I just learned from Peter Jackson that there will now be three Hobbit films. So that is happening. Here is the published note of Peter Jackson's Facebook page:
"It is only at the end of a shoot that you finally get the chance to
sit down and have a look at the film you have made. Recently Fran, Phil
and I did just this when we watched for the first time an early cut of
the first movie - and a large chunk of the second. We were really
pleased with the way the story was coming together, in particular, the
strength of the characters and the cast who have brought them to life.
All of which gave rise to a simple question: do we take this chance
to tell more of the tale? And the answer from our perspective as the
filmmakers, and as fans, was an unreserved ‘yes.'
"We
know how much of the story of Bilbo Baggins, the Wizard Gandalf,
the Dwarves of Erebor, the rise of the Necromancer, and the Battle of
Dol Guldur will remain untold if we do not take this chance. The
richness of the story of The Hobbit, as well as some of the related material in the appendices of The Lord of the Rings,
allows us to tell the full story of the adventures of Bilbo Baggins and
the part he played in the sometimes dangerous, but at all times
exciting, history of Middle-earth.
"So, without further ado
and on behalf of New Line Cinema, Warner Bros. Pictures,
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Wingnut Films, and the entire cast and crew of “The
Hobbit” films, I’d like to announce that two films will become three.
"It has been an unexpected journey indeed, and in the words of Professor Tolkien himself, "a tale that grew in the telling."
"Cheers,
"Peter J"
So to all of you who are excited about revisiting Middle Earth, huzzah! To all of you who are Tolkien purists who object to the movies anyway, be aware. I'm not exactly sure where I fall in regards to this announcement, but regardless, I will be dressed up for the release come December.
Cheers, indeed! Also here is the eighth production video:
There has been a lot of buzz about a LotR LEGO video game. Yes, yes, and YES! Holy cow! I am so excited about this. And I need to get my hands on the precious!
Here are more of the details from Topless Robot. Due out in October-ish.
It seems as though I am a Lord of the Rings junkie these days. Here is a video of violinist Lindsey Stirling rocking out themes from Lord of the Rings. I wish I could say that I like this video solely because I love the music from the Lord of the Rings movies. I do love the music but not solely. Lindsey's violin bowing style (though not-exactly realistic) is a lot of fun to watch. Additionally this video appears to have been shot in New Zealand and with a helicopter. EPIC! But honestly not the only reason I like the video.
I like it because this girl is really cute. Talented, charming, and musically impressive but also really cute. Sorry, but there it is. Enjoy the music!
Both Smeagol and Gollum both in one poster! Wowsers! I kid; I kid. But the official picture is here and it is pretty awesome.
Below the break is almost all of the intended LotR minifigs. Man LEGO is really trying to ride the build-up of excitement about these sets. I can't wait to see more.
I feel as though I should apologize for all of the focus on the upcoming Hobbit movie and LEGO getting the license for LotR and the Hobbit. After all there are many geeky things out in the internets and I am severely focusing on one small aspect of geeks taking over the earth. I could talk about the amazing Superhero movies coming out like The Avengers and The Dark Knight Rises. Both movies look to be wicked awesome! I could point my readers to the hilarious SNL video (weird right?) that shows a middle-aged Harry Potter still trying to relive his glory days at Hogwarts in 2020. Man, that's a great balding wig Radcliffe is wearing! But I won't!
Na na na na, too bad! Cuz here's a little more LotR LEGO. Specifically LotR LEGO posters. You have already seen Frodo. Most excitingly here is LEGO Legolas! With apparently a new hairpiece and probably a new quiver and sword and bow.
And for good measure here also is Aragorn/Strider/Elessar. It'll be really neat if we get a new mold for Andúril his sword.
And now, I'm going to say that all day LEGO, LEGO, LEGO, Legolas! Hee hee hee!
Well my friends, happy 2012! May your Mayan calendar end with a whimper not a bang! However, if you are a geek and your morning is in need of a bang, I present the following:
A french site Lord of the Brick has located some of the preliminary pictures of the upcoming Lord of the Rings LEGO sets. I must admit that they are not finished products so the sets, when they arrive in May, may change a little. But it appears as though with purchase of all of the sets you can get the entire fellowship and a pretty big collection of Uruk-hai, Nazgul, and Rohirrim soldiers. Wowsers! Let's look at each of the grainy, confidential pictures, shall we? Spoilers after the break!
I'm screwed! I have wanted to see this since the beginning of my love of Lord of the Rings and my love of LEGOs. (Thanks to Brothers Brick for the announcement.) Read the whole article here. Here is the actual LEGO Company release!
Feel free to peruse my own Fellowship at Brickshelf.
We will have them my precious, all of them! Legoses maybe sneaky and false sometimes but they also likes moneys! We loves them and curses them both! Loves and curses! Gollum, gollum!
Well, for those of you who haven't been following my growing excitement for the upcoming movies, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and The Hobbit: There and Back Again we have another video blog from Peter Jackson. As a fan of all things Middle Earth I am, understandably, brimming with excitement.
This video talks about the 3D aspect of building these films. LotR was not shot in 3D (though as Peter says below, he wishes he had been able to shoot it that way,) but the two Hobbit movies will be. This will add to the immersive experience and hopefully make re-visiting Middle Earth that much more exciting.
After the break I have included the two video blogs that I have missed, just for good measure.
The star of the show Sherlock Benedict Cumberbatch has been cast as the voice of Smaug the Calamity in the upcoming Hobbit. I'm not sure exactly what all this means but Smaug has been cast which is good news.
In other confirmation news Elrond, Legolas, Frodo, Galadriel, and possibly even Saruman are back for this outing in Middle Earth. So not only will it be awesome to see Middle Earth again, but it'll also be the faces we are used to. Hooray!
I'm also headed to Ravinia to see the Fellowship of the Ring played by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra on August 19th. So if you are in the north Chicago area that day come join the Fellowship! FYI though: tickets are $25.
Peter Jackson has started by posting a video blog of the beginning of shooting The Hobbit. I've included it below! I can't tell you how excited I am about these movies. Seeing some recognizable sets, and some caves that are not immediately recognizable make me have to root around and get my Frodo costume ready!
I'll warn that this video is a bit of a tease but Serkis and McKellen both make a brief show! Enjoy!
Bloopers are often some of the funniest parts of the DVD but alas there weren't bloopers on the Special Edition LOTR collection. Now that oversight has been rectified.
Well, it appears as though another hurdle to filming and producing the Hobbit has been jumped! Warner Brothers is going to finance the $500 million price tag for the two movies saving it from pre-vis perdition by a bankrupt MGM. Still no word if Andy Serkis and Ian McKellan are on board but at least now Peter Jackson might actually be able to pay them. I hope that the news will mean that the Hobbit will actually start filming soon.
In other actor news though, Elijah Wood along with Orlando Bloom and, Cate Blanchett have joined the cast. This recent mews is unsettling to many fans. To those LotR-o-philes that might argue that none of those characters were in the Hobbit, let me say this: They are correct.
However we need to keep in mind that it doesn't destroy the world to have them appear. For instance, Lady Galadriel (who as an immortal elf was alive) may have been connected in some way to the council of wizards and the banashing of the Necromancer from the south of Mirkwood. Legolas is the son of King Thranduil of Mirkwood. Bilbo spends weeks staying out of sight in the Elven King's stronghold. There is plenty of opportunity for Legolas to appear here. And the red book that appears in the LotR movies is actually noted in Tolkien's mythology of middle earth. We see the red book started by Bilbo, continued by Frodo, passed to Samwise. This book after the movies eventually ends up in the hands of Sam's offspring as they are made the Wardens of the Westmarch. The book is what Tolkien pretended he found traces of when he wrote the Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.
Furthermore, we knew that the hobbit was going to be elaborated on. Otherwise there would not be two movies on the horizon. I urge my geeky brethren to not get upset because Peter Jackson is doing what he said he would. Nerd rage subsiding!
As a final treat here is Gimli destroying the One Ring like a BOSS!
Who wants to hear Sir Ian McKellen recount filming as Gandalf on location in Khazad-Dum? I think the correct answer is that everyone should want to hear it! Enjoy!
Hopefully Middle Earth during the Third Age! Whee! After much ado it appears as though the Hobbit is moving forward. I was originally very excited that Guillermo del Toro was on board to direct but due to the time commitment necessary for this job he has moved on to other things. This means that Peter Jackson has been signed to direct the two films that will tell the story of the Hobbit. And the be fair, Jackson is still a dream director for this story!
Today a significant part of the casting has been announced. A handful of the major parts have yet to be confirmed but we'll keep our fingers crossed that they are still going ahead. The announced parts thus far are as follows:
There is word that a number of actors from the Lord of the Rings are returning for this stretch of the story. Sir Ian McKellen has been the most vocal of these actors, and I can't imagine anyone else as Gandalf. The yet unconfirmed parts acted by known players are:
Rumor has it that Jimmy Nesbitt and David Tennant may also be awarded roles. There are a handful of juicy parts such as Bard, The Elven King (Legolas's dad), and Beorn that hopefully will be filled soon. Currently there is also a lot of speculation about who will voice and play the devastating dragon Smaug. No word has arrived yet on who will voice this part. Friends, this is incredibly exciting news from New Zealand! Having been phenomenally impressed by the Lord of the Rings saga in Peter Jackson's hands, I expect that this story too will be lovingly crafted. We shall have to watch closely to see this project reach fruition!
After all, "the road goes ever on and on,
down from the door where it began . . ."
Greetings geekasaurus rexes and nerdlings! Ta da! I am happy to show some pictures of one of my current projects.
That's right fans! I am making the Fellowship of the Ring out of Lego. Yes, yes before I get inundated with emails and notices I know that Boromir doesn't have a goatee yet and no one seems to be wearing shirts and Frodo has yet to be holding the precious. I'm still working on all of that along with Gollum and a number of other characters. But hey, here they all are.
If you would like to see more pictures visit my Bricklink page here. I'm the first that comes up when you search for Fellowship so that's really cool. I hope you enjoy!
