The Hobbit Film Format confirmed by Del Toro/Jackson

[Ring Lunatic]

Going back in News Elf mode is rather easy ;)

This is the biggest news to come out from Guillermo Del Toro and Peter Jackson’s collaboration on ‘The Hobbit’ since they said they were going to split the movie into two different films. We now have clarification of what that actually means. It had been talked about before that the ‘The Hobbit’ would be the first film and the second film would help bridge the gap between ‘The Hobbit’ and ‘Fellowship of the Ring’. It no longer sounds like that is the case. Del Toro reveals:

“We’ve decided to have The Hobbit span the two movies, including the White Council and the comings and goings of Gandalf to Dol Guldur,”

Jackson adds:

“We decided it would be a mistake to try to cram everything into one movie. The essential brief was to do The Hobbit, and it allows us to make The Hobbit in a little more style, if you like, of the [LOTR] trilogy.”

Which I am completely fine with! Look, The Hobbit is getting made, and if we can get two films out of it then all the better! The movies will ends up being a even better adaptation of the book. Now if we can try and talk them into making the pre- prequel based on the ‘Similarion’ somewhere down the road, then we are good to go!

I can’t wait for this! In my opinion I still have not seen a movie that has out-done the masterpiaece of ‘The Lord of the Rings’ Trilogy. The two new movies come out December 2011 and 2012.

source (http://www.geektyrant.com/2009/04/the-hobbitfor/)

I'm really excited! Those two are masters at what they do. I really hope the 'old cast' will make some cameo's as well :D

[Emmie]

Exciting! :D Actually, it seems the original source of the news is Empire Online, here (http://www.empireonline.com/news/feed.asp?NID=24610).

And I suppose the confirmation must be new (TORn has it on their front page now) but I was already under the impression that this was the way they were doing it. Not sure what's up with that. But I'm glad they won't be rushed.

[Elven]

Ah, RL, it's good to have yo back as News Elf. :D

I'm very happy with this news. I was worried about what they would do with the mysterious second film. Having the Hobbit split into two is much more preferable. Hopefully it means they'll be able to keep it very true to the books with that approach. Hurrah!

[Blodeuedd]

Yay :)
I so want to see this movie, I hope we get more news soon

[Emmie]

Me too! I actually made a post about the lack of news here (http://www.hobbitforums.com/showthread.php?t=13) - I'm really excited for more Hobbit movie information to start coming out, which hopefully it will soon.

Though, I wonder where they're going to end up ending the first movie? Are there any particularly appropriate places around the center of the book? I suppose I ought to go read it again.

[Clarett]

Yeah, it'll be better. I totally agree with their opinion!
I am glad, that PJ will be watching over the movie...^.^

[Crichton]

Wow, nice news. I had very old news about The Hobbit movie and wasn't sure what actually is going on. Now I see the movie have chances to be as good as LOTR trilogy. I am excited :D

[PiRaTeGiRl]

I'm really agree with that, because in two movies they can put more and more scenes from the book! It's great! ^^

[jimmyboy]

Though, I wonder where they're going to end up ending the first movie? Are there any particularly appropriate places around the center of the book? I suppose I ought to go read it again.
I'd guess the first movie would include meetings of the White Council, wherein Saruman and Gandalf have some verbal sparring over rings, and there's discussion and action over the Necromancer in Dol Goldur. This is actually LOTR and Unfinished Tales material, if I recall correctly, and not The Hobbit material, but it's completely relevant and appropriate, and makes The Hobbit story bigger and more epic. Then we'll see Gandalf leading the Thirteen over to Beorn's house, which I'm thinking is where it will end.

The second movie will have the party leave Beorn and travel through Mirkwood, into Thranduil's halls (where we'll probably see Legolas) then to Laketown, and on to Erebor (The Lonely Mountain). We'll see Bard slaying Smaug the Dragon, and a dramatic scene where Thorin is laid to rest beneath his mountain, with his elven sword on his chest. The movie will end with Bilbo coming back home to the Shire, with a pony loaded down with gold and treasures and mathoms and such, possibly (and I hope this doesn't happen, but given how certain things happened in Jackson's LOTR...) with a small, orphaned Frodo in tow, after having stopped by to see his Tookish relatives.

[Emmie]

Saruman and Gandalf have some verbal sparring over rings
Christopher Lee said he isn't interested in doing anything that requires him to go to New Zealand, though, so I'm not sure how they would do that.

I was confused when you said "and I hope this doesn't happen" until I realized you were talking about small Frodo, not the pony with treasures. But so far I think it sounds like they're going to do a good job with it - Guillermo del Toro said some things I found encouraging in the Empire magazine interview (there are a few scans in another thread here). We'll have to wait and see...

[jimmyboy]

Christopher Lee said he isn't interested in doing anything that requires him to go to New Zealand, though, so I'm not sure how they would do that.

Hmm. I hadn't heard that about Lee not wanting to go to NZ. I for one would love to go there, though I've never yet been there. Maybe it's the combined travel and filming schedule he doesn't like. Or maybe he's just at an age where he doesn't want to be flying all over the world.

But anyway, it shouldn't matter at all. They can film whatever they want, from any local studio, if that's how he wants to do it. Just film his parts, then CG in the backgrounds or whatever. As much as I'd hate that, because there's way too much CG in movies these days, it should be used for situations like this. I heard they did similar things with Liam Neeson when filming Star Wars: Episode I. He was too tall for certain sets they'd already constructed, so they CG'd in the parts that weren't actually behind him when they filmed. Not quite the same thing, but just an example that things like that can be done.

Besides, the WETA visual effects company have already proved that they're capable of producing some totally convincing and lifelike effects. I have no doubt at all that they could make it happen so that Lee can stay where he wants.
I was confused when you said "and I hope this doesn't happen" until I realized you were talking about small Frodo, not the pony with treasures. But so far I think it sounds like they're going to do a good job with it - Guillermo del Toro said some things I found encouraging in the Empire magazine interview (there are a few scans in another thread here). We'll have to wait and see...
Oh, yeah I was talking about the little (er, littler) Frodo. That sort of non-lore addition just drips of Hollywood foolishness, IMO. And the reason I worry about such things is because Jackson's already done such things in the LOTR trilogy, mostly with Legolas. Or Super Legolas as I've named him. With the stuff they had him do in the movies they should've just told everyone else to stay home, cause we're calling in Super Legolas! (By the way, if you look carefully, you can see a Sindarin "S" on his chest.)

But hey, that's just me. :D

[Emmie]

Hmm. I hadn't heard that about Lee not wanting to go to NZ. I for one would love to go there, though I've never yet been there. Maybe it's the combined travel and filming schedule he doesn't like. Or maybe he's just at an age where he doesn't want to be flying all over the world.
Oh yeah, I'm sure they could do it technically. Since the article was talking more about his interest in doing the voice of Smaug, it hadn't really occurred to me.

This is the quote, from Cinematical (http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/13/christopher-lee-wont-return-to-middle-earth/):
But what about the much discussed second film, which would likely deal with the Council of Wizards? That's a location problem. Lee isn't interested in filming in New Zealand again because it is simply too far away, for too long of a time. You can hear the tiredness in his voice -- and perhaps a bit of regret too.

That doesn't mean Lee isn't interested in being in The Hobbit at all, however! He'll appear in the film as long as he can stay in London, and there's a character he's quite keen to play. Or rather, voice. Someone very large, with a penchant for gold.

[PiRaTeGiRl]

I really hope Christopher Lee will take part in those movies. But not only him, it will be great if all the LotR actors will play in the Hobbit! ;)

[Emmie]

I can understand the desire to see them all again, but I think I'll content myself with re-watching the trilogy. We're going to have Gollum and Gandalf, which is great, but it would mess up the story of The Hobbit if characters like Legolas and Aragorn started appearing.

[PiRaTeGiRl]

Yeah, I agree, sort of. I mean that maybe Viggo can play some other ranger. Or the one that shot the dragon! That will be great!

[jimmyboy]

I can understand the desire to see them all again, but I think I'll content myself with re-watching the trilogy. We're going to have Gollum and Gandalf, which is great, but it would mess up the story of The Hobbit if characters like Legolas and Aragorn started appearing.
Seeing Legolas would actually be lore-friendly, though I personally don't want him to be there, unless it's only a very brief shot of him in the background, standing next to his father, King Thranduil.

During this time, we shouldn't see Aragorn. At best we would hear someone on the White Council mention him, likely Gandalf or Elrond, who both know him very well, but at the time of Bilbo and the Dwarves' journey, he would probably be riding as Thorongil, with the Rohirrim or possibly with or under Denethor in Gondor. In fact, if he's ever mentioned, he would be called Thorongil, not Aragorn.

If he's in Rohan we may, MAY possibly, see a very young Theoden, and he would likely be a child.

[PiRaTeGiRl]

Yeah that's right. I wouldn't mind see Legolas on the Hobbit, it will be wierd though...haha. But In my opinion it will be great to see the ACTORS from LotR in the Hobbit films.

[Emmie]

Yeah that's right. I wouldn't mind see Legolas on the Hobbit, it will be wierd though...haha. But In my opinion it will be great to see the ACTORS from LotR in the Hobbit films.
I think if I saw the actors I couldn't help connecting them with their old characters.