Rhys-Davies Panel on The Hobbit

The Lord of The Rings' Gimli, John Rhys-Davies, was at the Sydney Armageddon Expo that was held over the weekend. During his panel he briefly spoke about the The Hobbit and mentioned that he offered his experience for the new crop of dwarves for the film. From the One Ring:

He said that he would love to return because he had such a brilliant time with ‘The Lord of the Rings’, but would be unable to, due to the toll that his prosthetic. Nothing new. To quote him, “I was asked to return as one of the 13 dwarves, and I thought, why would I want to be one of 13 when I could be one of one?”

Probably the most interesting thing to come from it was that he mentioned he rang Matt Dravitszki, Peter Jackson’s assistant, a week before Jackson went to hospital, asking if they wanted him down in New Zealand to be a “dwarf assistant”, talking to the new actors and helping them out here and there with his experiences. He said they never returned his call.

Finally, he said that the 13 new dwarves have his “deepest sympathies” and that he is eagerly awaiting ‘The Hobbit’ just as much as anybody else.

FoxTrot's Casting Prep

Bill Amend shows of his interest in the Hobbit with latest strip from FoxTrot as Jason tries to prep for getting cast as a Hobbit.

The Hobbit Crew Offers Help for Quake

Peter Jackson and the crew of The Hobbit have offered to provide any assistance that they can for Christchurch, New Zealand which was devastated by a 6.3 earthquake on Monday afternoon. Jackson told The Hollywood Reporter, "everyone involved in the production of The Hobbit is shocked and saddened by the earthquake and it's devastating aftermath." and said he informed the NZ government that production was ready "to offer practical assistance and stands ready to help in any way we can.”

So far the death toll remains around 75, with at least 300 missing and 1,350 unaccounted for. The death toll is likely to rise as there are many collapsed buildings to be search including one report of the local TV station Canterbury Television's building collapsing with at least 100 still in it. "This particular site, CTV site, had a number of overseas students in it and my heart goes out to those families that are away knowing that some of their children, family have probably been killed in this incident,'' police operations commander Dave Lawry said of the Canterbury TV building. Rescuers were forced to abandon the search when the building caught on fire.

From The One Ring is a list of charities that are participating in rescue efforts. Thoughts and prayers to everyone affected by the earthquake.

Red Cross (NZ) | Red Cross (Australia) | UK Emergency Shelter in Christchurch | Salvation Army

McKellen Arrives in New Zealand for The Hobbit

Sir Ian McKellen has posted an update on his official website that provides an update on the actor's status in regards to The Hobbit. Even though filming doesn't begin for about a month, the actor is now in New Zealand, ready to return to the role of Gandalf. He writes:

A wizard is never late: but I hadn't intended last Thursday to arrive in Wellington for The Hobbit filming, five weeks early. Yet, what's new? Just a year ago, touring New Zealand with Waiting for Godot, I had expected to start shooting in July 2010, with Guillermo del Toro in charge. I was staying at his spare house on Breaker Bay, close to the Jackson compound. There he told me why he was abandoning Middle Earth, as Warner Brothers and MGM got perilously close to postponing The Hobbit forever and he worried about his commitments to other work. So my plan to jump straight from Beckett to Tolkien had to be abandoned and I flew home for a prolonged break.

A year on, filming was to start at the end of February 2011. I curtailed a holiday in India to make sure I would be on time.

Then, while I was away, Peter Jackson had his stomach operation. The insurance company has insisted on five weeks recuperation. Which is why, yet again, I¹m here early. Waiting for Bilbo.

I was hoping to see Peter up and kicking at the party Philippa Boyens threw last week for the actors and again the following day, when Graham Mactavish and Gwen had a house-warming party in their garden and house overlooking the Wellington harbour. No luck: but there were many others to say hello to; beginning with 13 dwarves.

New Zealand Struck by 6.3 Earthquake

Around 1pm yesterday downtown Christchurch, New Zealand was struck by a 6.3 earthquake that has devastated the city. Reports indicate that 75 have died with many more injured. Rescue operations continue to find people trapped in buildings.

The earthquake "toppled buildings onto buses, buckled streets, forced the collapse of a cathedral spire and cut power for most of the city." The city also experienced 33 aftershocks with range of magnitudes of 4 to 6. Condolences to all those that lost family and friends.

To swing this tragedy back to The Hobbit (seems crash but it is focus of this blog), The Hollywood Reporter says that production has not been impacted by the quake. The reason is simply due to location, as "The Hobbit is being made in Wellington, situated on the North Island of NZ, while Christchurch is on the South Island, a seven-hour ferry ride and drive from Wellington, or less than an hour by air."

The Hobbit Miramar Set Pics

The One Ring has posted a gallery of images from The Hobbit sets that are being built on a soundstage in Miramar, New Zealand. The theory is the sets are for the Mines of Moria but that is unconfirmed. Click here for the full gallery.

McKellen Schedules The Hobbit Break

Sir Ian McKellen is setting himself up for a very busy year as he has signed on to star in a play called "The Syndicate" at the Chichester Festival Theatre in the U.K. The play will run from July 21 to August 20th. This also happens while The Hobbit will be in full production.

Normally when an actor is signed onto a film they are unable to work on anything else partly because of cost and partly because of production needs. However, the print edition of The Dominion Post reports that the actor negotiates an "escape clause" in his contract so he could take on the role. McKellen is the second actor on the project that will get a middle of production break as Martin Freeman (Bilbo) must also take a break so he can complete work on Sherlock for the BBC.

A large reason that actors can come and go as needed is because both films are going to be done back to back and depending on how close the movies stay to the book there are actually large sections in the story where their characters are not involved allowing for a much more flexible schedule then normal for the lead actors. This isn't to say I wouldn't want to be schedule coordinator on the project as they must currently have many headaches trying to work all the details out but this flexibility is a key reason while Freeman and McKellen were able to sign on to the movies.

Ronan Not Cast, Mountain Search, and Casting Call

There are two three pieces of new regarding The Hobbit production that is prepping to start up next year. The first is the rumor that Saoirse Ronan has been cast in the film. The actress shoots down the rumor telling The Irish Times, "No, nothing has actually been confirmed yet. I'd love to get a role in The Hobbit. I think everybody in the world would like a role in The Hobbit." I would not be surprised if something comes up for her in one of the two films.

The second piece of news is that The Hobbit production has been denied access to shoot at or around Mount Ngauruhoe. The mountain was used as Mount Doom in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. However since those films have been made the area has been declared scared ground by a local Maori tribe in New Zealand. The NZ Herald reports, "the moviemakers could instead fall back on Mt Taranaki and the Southern Alps. Location scouts have visited Taranaki, and Jackson is said to have flown into Queenstown recently to inspect the mountain-ringed Lake Wanaka." Considering some film making jiujutsu was used to make the mountain look the way it did for the trilogy, finding a replacement is more of an issue of inconvenience cost and than a problem for visual continuity for the films. (via Dark Horizons)

Last is an official casting call for Elves in New Zealand for the film according to The One Ring. If you don't live in the country, not news of value but does indicate that the film will make use of the race once again, likely with city visits and in battle scenes.

The Hobbit Core Cast Press Conference

Today a press conference was held that brought together to core cast of The Hobbit for the first time. The cast of 14 will comprise the 13 dwarves that join Bilbo Baggins on his adventure through Middle-Earth. The conference did not include Peter Jackson who is on doctored ordered bed rest as he recovers from recent surgery. The low key conference was about the pre-production prep the actors are going through with costumes, makeup and the like. Below are a few highlights but best to read the full summary from The One Ring and the full video of the conference (38 minutes long) can be found here. Cast photo via Bleeding Cool.

Dwarf actors William Kirchner and Peter Hambleton spoke on that: “We are thirteen distinct and strong personalities – but we are an ensemble as well”. Speaking of ensemble, the dwarves confirmed they’d be doing their own singing. “It’s all staying very close to the book – yes, there WILL be singing.”

The dwarves apparently all look very different. Aidan Turner, or Fili, said that they were still experimenting with different amounts of facial hair to define their look. “Facial hair is under review – hence the different beards we’ve got today!” Jed Brophy, or Nori, (who played numerous highly- prostheticised characters in LOTR) said that yes, he [and we presume the others] would be recognisable. “I’m so happy to be me. And I hope to get through this film without dying. Horribly.”

The Kiwi actors talked about meeting and working with international stars like Martin Freeman, Ken Stott or James Nesbitt. Mark Hadlow (Dori): “It’s an amazing experience as a theatre actor, when you’ve been an admirer for years, as I have been, of Ken Stott’s work on stage and screen…to meet with him and get to talk about all the things that we share, has been extraordinary.”

Martin Freeman (Bilbo) was simply hilarious. He spoke a little more seriously about how he had spent time watching Ian Holm’s performances as Bilbo. “Of course I’ve been looking at what he’s been doing…I need to look at it and then forget it, in a sense, though. I look at what he does with his voice and movement…Without trying to blow my own trumpet nor with too much false modesty, I think I’m quite a good match for him. I have to try to echo and give a nod to what he’s done, but still be me.”

Deal Signed to Turn Hobbiton Into Tourist Attraction

Wingnut Films and Rings Scenic Tours have announced a joint deal to turn the Hobbiton set into a tourist attraction called Shire Tours. The plans for the deal started last year when Hobbiton was being constructed with greater detail and strong materials to last longer. From One Ring:

9 February, 2011, Wellington – Sir Peter Jackson’s Wingnut Films Productions Limited and Rings Scenic Tours Limited are pleased to announce that they have entered into a joint venture arrangement to allow movie fans to visit the newly reconstructed film set which is located near Matamata. The new venture will be known as Shire Tours. The companies have been working towards this agreement for some time, and the joint venture came into effect on January 24th, 2011.

The set, originally designed by the Art Department of THE LORD OF THE RINGS films, has recently been rebuilt at the original location on the Alexander Farm on Buckland Road, Matamata. It will be used again for the filming of the two films based on THE HOBBIT late in 2011, during which time the location will be closed to the public.

Since the first tour in 2002, an estimated 200,000 visitors have been to visit the location. The site also has The Shires Rest Cafe and Function Centre, which was opened in December 2004 by former Prime Minister, Helen Clark.

Sir Peter Jackson said, “We are really excited to be able to offer fans of the films the chance to walk around and explore this beautifully crafted set, which is a centerpiece of both The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit.”

Russell Alexander, General Manager of Shire Tours, said “I’m delighted to be involved. This is a wonderful movie location and I look forward to introducing visitors to a truly unique experience.”

The Hobbit Start Date Announced

A press release from 3Foot7 Ltd has set the official start date of The Hobbit films as Monday March 21st, 2011. The initial rumored planned was a February 14th start date but likely Director Peter Jackson needed the time to recover from his surgery. From One Ring:

Monday 7 February, Wellington – Production company, 3Foot7 Ltd, is pleased to announce that the first day of principal photography for THE HOBBIT will be Monday 21 March, 2011.

This date has been chosen following practical considerations of the filming schedule requirements, actor availability and the NZ seasons. Shooting will take place at Stone Street Studios in Miramar and on location around New Zealand.

Confirmed cast include: Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, Richard Armitage, Ken Stott, Graham McTavish, William Kircher, James Nesbitt, Stephen Hunter, Rob Kazinsky, Aidan Turner, Peter Hambleton, John Callen, Jed Brophy, Mark Hadlow, Adam Brown, Cate Blanchett, Andy Serkis, Mikael Persbrant, Sylvester McCoy and Elijah Wood. Director, Sir Peter Jackson, comments: “Despite some delays we are fully back on track and very excited to get started.”

Freeman: The Hobbit "Very Daunting"

All signs indicate that The Hobbit is on schedule to begin principle photography on February 14th. Peter Jackson is currently recovering from his perforated stomach ulcer at home and reports indicate that Hobbiton has been closed from the public in preparation for filming. Meanwhile, Martin Freeman is getting closer to the "daunting" task of taking on the famous role of Bilbo Baggins.

“It’s very daunting – the daunting part is leaving home… I’m a real homebody, even before we had children, I was a homebody, so with children it’s like aww… I’m very excited though,” he told Modcast host Eddie Piller.

Martin initially turned down the role because of his commitments to the BBC detective drama. “I had to turn it down because of being contractually obliged to do the second series of Sherlock for the BBC, which we are doing in the middle of this year,” he recalled. ”I turned it down with a very heavy heart because things like this don’t come your way very often. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, as far as scale is concerned. It’s a huge, huge deal. But I was contracted to do Sherlock. I wanted to do both. When I found out I couldn’t do both it was very sad. And then it was very flattering when Peter Jackson rearranged the filming around my availability.”