Posted on 03/12/2005 4:50:23 PM PST by nickcarraway
Oscar winning director Peter Jackson says it will be at least three years before he shoots The Lord of the Rings prequel, The Hobbit.
Jackson this weekend took a break from his busy schedule filming King Kong in Auckland, stopping by Sydney's Powerhouse Museum to check out the Lord of the Rings (LOTR) exhibition.
On Saturday, the very private director will give a talk to fans about his films at the State Theatre.
A slimmed-down Jackson, who arrived in Sydney on Friday, was asked how long it would be before he started production on The Hobbit.
"Three or four years would be accurate, I would say," Jackson said.
The rights to J R R Tolkien's novel, The Hobbit, are split between two major Hollywood studios, MGM and New Line Cinema.
Jackson said he was keen to return to Middle Earth for The Hobbit but that MGM's sale to Sony Corporation made the project's future unclear.
"I think there is probably a will and a desire to try and get it made," he said.
"But I think it's gonna be a lot of lawyers sitting in a room trying to thrash out a deal before it will ever happen."
More than 140,000 people have seen the LOTR exhibition since it opened on Boxing Day.
The exhibition, which closes on March 31, includes memorabilia, sets, costumes and props from the hit film which took almost $US3 billion at the box office and garnered 17 Oscars.
"It is great that the film has got such an after life," Jackson said.
"Normally a film comes and goes and ends up on TV and the bargain bin in the video store but for this film to actually generate a museum exhibition and give people a chance to come look at the things we made, is fantastic."
Jackson's current project, a remake of the 1933 film King Kong, began production late last year.
It stars Australian Naomi Watts as Ann Darrow. Andy Serkis, Adrien Brody and Jack Black also star in the film.
"I am glad Kong is one film and not three," Jackson said, noting that the film had been a bigger project than expected.
"The hardest thing is that you are trying to create such an artificial environment, an artificial world because your central title character doesn't exist and he has to have an emotional story which really touches your heart and has a connection with your leading actress."
It would be a shame if the two studios couldn't get together and come to some kinda agreement and get it made.
He should get Hillary to play Smaug...she'd be PERFECT!
Ian McKellen is a must for casting. They probably want a Bilbo who looks somewhat like Ian Holm. It'd be nice to get John Rhys-Davies for Gloin, but Ryhs-Davies will never put on the makeup again.
I've never read The Hobbit. Guess I ought to.
Actually, the Hobbit is a very fun read, and interesting once you know the whole sophisticated story of LOTR. It's clear Tolkein was just beginning his efforts.
 Ring Ping!! |
The Hobbit Hole :: Troop Support Projects
Anyone wishing to be added to or removed from the Ring-Ping list, please don't hesitate to let me know.
very cool... but 3 years till he ~begins~ means it's a LOOOOOOONG time before we'll get to see it.
Well...on the good side it might be long enough away from Middle Earth that it will all seem fresh to him again -- keep away from burnout.
ALRIIIIIGHT!
If New Zealand is smart, they will allow Jackson to build Hobbiton and let it stay as a tourist attraction. Some may think it crass, but I KNOW there are lots of folks who would love to see the set. They could use it as part of a permanent LOTR exhibit. It is surely the most important film project NZ is likely to EVER have.
Not only that, he'll know it's just ONE film and not three for which he has to do all that work. He'll be able to see the light at the end of the tunnel MUCH sooner than with LOTR.
Which is why I'd be perfectly content to watch the LOTR bloopers-and-outtakes DVD that he promised(?) in the meantime. He did promise one, didn't he?
He DID promise!
I hope Jackson gives some kind of tribute or nod to the music of Glenn Yarbrough. GY performed all the music to the 1973 Rankin & Bass cartoon version of 'The Hobbit'.
In my mind it totally gave the feel and flavor to the movie, the feeling of mystery, fantasy, far away travel, adventure etc.
'Where there's a whip, there's a way!'
Wahooo!
Several points: 1) The Hobbit was written for children. It has child-like humor, fears, wonder, and naivete. I hope Jackson keeps it that way. The darkness that was pervasive in LOTR is not appropriate to the Hobbit. 2) Because children are not as demanding as adults with respect to timing and narrative rate, I hope Jackson tells the Hobbit over two movies. This would allow him time to do full justice to the development of the dwarves, the Gollum encounter, and the assorted wonders of Middle Earth. (It would also allow New Line/MGM to rake in substantially more $$.) Since the tone will be much lighter than LOTR, and the audience will skew quite young, the importance of using the same actors for roles (Gandalf, Bilbo, Elrond) is minimized. 3) Finally, what's this about a "slimmed-down Jackson"? He's going to have his hobbit membership revoked.
Bttt
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.