big one – The Hobbit. There are no sandals, though. I don’t know what we’re in, but I don’t think there will be any sandals.

You haven’t started working on the film yet?
EVANS: No, I fly down next week. I start in a week’s time, and I’m there for a year.

It seems like Peter Jackson just keeps adding to that cast.EVANS: No more. No, that’s it. Me, Barry Humphries, Evangeline Lilly and Benedict Cumberbatch were the final four. Everything else was cast.

How overwhelming is it to take on something of that scope?EVANS: Yeah, it’s big. It’s really big. It’s not overwhelming to the point of being terrifying, but it is quite a big thing. I’m about to become part of a piece of cinematic history, whether I like it or not. This is a big movie and I’m working with a director that is probably one of the best directors around today. He’s the most respected director in the world. He’s carrying these two movies and shooting them straight after each other. It’s taking him two years to shoot. The whole thing is epic, and I’m going to be part of it. I’m really excited. I can’t wait. I’ve got to just finish this film, and then go and sort it out and be real focused.

Peter Jackson Shows Up at SDCC

Despite being unable to do a panel for The Hobbit, Peter Jackson and Andy Serkis did find time to show up at the 2011 San Diego Comic-Con. Jackson (with Serkis as moral support) was on hand to promote his next project, The Adventures of Tintin, which he executive produced with Steven Spielberg. To read about the appearance, click here but Jackson did comment on The Hobbit saying, "I'm enjoying it way, way more than I ever thought I could". Production has completed 60 days of the 200 schedule days of principle photography. Image from The One Ring.

Official Company of Dwarves Image

The Hobbit production has released the official composite photo that merges the entire group of Dwarves that Bilbo Baggins accompies on his adventure that will be depicted in the two Hobbit films. The previous version was a fan while this one used an alternate picture of Thorin to complete the look.



From left to right: Jed Brophy (Nori), Dean O’Gorman (Fili), Mark Hadlow (Dori), James Nesbitt (Bofur), Peter Hambleton (Gloin), Graham McTavish (Dwalin), Richard Armitage (Thorin Oakenshield), Ken Stott (Balin), John Callen (Oin), Stephen Hunter (Bombur), William Kircher (Bifur), Adam Brown (Ori), Aidan Turner (Kili)

The Hobbit Production Video #3

Peter Jackson has posted Production Diary #3 to Facebook and official The Hobbit blog. The behind the scenes look shows that the second block of filming has begun with Peter Jackson at Pinewood Studios in the Great Britain as he works with the legendary Christopher Lee. Meanwhile in New Zealand we get a look at the cast and crew prepping and getting together in full costume and makeup. Previous videos - #1 | #2

The Hobbit Not Coming to SDCC 2011

In news that comes to little surprise, Peter Jackson has confirmed that The Hobbit will not be present at the San Diego Comic-Con that is starting today. The con is a way to get people excited about upcoming movies, television shows and comics. Something The Hobbit doesn't really need but couldn't hurt to have. However, the production is currently filming in both the United Kingdom and New Zealand with the first film 18 months away from release. I am sure next year will have something substantial planned to make up the difference.

Good news and bad news today. Bad news is that we won't be doing any Hobbit presentation at Comic Con in San Diego this year. New Line and Warner Bros were very happy to support a presentation, but I declined, simply because I felt it was too early. There's so much more of the films still to shoot. I just wanted to get that out there, because I've seen various references to the possibility of something Hobbity at Comic Con. Hate to disappoint anyone. But something tells me we will be there in force next year.

Now for the good news...

We've just finished a new video blog, covering a little more of the first block of shooting. So please enjoy this—at least you don't have to travel to San Deigo to see it!

I've been on the go since wrapping the first shooting block, but I'm about to settle down and get into the much delayed 20 Questions. I've a few half-written and will get those done very, very soon! I promise!

Cheers,
Peter J

LOTR: The War of the North Trailer

Warner Bros. Interactive has released the official trailer for The Lord of the Rings: War of the Ring called "Fellowship" that is currently in development for release by the end of the year. I think the game takes place during the event of the trilogy but with mostly new characters as they stand against Agandaur, a minion of Sauron. Below is the description from The One Ring along with the trailer.

RED The Hobbit Poster

RED, the makers of 3D cameras and other filming equipment, has created a poster to promote the use of their cameras being used for the two The Hobbit films. The image is likely not officially from the production but I like the imagery. (via AICN)

The Hobbit Filming in the UK

Through a series of tweets (since deleted) and an article found by The One Ring, it seems that The Hobbit production has started up block two with filming in the United Kingdom. German side Sackheim-Beutlin reports:

“Sir Christopher Lee, who would have loved to attend the performance [of the Lord of the Rings-Concert] personally, had to cancel his coming due to short-term not to be delayed shootings for ‘The Hobbit’. He regrets this fact very much, but will accompany this night in specifically for this concert created videos and interpretate the mystic texts from ‘The Lord of the Rings’.”

Also from The One Ring is two tweets they found:

Derren Brown: Off to watch some Ian Holm and Christopher Lee being filmed for The Hobbit. HOW EXCITING!
Marc Hagan-Guirey: Been invited down to #TheHobbit set! En-route to watch Ian Holm and Christopher Lee being filmed. EXCITED. VERY.

The Company of Dwarves

The One Ring has posted their single sheet collage of all the Dwarves together in full costume and standing together thanks to a little Photoshop magic. All that is missing is Gandalf and Bilbo. Below is a smaller version, the full version can be found here.

Thorin Oakenshield Revealed

The final dwarf of The Hobbit films has been revealed by The One Ring. Richard Armitage as Thorin Oakenshield is shown below in full makeup and costume along with his weapon Orcrist, the Golbin-cleaver. If wish to see the other 12, below are links. Also The One Ring has links to a collage of the 12 together along with wallpaper of various sizes.

Oin & Gloin | Nori, Ori & Dori | Bofur, Bombur, & Bifur | Balin & Dwalin

As a young Dwarf prince, Thorin witnessed the destruction and terror wrought when a great fire-breathing Dragon attacked the Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor. After slaughtering many of Thorin’s kin, the great serpent, Smaug, entered The Lonely Mountain and took possession of its vast store of gold and jewels. No-one came to the aid of the surviving Dwarves, and thus, a once proud and noble race was forced into exile. Through long years of hardship, Thorin grew to be a strong and fearless fighter and revered leader. In his heart a fierce desire grew; a desire to reclaim his homeland and destroy the beast that had brought such misery upon his people. So when fate offers him an unusual ally, he seizes the chance for revenge.

Hello To Balin and Dwalin

Time is the next website chosen to introduce two more dwarves from The Hobbit films. The new image and description (below) shows off Ken Stott (Balin) and Graham McTavish (Dwalin) in full costume. This pair is added to previous images of Oin & Gloin, Nori, Ori & Dori and Bofur, Bombur, & Bifur.

"Dwarf Lords in their own right, Balin and Dwalin are close relatives of Thorin. Beyond this, these brothers are two of his most loyal and trusted friends. An old warrior, Balin has lived through hard times and fought many battles, yet he harbors doubts about the wisdom of the Quest to retake the Lonely Mountain. Dwalin has no such forebodings – his belief in Thorin’s leadership is unshakeable. A powerful and bruising fighter, with a natural tendency to distrust anyone who is not a Dwarf, particularly anyone who might be an Elf, Dwalin is not someone to cross lightly.

Welcome Bofur, Bombur, and Bifur

Three more dwarves join the ranks of the revealed dwarves for The Hobbit films with a few more to go. The latest image of Stephen Hunter (Bombur), James Nesbitt (Bofur) and William Kircher (Bifur) in full costume thanks to IGN. Thanks to Ghola for the link.

While most of the Company of Thorin Oakensheild is related to the royal and noble line of Durin, Bofur, his brother Bombur and their cousin Bifur most definitely are … not. Born and bred in the West, descendants of coal miners and iron workers, they have joined the Quest for the Lonely Mountain partly to seek their fortune and partly because they were told the beer was free.

Introducing Fili and Kili

Two more dwarves from The Hobbit has been revealed via MSN showing off Dean O'Gorman (Fili) and Aidan Turner (Kili). The image joins the previous pictures of Oin & Gloin and Nori, Ori & Dori. A few patterns are starting to emerge (besides spreading the image love to big media sites). Considering there are 13 Dwarves total, keeping them all straight can be difficult so by introducing them with their similarities in naming schemes is a good way to help people get use to them. Even better each "group" has a distinct features to make them different enough to each other so that even if can't remember their name, you still know who they are.

Two of the youngest Dwarves, Fili and Kili have been born into the royal line of Durin and raised under the stern guardianship of their uncle, Thorin Oakensheild. Neither has ever travelled far, nor ever seen the fabled Dwarf City of Erebor. For both, the journey to the Lonely Mountain represents adventure and excitement. Skilled fighters, both brothers set off on their adventure armed with the invincible courage of youth, neither being able to imagine the fate which lies before them.

The Hobbit Production Video #2 (Updated)

Peter Jackson's Facebook page has posted Production Video #2 for The Hobbit. The first one was posted back in April when principle photography began on the two movies. This one covers the end of the first block of filming with the cast and crew talking about how they are going to spend their time off along with Jackson and others prepping for the second block with location scouting. Below is standard def video, the HD version can be found here.

Update:: The One Ring has a frame by frame analysis of the video that highlights a few visual goodies that were on display in the background during many of the interviews. That can be found here.

Oin and Gloin Revealed

Yahoo! Movies has posted another character image from The Hobbit to join the previous release of Nori, Ori and Dori. This one depicts two more dwarfs, this time John Callen (Oin) and Peter Hambleton (Gloin) in full makeup and costume. Below is the pic and the description for it.

Distant cousins of Thorin Oakenshield, these two doughty Northern Dwarves join the Company out of a sense of loyalty to their kin, and also because they have a substantial sum of money invested in the venture. Along with Bombur, Gloin is the only other married Dwarf in the Company (there being a shortage of female dwarves in general). His wife is an acclaimed beauty with a particularly fine beard. Gloin is the proud father of a young son, Gimli, who will go on to become part of the famous Fellowship of the Ring.

Nori, Ori, and Dori Image

Peter Jackson has posted the first clear image of three of the Dwarves that Bilbo Baggins join on his 1st adventure on his Facebook page. The image shows Jed Brophy (Nori), Adam Brown (Ori), and Mark Hadlow (Dori) in full costume that is striking and a bit different than might have expected after Gimli in the trilogy. Along with the image is a description (below).

These three brothers, all sons of the same mother, could not be more different from each other. Dori, the oldest, spends much of his time watching out for Ori, the youngest; making sure he’s not caught a chill or got himself killed by Wargs or Goblins. Nobody quite knows what Nori gets up to most of the time, except that it’s guaranteed to be dodgy and quite probably, illegal. Dori, Nori and Ori are intensely loyal to each other – and whilst they are perfectly happy fighting amongst themselves, woe-betide anyone who means harm to one of these brothers.

Middle-Earth Re-Created in Lego

At Brickworld 2011, the fans of The Lord of the Rings trilogy enjoyed a special treat as a group of fans re-created the major landmarks of the Middle-Earth all in Lego. While I had already posted about the masterpiece of Barad-dûr, MOC pages has posted the rest of the teams amazing work including Hobbiton, town of Bree, Rivendell, Mines or Moria, Isengard, The Golden Hall of Edoras, Helm's Deep, and another achievement - Minas Tirith. There are more sets then that. Worth taking a moment and enjoying Lego Middle-Earth by clicking here.