Saoirse Ronan Cast in The Hobbit?

An interview with The Hobbit casting director Ros Hubbard by IFTN may have led to accidently let slipping that Saoirse Ronan may have been cast for the film. Ronan previously worked with Peter Jackson and his crew on The Lovely Bones. The casting has not been officially confirmed nor are there details on what the role could be.

IFTN: I wondered if there was any coincidence between the large Irish presence (Aidan Turner, James Nesbitt and Saoirse Ronan) in the film and the fact that it was you guys casting . . .

Ros Hubbard: Yes, there was quite a lot of influence there! We had been wanting to put Aidan Turner into film for a long time because he had done an awful lot of TV and we told him when we finally met him “We are going to concentrate in getting you into the movies.” I didn’t think it would be as big as this. But how great for him.

And Jimmy is thrilled to bits, his whole family have gone out, it is just wonderful. And working with Peter Jackson is like working with a family. So they’ll have a great time. Saoirse’s family will go too, everyone is very close and very loving on those sorts of jobs. It’s not like typical studio movies at all.

Ros Hubbard: Yes, there was quite a lot of influence there! We had been wanting to to put Aidan Turner into film for a long time because he had done an awful lot of TV and we told him when we finally met him “We are going to concentrate in getting you into the movies.” I didn’t think it would be as big as this. But how great for him.

And Jimmy is thrilled to bits, his whole family have gone out, it is just wonderful. And working with Peter Jackson is like working with a family. So they’ll have a great time. Saoirse’s family will go too, everyone is very close and very loving on those sorts of jobs. It’s not like typical studio movies at all.

Peter Jackson Undergoes Surgery

New Zealand's Stuff is reporting that The Hobbit Director Peter Jackson is currently hospitalized due to a perforated stomach ulcer. From Wikipedia, "A perforated ulcer, also known as a bleeding ulcer[1] or a perforated peptic ulcer[2] is a very serious condition where an untreated ulcer can burn through the wall of the stomach (or other areas of the gastrointestinal tract), allowing digestive juices and food to leech into the abdominal cavity. Treatment generally requires immediate surgery."

Jackson was admitted to Wellington Hospital last night with acute stomach pains.
A statement said he had undergone surgery for a perforated ulcer. "Sir Peter is currently resting comfortably and his doctors expect him to make a full recovery."

Sir Peter's surgery is not expected to impact on his directing commitment to The Hobbit beyond a slight delay to the start of filming, the statement said. The Hobbit author JRR Tolkien suffered from a perforated ulcer before dying in 1973.

Well wishes to Peter Jackson on a safe and complete recovery.

Wood Excited About Hobbit Role

MTV has posted a brief interview with Elijah Wood were he talks about how excited he is about reprising the role of Frodo Baggins for The Hobbit films that begin production in about a month.

"It's a gift to be able to go back to New Zealand," Wood said. "I mean, it's largely the same crew and the same creative team. It's seven years since we finished on the last film, and it's an opportunity to go back and have a reunion with everyone."

"You know, it's a very small piece, and I think that's the most appropriate," he said of his part in the films. "Obviously Frodo's not alive within the context of the 'Hobbit' piece."

Sean Bean Not in The Hobbit

It is probably no surprise to most that Sean Bean (Boromir) will not be in the two The Hobbit films. When asked about the films by the Belfast Telegraph the actor said:

"I don't think so. I played Boromir and I got knocked off in the end so I don't think it would be... I mean I could come back as a different character but I think he's looking for a new kind of style and maybe a new look."

The reason simply is because the character was not even alive during the time of the novels. More than likely none of the human characters will be in the film but it is possible that a few of their ancestors will be referenced. (via One Ring)

Blu-Ray Trilogy Extended Edition Coming

Digital Bits is reporting that Warner Bros is prepping the Blu-ray extended edition for the Lord of the Rings trilogy. The regular edition was released earlier this year and not really a surprise that they are following up with the extended edition even though probably annoying for those (like me) that didn't want to wait a year.

What's more, our sources are NOW telling us that WHV (and their now in-house New Line label) is ALSO planning to release Peter Jackson's long-awaited The Lord of the Rings Trilogy: Extended Editions on Blu-ray sometime this year. No kidding. We suspect that, now that The Hobbit films are finally about to begin filming, the studio is eager to get more product on store shelves to keep the franchise fresh in the minds of fans. The Extended Rings films on BD are the obvious choice for this year. Farther down the line, of course, there will be the obvious Blu-ray and Blu-ray 3D versions of The Hobbit films, and sooner or later an "ultimate" box set of all the films with all new extras custom created by Jackson. Anyway, our sources tell us to expect some kind of official news on all this (re: Rings: Extended and Kubrick) from the studio in the next several weeks.

The One Ring is saying there is a strong possibility that to retain quality of the 1080p transfer, the films will have be split into two discs just like the DVD extended edition was. It was also noted that for a while now there have been rumors that Peter Jackson has been sitting on more extra features for an "Ultimate Edition" of the Middle Earth story that will likely be a combination of all five films in one edition.

Elijah Wood on Reprising Frodo

Elijah Wood recently commented to IGN.com about the news that he would reprise the role of Frodo Baggins for The Hobbit. The current theory is his role will be to sorta of bridge the Lord of the Rings trilogy with The Hobbit films by opening the films with him telling the story of "There and Back Again" (as seen at the end of "Return of the King").

"No, we thought we were finished and the character doesn't even exist in [the book of] The Hobbit, so it was not even a pipe dream to imagine the possibility would be there for me to reprise the role of Frodo. But they've come up with something that I think is kind of interesting and I think very fitting that doesn't necessarily infringe upon the integrity of the original novel. It's great. I'm really excited."

"Those films marked a huge, massive experience in my life," Wood continued. "It's been 11 years, basically, since I went to New Zealand, so it'll be a beautiful reunion and I'm just excited to go back and see everybody again."

As for how much screen time we should look for Wood to have in the two Hobbit films, the actor said, "I think it'll be relatively minimal. That's my impression. I actually haven't read anything yet. I haven't read a script. I have almost as much information as you guys have!"

Wood told me he'll be going to New Zealand sometime in February to begin work on The Hobbit.

Lee, Tennant Joining The Hobbit?

More casting news on The Hobbit front as production gets closer to its February start date. Already this week Andy Serkis and Elijah Woods are confirmed to be reprising their Lord of the Rings role. Sir Ian McKellen confirmed his own hiring and now Christopher Lee's website reports that assuming he remains in good health, the legendary actor will reprise his role of Saruman. Not entirely sure the extent of the role but during the time of the Hobbit his character was still a good guy and a friend of Gandalf.

Slowly but surely, Peter Jackson has managed to secure the return of the majority of the major stars from The Lord of the Rings franchise for his soon to be shooting prequel, based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit.

Sir. Christopher Lee had been in talks to reprise his role as the wizard Saruman and it now looks certain, providing that he is in good health, that he will be appearing in the movie.

In additional, once again Doctor Who's David Tennant has come up as being cast as the father of Legolas. From MovieWeb:

It appears that David Tennant, who will next be seen taking over the role of Peter Vincent, as originated by Roddy McDowall, in a Fright Night remake, has joined The Hobbit as Sindarin Elf King Thranduil.

At this time, David Tennant's casting in The Hobbit has not been officially confirmed. David was originally being considered for the role of Bilbo Baggins, a part which has gone to Martin Freeman. Sylvester McCoy is also rumored to have been offered the role of Radagast the Brown, but there is no confirmation that he has accepted the role at this time either.

Wood & Serkis Casting Becomes Official

The previous reports of Elijah Wood and Andy Serkis reprising their roles of Frodo and Gollum has become official with a press relese from Warner Bros. (via One Ring)

ELIJAH WOOD AND ANDY SERKIS TO JOIN THE CAST OF PETER JACKSON’S “THE HOBBIT”

Los Angeles, CA—January 10, 2011—Elijah Wood and Andy Serkis are set to join the cast of Peter Jackson’s highly anticipated adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s epic “The Hobbit.” The films, which are scheduled to commence principal photography in February 2011, mark Jackson’s return to Middle-earth following his Oscar-winning “Lord of the Rings” trilogy. The announcement was made jointly today by Toby Emmerich, President and Chief Operating Officer, New Line Cinema, Alan Horn, President and Chief Operating Officer, Warner Bros. and Steve Cooper, co-Chief Executive Officer of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc.

Jackson, who directed all three “Lord of the Rings” films, will helm the two films back-to-back, telling the story of “The Hobbit” in two parts from a screenplay by Jackson, Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens and Guillermo del Toro.

Elijah Wood (“The Lord of The Rings” trilogy, “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind”) will be returning to play Frodo Baggins the young cousin of Bilbo Baggins and Andy Serkis (“The Lord of The Rings” trilogy, “King Kong”) will be returning to play the character Gollum.

Ian McKellen Comments on Joining The Hobbit

Sir Ian McKellen (who is also on twitter) has posted on his official website his thoughts and a little bit of background on finally signing on to The Hobbit films after the unexpected delays due to MGM's bankruptcy and the actor boycott.

All I had to decide was what to do with the time that is given me.

I’m 71 and fit: though at my age who knows what accident is 'round the next corner? For a year or more, I have been arranging my professional commitments around the possibility of The Hobbit films starting at almost anytime. We brought the Waiting for Godot tour of Australia to New Zealand early 2010, assuming I would stay on to start shooting soon after. Then there was yet another delay: but in Wellington I met with Guillermo del Toro and later read his script for Part One, written with the LOTR writing team. It was true to the style, the fun and the romance of the trilogy.

When Peter Jackson, already producing, resumed the director’s chair, he kept me in touch with developments. A second screenplay was sent over, on the understanding that I would not talk about what I read in it.

McKellen, Serkis Sign Hobbit Deals

Two reports indicate that Andy Serkis and Ian McKellen have signed back on to The Hobbit films to reprise their roles of Gollum and Gandalf. They will join their previous Lord of the Rings cast members Cate Blanchett and Elijah Wood. The Serkis deal has not been official confirmed but Deadline is reporting that it is done. The site also says Christopher Lee is in talks to join the production as Saruman and possibly Orlando Bloom as Legolas. The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed McKellen's return, really no surprise as he has been championing the films more than any other previous cast member. The other major piece of news is THR says that principle photography on the film will begin on February 14th in New Zealand.

Elijah Wood Joining The Hobbit?

TheOneRing.net is reporting that they have confirmed recent rumors that Elijah Wood will reprise his role of Frodo Baggins for at least the first The Hobbit film. The film makes use of the ending of The Lord of the Rings when Frodo completes the "Red Book of Westmarch" that contains the story of The Hobbit and the trilogy.

The fictional book, and either the telling from it or the reading of it, will establish Frodo in the films experiencing Bilbo’s story. Viewers to learn the tale of ‘The Hobbit’ with a familiar Frodo getting the tale as well.

The fictional book, and either the telling from it or the reading of it, will establish Frodo in the films experiencing Bilbo’s story. Viewers to learn the tale of ‘The Hobbit’ with a familiar Frodo getting the tale as well.

Frodo’s return makes it possible that Sean Astin could appear as Sam and other Hobbits such as Merry or Pippin can not be ruled out. TORn’s information indicates however, that Frodo and the young Bilbo are the primary Hobbit connections between the film series.

Freeman's Hobbit Schedule Becomes Clearer

One of the interesting aspects of the Hobbit films is what will be done about the schedule conflicts for Martin Freeman, who will play Bilbo Baggins while at the same time is supposed to reprise his role of Watson for the second season of Sherlock with its three 90 minute episodes.

Currently The Hobbit films are rumored to start filming in February for a year plus long principle photography schedule. However, Bleeding Cool is reporting that Sherlock will begin its filming in May. So what to do?

Well it seems that The Hobbit script itself helped provide a solution. The film will have many scenes that will more or less be Baggins-less including an attack on the White Council and others. As a result the plan seems to be to have Freeman prep (costume, makeup testing, etc) and film starting in January to May, head to the UK to film Sherlock for however long that will take (probably a month or two) and then return to The Hobbit. During that break Jackson will simply begin filming the scenes that do not require the actor. In most circumstances this would probably be unheard of but then again most books don't have a lead character that spends a great deal of time being invisible.

WB Gets Worldwide Distribution Rights for The Hobbit

MGM and Warner Bros haved reached a deal regarding the theatrical distribution rights for two The Hobbit films. Previousily WB was going to distribute the film in the US while MGM had the international rights but now the WB will distribute the film worldwide and retain US television rights with MGM getting the international television rights for the film. It still isn't clear if MGM is providing their half of the potential $500+ million budgets for the films or if being floated a line by WB but seems like however the finances are being worked out, this deal is part of that. From a fan perspective, this agreement really doesn't mean anything except for what logo you see when the film unreels in theatres.

From the press release:

LOS ANGELES, CA, January 6, 2011- Roger Birnbaum and Gary Barber, MGM Co-Chairman and Chief Executive Officers, Toby Emmerich, President and Chief Operating Officer, New Line Cinema and Alan Horn, President and Chief Operating Officer, Warner Bros. Pictures today announced that MGM and Warner Bros have concluded a deal for Warner Bros. Pictures to handle international theatrical and video distribution responsibilities on MGM's behalf for Peter Jackson's highly anticipated adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Hobbit". This arrangement results in Warner Bros. Pictures handling the bulk of worldwide distribution, while MGM will handle international television licensing for the films. MGM and WB will work collaboratively to coordinate marketing and release plans worldwide.