Beorn, Fili and Radagast Discuss The Hobbit

In a trio of articles actors from The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey discuss the movie and their roles. In a TORN translation of the Swedish paper Nöjesbladet, Martin Freeman (Bilbo), Ian McKellen (Gandalf), and Andy Serkis (Gollum) praise Mikael Persbrandt in his role as the shape-changer Beorn (main form being a big bear). According to Peter Jackson, "“You’ll have to wait for film two to see him. I look forward to it in the second film.”

Meanwhile Hero Complex had a conversation with Dean O'Gorman who plays Fili, one of the 13 dwarves in the trilogy. The actor didn't learn he was close to being cast in the role until nearly a year after his audition when writer and producer Philippa Boyens called and told him. "“That relationship triangle does offer a lot of content,” O’Gorman said. “Especially the journey that Thorin goes on — Fili and Kili relate. They’re very much involved in Thorin’s journey, and that dynamic gets involved throughout the movie.”

"Radagast the Brown" Track from The Hobbit Soundtrack

A track from the upcoming soundtrack for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey has been released. Titled "Radagast the Brown" for the wizard that Sylvester McCoy is playing and whose role in the trilogy remains unknown. The music, composted by Howard Shore, proves that the music for The Hobbit trilogy will remain as fantastic as it was for The Lord of the Rings trilogy. There are two editions of the 2-disc soundtrack, a regular edition and special edition that will be released on December 11th.

New The Hobbit Pics for Tolkien Week

Tolkien Week has more or less officially kicked off in celebration of the 75th Anniversary of The Hobbit which was published on September 21, 1927. The week ends with Hobbit Day on September 22 to mark the birthdays of Bilbo and Frodo. This Wednesday the next trailer for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey will debut so it seems like a good time for new stills from the movie. USA Today has published eight new stills from the movie with comments from trilogy writer Philippa Boyens. All 8 can be viewed here. The one comment that provided new insight into the movie is for Radagast the Brown (Sylvester McCoy), a character that is not in The Hobbit book but appeared in the Lord of the Rings novel.

The wizard Radagast the Brown (Sylvester McCoy) is only mentioned in J.R.R. Tolkien’s Hobbit book once, but Boyens had enough to go on to boost his role in the new movie series, and she feels he’s going to become a well-loved character. “He’s not at all like Gandalf,” Boyens says. “There’s a power and danger and sharpness and wits and cunning even about Gandalf that you sense immediately, whereas Radagast is much quieter and gentler. You could mistakenly think he’s not even a wizard or that he might not have any powers of his own, and then you discover that he does.”

Radagast the Brown Full Costume Revealed

A new The Hobbit Calendar has provided the first clear look at the character of Radagast the Brown as played by Sylvester McCoy. There have been the occasional blurred image but this is the first solid look of the actor in full makeup. The image was posted by ThorinOakenshield.net along with other images from the calendar.

Radagast is a wizard that is part of the White Council that is charged with stopping Sauron *Necromancer). The character does not exist in The Hobbit book and played an unintentional minor part Gandalf's misadventures with Sarumon in LOTR. His part so minor that it was completely removed from the trilogy without disrupting the story a bit. His role in the Jackson version of the book remains a mystery. (via TOR)

The Hobbit Production Video #8 - Final Days of Filming

As Peter Jackson promised during the 2012 San Diego Comic Con, the production video #8 has been released. The video provides a behind the scenes look at The Hobbit panel held that Saturday. The video teases some of the bits shown during the con (mostly the cast/crew greetings) while the rest focuses on the final days of production with look at the sets, Andy Serkis last day directing 2nd unit, final day of principle photography and a whole lot more. If interested, I have compiled video links to more then 100 panels that were held during the con here.

Video #1 | Video #2 | Video #3 | Video #4 | Video #5 | Video #6 | Video #7

Sylvestor McCoy Talks The Hobbit

Sylvester McCoy, who plays Radagast the Brown, briefly spoke about the Hobbit in an interview with The Minister of Chance. He said he couldn't really talk much about it but did say that he was still had scenes to film. Since this last five months will in part focus on the Battle of Five Armies, makes you wonder if he plays a role in the battle. He spoke fondly about working on The Hobbit saying Peter Jackson is a "joy to work with". He also mentioned it was great working with Andy Serkis (Gollum) in his job as second unit director on the film. The 43 minute long interview is a Q&A with the legendary Doctor Who actor as he looks back on his long career. If interested in just the Hobbit portion click here (ends at 37:33) or to watch the entire interview click here. (via TOR)

Sylvester McCoy Talks About Radagast

In an interview with Den of Geek, Sylvester McCoy answered many questions about his carrer from Doctor Who up to his recenting casting as Radagast the Brown (a wizard) for The Hobbit films. The full interview is here, below are the Hobbit portions. (via TheOneRing)

You’re heading off next to New Zealand to do The Hobbit, then! This must be the biggest adventure of all now?
I think it is, yeah. I think it’s a big one. I’ve had quite a lot of wonderful adventures in my life, and this one, I’m so excited.

Is it pinch yourself time? Because presumably, after coming so close to landing the role of Bilbo Baggins in Lord Of The Rings, this must be the one you thought had slipped away for good?
Yeah, yeah. I nearly got Bilbo, nearly got it, and it was down to two of us in the end. And, of course, Ian Holm got it. I was hugely honoured to be in his company, as it were, but I thought that was it, really. This one, I’m told by the producers and writers, is a better part.

Is that the worst thing, knowing just how close you came? Is it tougher to deal with than thinking you’d come nowhere near?
No, actually. I was rather flattered. Wow. If Ian couldn’t have done those weeks, I would have got it. It would have been great. In acting quite a lot of the time you’re not the first choice. Usually, you’re second or third. And it can turn out to be the best thing that ever happened. You get used to that.

When did you first hear, then, that you were close to landing a part in The Hobbit? Because the rumour mill had been going for a while.
Well, last summer, Peter Jackson, Fran [Walsh] and Phillippa [Boyens] flew over, and invited me for tea. So they got me a car, and drove over for tea. I thought it was more auditioning, because I’d screentested for it. But when I got there, they said would you play the part? Would I? No! Of course not!

They knew you from before…
Well, they saw my screentest for Radagast The Brown, and Guillermo del Toro, who was going to direct it, he’d okayed it. He was keen that I play the part. I didn’t know this, but I got it from the screentest. It wasn’t until I went to see them for tea that I knew. They were asking my permission to be in it!

McCoy Cast in The Hobbit

This weekend fans at the Armageddon Expo in Auckland, NZ were the first to learn that Sylvester McCoy, the seventh Dr. Who, has been cast in The Hobbit as Radagast the Brown. While a contract has not yet been signed, likely waiting to see if Warner Bros. will be about moving the production, the role is his if he wants it. McCoy had previously been rumored to be up for the role of Bilbo Baggins.

Sometime over the next few days, WB is supposed to announce whether the movies stays or moves but the failure to explain how NZ Actor Equity, a group of only 200 members, managed to paralyze an entire country's film industry has yet to be addressed leading to real and hard to budge concerns on whether a repeat of the boycott will not occur later into the production schedule. Once this issue is settled, for good or bad for NZ, then things like casting will probably be finalized with signed contracts.