Once again, I'm more surprised that people are surprised at the news Elijah Wood will be returning to Jackson's Middle-earth for The Hobbit films. Seriously, you'd think people would just expect this by now.
Quite how Frodo will fit in this version of The Hobbit is unclear, though at a guess, I'd suppose it would be in the form of a framing device. Jackson & co aren't thick enough to cast Frodo in the main story, so it must be that way. Perhaps it'll merely be in the form of a prologue/epilogue, or they'll go with a Princess Bride riff, snapping back to Frodo & Bilbo chatting throughout the two films.
It seems clear that Jackson wants to fit in as many of the characters from The Lord of the Rings as possible, so I fully expect to see lil' Aragorn too. I wouldn't be surprised if they had a scene with the whole Fellowship at some point, using cut footage of Gimli to stick him in without putting John Rhys-Davies through the makeup process again. Either that, or they'll give him digital makeup a la Gollum.
Speaking of Gollum, Andy Serkis has also been confirmed. I don't think there was any jeopardy of him not reprising his role. It looked troublesome for Ian McKellan, but he's confirmed too, and the fandom rejoiced, since even if you didn't take to his interpretation of Gandalf (though I'm fully aware I'm in the vast minority on that score), it would be ludicrous to follow up with a different actor. Ian Holm and Christopher Lee are still in talks, and I'd dearly love to see more of Lee's Saruman in The Hobbit, especially since he's playing a hero for once. Then again, considering how painfully unsubtle Jackson is, we'll probably have "hints" of Saruman's fall from grace with the nuance of a freefalling fire extinguisher sprinkled through the film.
I regret to note that Balin, my favourite Dwarf, has been cast, and it is not Brian Blessed. Instead, it's Ken Stott - a decision I find highly intriguing, and one I'm actually warming to. I really like his work on Rebus, Messiah, and his many guest roles, so to see him take the role of Balin is actually a move that I don't mind. Indeed, of all my problems with The Lord of the Rings adaptations, the casting (outside of Frodo being too young and Aragorn just not being "right") has been pretty solid. I still don't have any expectations for the films, but I can't deny I like some choices.
Still hate Itaril and her boyfriend. Dammit, Jackson/Walsh/Boyens, get a hold of yourselves!
I am willing to cut Pete a little slack, and trust his vision for The Hobbit. The Rings trilogy of films weren't perfect, but I was pleased with the overall results. I am not sure any other director could have pulled them off better. All we can do now is wait and pray Jackson can deliver the same for the new movie.
ReplyDeleteThis latest news didn't surprise me; it's about par for the course with Jackson. Do we know if Beorn is making an appearance in The Hobbit? If he doesn't, it'll tell me all I need to know about what these movies are going to be like.
ReplyDeleteI am with James on this one, Beorn is a must for the film. When del Toro was directing, it was announced that Ron Perlman was going to be cast, but which character he was playing was not mentioned. My hope was that he would take on the role of Beorn... I am not sure if he is still cast in the film or not.
ReplyDeletemaybe Bilbo will be talking to Frodo's dad and they will zoom in on a twinkle in his eye and it will see frodo ther. Yeah, probably not.
ReplyDeleteLawrence Fishburn as the voice of Smaug would be cool.
I am willing to cut Pete a little slack, and trust his vision for The Hobbit. The Rings trilogy of films weren't perfect, but I was pleased with the overall results. I am not sure any other director could have pulled them off better. All we can do now is wait and pray Jackson can deliver the same for the new movie.
ReplyDeleteMost people would agree with you. Heck, I agree too: I have great respect for the achievement of the LotR trilogy, but all the same, I feel it made quite a few considerable divergences. I just can't understand how some people who loved the trilogy could only *now* start to worry about the changes, when they're just in line with the changes Jackson made in the trilogy in the first place.
This latest news didn't surprise me; it's about par for the course with Jackson. Do we know if Beorn is making an appearance in The Hobbit? If he doesn't, it'll tell me all I need to know about what these movies are going to be like.
I think there'll be riots if Beorn isn't in the film, and I don't think Jackson would be able to resist the idea of a gigantic bear running rampant at the Battle of Five Armies. Then again, I wouldn't have thought he could resist the Barrow-Downs, either. Here's hoping.
When del Toro was directing, it was announced that Ron Perlman was going to be cast, but which character he was playing was not mentioned. My hope was that he would take on the role of Beorn... I am not sure if he is still cast in the film or not.
I've heard Perlman wasn't in The Hobbit, though I don't know if there's confirmation either way.
maybe Bilbo will be talking to Frodo's dad and they will zoom in on a twinkle in his eye and it will see frodo ther. Yeah, probably not.
Ho ho!
Lawrence Fishburn as the voice of Smaug would be cool.
I'm unsure about who could play Smaug, myself. A lot of people advocate Alan Rickman. My choices would be Derek Jacobi: the man has an incredible voice.
I, for one, am horrified that Brian Blessed is NOT being case (or has not been cast) as a dwarf. He is the epitomy of a dwarf(and honestly, thought he'd make the perfect Thorin, although Balin would work too).
ReplyDeleteAh, well. Such is life.
And I agree about Derek Jacobi.
Beorn is in the movie, he is being played by a Scandinavian actor Micheal Persbrandt
ReplyDeleteI don't personally have a problem with any of the changes so far.. The Hobbit is perhaps, my favorite book, or at least Tied with The Wind in the Willows.. but It is jarring when compared to the Rings books.. and a straight adaption of the Hobbit would be jarring with the films as well.
Simply put in order of least annoying to most, would be 1) The White council being added in, 2) Legolas at the Battle of the 5 Armies, 3) Frodo being used as a framing device, 4) Lil' Aragorn 5) whatever these rumours are about a female elf. However since as far as I know we've yet to see a cast member for that part.. I'm not sure how thats going to work out.. You'd think that with having all the dwarves cast, Bilbo cast, Gandalf, Gollum, etc .. we are down to pretty slim pickings.. Thranduil, Bard.. The Goblin King, The mayor of laketown and of course the Big burrito himself.. Smaug.
Needless to say the ridiculous addition of a female elf to the storyline, to vagify the hobbit.. would really piss me off. But the fact its being filmed in 3D already precludes me from actually paying to see it in theatres.. so whatever..
A feature film based on JRR Tolkien's "The Hobbit" would be awesome. But this movie will be NOT "The Hobbit". At all.
ReplyDeleteIt will be a weird 6 hour long fan-fiction about the LOTR appendix. Which, I must admit, is pretty cool too...
And I have a question for you, Al: what is your problem with McKellen's Gandalf??
I didn't see the casting call, so I can't guess on the Hobbit movie, but I do know that I've seen very extensive character descriptions in other casting calls for movies that turned out to be little more than walk-ons. Is there any chance that the Itaril you mention is little more than a "hero" elf given a name? Meaning that they're simply a Mirkwood elf that we can latch onto?
ReplyDeleteI, for one, am horrified that Brian Blessed is NOT being case (or has not been cast) as a dwarf. He is the epitomy of a dwarf(and honestly, thought he'd make the perfect Thorin, although Balin would work too).
ReplyDeleteAh, well. Such is life.
And I agree about Derek Jacobi.
Such is life indeed.
I don't personally have a problem with any of the changes so far.. The Hobbit is perhaps, my favorite book, or at least Tied with The Wind in the Willows.. but It is jarring when compared to the Rings books.. and a straight adaption of the Hobbit would be jarring with the films as well.
I think there could be a way of reconciling the tone of The Hobbit with that of The Lord of the Rings, but it would be mighty tricky.
And I have a question for you, Al: what is your problem with McKellen's Gandalf??
I just think it could've been better. Gandalf was, to me, a bit more wily and energetic than McKellan's more sedate and dignified performance. I know McKellan was capable of it, he's a fantastic actor, but I think Jackson deliberately directed him to be more sombre and genteel. I noticed in the DVD extras that Jackson did multiple takes of scenes, and I felt the "cut" versions were significantly better than the ones in the films themselves.
That's not to say I think he did a bad job: on the contrary, I think he did very well, but it didn't blow me away as other McKellan performances have. (Also, I just really wanted Christopher Lee, and so naturally had a bit of grumbling when he wasn't cast as Gandalf.)
Is there any chance that the Itaril you mention is little more than a "hero" elf given a name? Meaning that they're simply a Mirkwood elf that we can latch onto?
I very much hope so.