Peter Jackson to direct "The Hobbit"

[J-Proof]

Oh - and who should voice Smaug?

[esoobaC .T bocaJ]

here we go

I'm just wondering if we'll be seeing any characters from Lord of the Rings make cameos in Hobbit, like Elrond or Legolas (It could happen because he's Prince of Mirkwood.) and we know Gollum will be a given. Oh, and Liam Neeson should play Legolas' dad, Elven King of Mirkwood.

Ian McKellen was keen to reprise the part of Gandalf: Jackson had told him, "You must play Gandalf whether I direct or not." Andy Serkis also admitted, "I'd find it very hard to turn down [playing] Gollum again, as he's very much become a part of me." Orlando Bloom, Viggo Mortensen, Cate Blanchett, Elijah Wood and Christopher Lee have said they would reprise their roles as Legolas, Aragorn, Galadriel, Frodo Baggins and Saruman if they were required for either prequel. Composer Howard Shore had also said he has thought of some themes for the film.

[sijima]

Here is a big question I have.

Should the Hobbit be set in the exact same universe as the LOTR movies?

I mean should orcs in The Hobbit look like the orcs in LOTR?
Should we cast the same actor as Bilbo?
Should Gollum be the same?
Should the Shire be the exact same Shire we already saw?

My personal opinion, is that Del Toro should use his imagination to create a whole new universe.  I want to see another mans vision, I want to see different heroes, different villains, and a different middle earth.  I have enough imagination to accept the idea that I am seing a different vision of Talkien.

If the Star Wars prequels proved anything, its that its bad when everything comes together too neatly.  Lets see something different and original.

[bratpop]

If it's a different director, different art direction and production design usually come along as baggage.

[Fortis]

Here is a big question I have.

Should the Hobbit be set in the exact same universe as the LOTR movies?

I mean should orcs in The Hobbit look like the orcs in LOTR?
Should we cast the same actor as Bilbo?
Should Gollum be the same?
Should the Shire be the exact same Shire we already saw?

My personal opinion, is that Del Toro should use his imagination to create a whole new universe.  I want to see another mans vision, I want to see different heroes, different villains, and a different middle earth.  I have enough imagination to accept the idea that I am seing a different vision of Talkien.

If the Star Wars prequels proved anything, its that its bad when everything comes together too neatly.  Lets see something different and original.

I don't know...I see your point in all of this, and I don't think Weta workshop (who worked on the lotr for props, and effects) would crap out on us and recycle anything. But, if we were to get something too different, then I think the movie will suffer because of it. I mean, there is going to be very little of the Shire actually shown since it is only in the beginning, and the Orcs around Mirkwood and such are going to look different from the ones we have seen so far...because Orcs all look different anyways.

So while I don't think we should re-imagine middle-earth, It is obvious we will see more of Middle-Earth, so we will see different places. I would be very disappointed if it looked like they recycled props. But say, in the second prequel they went back to Minas Tirith, I don't want to see a different looking Minas Tirith.

Still, I am excited to see Del Toro's vision of it. From what little I've seen of his movies, his cinematography is very visual and imaginative. So I don't think we will be disappointed.

[sijima]

Oh - and who should voice Smaug?

Lets see...
Smaug has to be

EVIL
INTELLIGENT
POWERFUL
NON-HUMAN SOUNDING

I know someone who fits the bill

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkh6if8TL2U&feature=related

[J-Proof]

I'm cool with a change in art direction so long as WETA does the labor!

Good choice for Smaug's voice.

Also:
Daniel Day Lewis = Bard the Bowman
Ron Pelrman = Anything.... Maybe even Thorin with lots of post editing

[doggans]

Lets see...
Smaug has to be

EVIL
INTELLIGENT
POWERFUL
NON-HUMAN SOUNDING

Looks like DisembAudio may have finally found his dream role.

[BBQ Platypus]

actually McKellen said he would gladly return, I would have to dig around, but I posted it somewhere around here

Cool, cuz he's the best choice for Gandalf. I would like Ian Holmes to return for Bilbo as well, and what's his face for Elrond...

I don't know about Ian Holm.  He's in what...his sixties or seventies?  And in this movie, Bilbo will be....well, um, actually, he'll be fifty.  But that's middle-aged for a hobbit.

And was Elrond even IN the book?  I don't remember him being involved.  Maybe I'm wrong - it's been a long time since I read The Hobbit.

As far as the director goes, I think Del Toro is the right choice.  Not just A good choice, THE right choice.  Pan's Labyrinth was a great movie, and Hellboy was a good one.  And Del Toro's direction played a big part of that.  He is really good at directing when CGI is involved (it's hard to get actors to talk to a blank space - and the way it is seamlessly blended into the cinematography is superb in all of his films).  These are all VERY desirable qualities when you're dealing with a big project like The Hobbit.

[esoobaC .T bocaJ]

actually McKellen said he would gladly return, I would have to dig around, but I posted it somewhere around here

Cool, cuz he's the best choice for Gandalf. I would like Ian Holmes to return for Bilbo as well, and what's his face for Elrond...

I don't know about Ian Holm.  He's in what...his sixties or seventies?  And in this movie, Bilbo will be....well, um, actually, he'll be fifty.  But that's middle-aged for a hobbit.

And was Elrond even IN the book?  I don't remember him being involved.  Maybe I'm wrong - it's been a long time since I read The Hobbit.

As far as the director goes, I think Del Toro is the right choice.  Not just A good choice, THE right choice.  Pan's Labyrinth was a great movie, and Hellboy was a good one.  And Del Toro's direction played a big part of that.  He is really good at directing when CGI is involved (it's hard to get actors to talk to a blank space - and the way it is seamlessly blended into the cinematography is superb in all of his films).  These are all VERY desirable qualities when you're dealing with a big project like The Hobbit.

If Elrond isn't in the hobbit, he could be in the in between movie
 

[Chaos]

Elrond has a bit part. They go to Rivendale in the Hobbit as well, but only for a couple of weeks storyline-wise, and Elrond's involvement is minor. He gives them some advice and some supplies. This would be after the incident with the trolls and prior to them going to see Beorn (who better frickin' be in the movie, because Beorn is cool).

[KingOfShippers]

Elrond has a bit part. They go to Rivendale in the Hobbit as well, but only for a couple of weeks storyline-wise, and Elrond's involvement is minor. He gives them some advice and some supplies. This would be after the incident with the trolls and prior to them going to see Beorn (who better frickin' be in the movie, because Beorn is cool).

Actually they went to Rivendelle before the whole Misty Mountains tryst and the Riddals in the Dark, because remember they were eventually chased into some trees by the Wargs and rescued by Eagles.

[J-Proof]

Elrond is a must in the Hobbit - leaving him out would mean leaving Rivendell out, and they just /couldn't/ do that...

O - and Serkis is a must for Gollum

[Chaos]

O - and Serkis is a must for Gollum

Seconded, thirded, and fourthed. Nobody can ever outshine Serkis as Gollum. I could never, ever hear the sound that gollum made in my head when I read the books... and then Serkis came along, and it was like a thunderbolt. He's just... Gollum. Through and through.

[esoobaC .T bocaJ]

here we go

I'm just wondering if we'll be seeing any characters from Lord of the Rings make cameos in Hobbit, like Elrond or Legolas (It could happen because he's Prince of Mirkwood.) and we know Gollum will be a given. Oh, and Liam Neeson should play Legolas' dad, Elven King of Mirkwood.

Ian McKellen was keen to reprise the part of Gandalf: Jackson had told him, "You must play Gandalf whether I direct or not." Andy Serkis also admitted, "I'd find it very hard to turn down [playing] Gollum again, as he's very much become a part of me." Orlando Bloom, Viggo Mortensen, Cate Blanchett, Elijah Wood and Christopher Lee have said they would reprise their roles as Legolas, Aragorn, Galadriel, Frodo Baggins and Saruman if they were required for either prequel. Composer Howard Shore had also said he has thought of some themes for the film.