Peter Jackson to direct "The Hobbit"

[esoobaC .T bocaJ]

Pre-production is about to get under way on the two-part "Hobbit." Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens are expected to pen the scripts under the direction of producer Peter Jackson and the film's helmer, Guillermo del Toro.

Preliminary contact has already been made with at least three actors whose "Lord of the Rings" characters also appear in the "Hobbit" storyline: Viggo Mortensen (Aragorn), Ian McKellen (Gandalf) and Andy Serkis (Gollum).

"We will all be involved in the script in some fashion but the exact definition is about a week away," said del Toro. "I am all for keeping the actors who originated the parts, as much as availability and their willingness will allow."

[ScottotD]

I reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeally hope the shoot doesn't take too long because Guillermo has about 10 projects lined up that I want to see.

[SmilinJackRoss]

I remember reading a press release that said the target release date for the two films is 2011 & 2012, respectively.

[Cosmic Muse]

Hopefully Ian McKellan won't die on us any time soon. I couldn't think of anyone else that could play Gandalf as good as he can.

[esoobaC .T bocaJ]

According to London's Sunday Times, the son of JRR Tolkien will try next week to halt the filming of "The Hobbit" and its sequel.

Christopher Tolkien, 83, is calling for "one last crusade" in a long-running court battle against the producers of "The Lord of the Rings" only weeks before carpenters are due to begin work in New Zealand on the sets for the latest Middle-earth epic.

He claims the Tolkien family is owed $158m by New Line Cinema under a deal for a 7.5% share of profits that was signed in 1969, when his father reluctantly sold film rights to pay a tax bill.

At a hearing on June 6th, Christopher Tolkien will ask a Californian judge to back his claim that he can "terminate" film rights to "The Hobbit." He is said to be furious with the New Line studio, which earned $6 billion from the Rings trilogy. Tolkien's lawyers accuse New Line of "accounting chicanery." Warner Bros, owner of New Line, declined to comment.

[Fortis]

New Line no longer exists...people are still suffering from their stupidity years later is what you mean.

[BathTub]

Queue up Isaac ranting about how greedy the Tolkien estate is....

[esoobaC .T bocaJ]

Empire magazine got the chance to speak to Christopher Lee, who said that he would be interested in reprising his role of Saruman in the upcoming "The Hobbit" movies. Even though the character does not show up in "The Lord of the Rings" prequel, Lee still feels that adding him to the new movies should be considered because it would fill a few gaps

"I've read the books time and again," Lee told Empire. "Originally Saruman The White and the rest of the wizards, or the Istari as they call them, were immortal. There were five of them, two of them never appear, I know their names but they never appear, and the only three that are mentioned are Saruman The White, Gandalf The Grey and Radagast The Brown who you never see – so basically it's two wizards."

"They lived for thousands of years and they were sent to the earth and they are virtually immortal. When it all started, Saruman was the noblest, the finest, the bravest, the most dependable and reliable of them all, he was number one. But somewhere, somehow, and it was never actually explained, he turns and it's probably the Palantir (the wizard's crystal ball) that makes Saruman realize that if Sauron can do this, why can't I do it and Saruman wants to become The Lord Of The Rings himself."

"I'd be interested in seeing how that transition from good to evil occurred and, yes, of course I would return to the role if I was asked."

[mrbasehart]

Let's hope Christopher Lee lives long enough to see this through... 

[Chaos]

I would love to see them spend some time developing Saruman's character in the 2nd movie. I still think it's a bloody shame he was cut out of the theatrical release of Return of the King.

There's definitely room to have him included in the 2nd movie, and even the 1st movie really (implied from when Gandalf goes off to deal with the necromancer).

[Petey Wheatstraw]

Queue up Isaac ranting about how greedy the Tolkien estate is....

You know, when you said that I had an image of one of those talking dolls, where you pull the string and it talks as it unwinds.

Probably not that inaccurate...

Are both of you enjoying life on planet Headupyourass?

Would you like a foot up there as well?

You really are gullible if you believe that Peter Jackson is not as or more greedy than New Line was.

(I'm fully aware of the fact that Jackson has nothing to do with Tolkien's estate, but don't tell BathTub and Imrahil that or their heads will simultaneously twist 360 degrees and explode. Let's throw blankets over our heads and keep quiet so they'll think that we are no longer here.)

[ScottotD]

Let's throw blankets over our heads and keep quiet so they'll think that we are no longer here.)

Who exactly do you imagine "we" would be?

[Fortis]

So Isaac, why do you hate Peter Jackson so much?

Did he TP your house or something? Or let the air out of your tires and made you late for work? Does he hide the phone every time you need it?

Because to me, Peter Jackson's movies were a breath of fresh air for me, I finally was able to enjoy some movies with good effects, music, cinematography, and with good writing. He must have done something crazy to make you hate him so much...what do you guys think Peter jackson did to Isaac to warrant such hate?

[Petey Wheatstraw]

So Isaac, why do you hate Peter Jackson so much?

Did he TP your house or something? Or let the air out of your tires and made you late for work? Does he hide the phone every time you need it?

Because to me, Peter Jackson's movies were a breath of fresh air for me, I finally was able to enjoy some movies with good effects, music, cinematography, and with good writing. He must have done something crazy to make you hate him so much...what do you guys think Peter jackson did to Isaac to warrant such hate?

Sloppy filmmaking and budget over artistic vision is a "breath of fresh are" for you?

[Fortis]

So Isaac, why do you hate Peter Jackson so much?

Did he TP your house or something? Or let the air out of your tires and made you late for work? Does he hide the phone every time you need it?

Because to me, Peter Jackson's movies were a breath of fresh air for me, I finally was able to enjoy some movies with good effects, music, cinematography, and with good writing. He must have done something crazy to make you hate him so much...what do you guys think Peter jackson did to Isaac to warrant such hate?

Sloppy filmmaking and budget over artistic vision is a "breath of fresh are" for you?

Elaborate, c'mon I really am curious...I felt in no way that his movies are sloppy, and there is plenty of artistic vision, sure it doesn't break any new grounds, but he didn't need to.