Topic: Hobbit filming to begin in New Zealand in July

[GregoryLA]

Awesome!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8573948.stm

[Papist]

I can't wait.

[ytterbiumanalyst]

Those poor hobbits. The horrible things those movie people do. Last time they forced the hobbits to climb a volcano. What's next, shooting them into space? This is just the sort of degenerate smut that comes from Hollywood. I'm going to start protesting the poor treatment of hobbits. Maybe that Hermione Granger would know how to organize such a group. I'll try to find her contact information.

I can't tell the difference between reality and fiction.

[admiralnick]

When my wife and I were on our honeymoon in Oct. 08 we were watching the scouting crews looking over the location they will be filming from.

-Nick

[PeterTheAleut]

I see that Guillermo del Toro just announced that he will NOT direct The Hobbit.  Evidently, the filming project was extended to six years after he had hired on with the understanding that it would only take three, and he doesn't want the extended commitment to conflict with his other professional goals.

Read more about his decision here:  http://www.cnn.com/2010/SHOWBIZ/Movies/05/31/guillermo.del.toro.drops.out.ew/index.html?eref=igoogle_cnn

[Ebor]

I got the news about this from TheOneRing.net  http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2010/05/30/36920-guillermo-del-toro-departs-the-hobbit/

TORN is a good site for information on the movies and what is going on with WETA Workshop, Peter Jackson and such.

Ebor

[Jakub]

Looking forward to it's release...wonder what is the nxt in line after the Hobbit ?

The  Silmarillion ?

[Ebor]

I don't know that that would ever be attempted.  Some things in it, I think, wouldn't translate well to film, though I am very fond of the image of creation being sung into existence

Oh, just for fun, another article via TORN:  http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2010/05/28/36868-top-10-ways-to-make-the-hobbit-movie-like-avatar/#more-36868

 

[Iconodule]

That's a shame, but at least some of Guillermo's magic will be there. On the plus side, perhaps this moves him closer to making At the Mountains of Madness, for which I think he is the perfect director.

[Irish Hermit]

Hobbits are contrary creatures and we have had to send out possum hunters to round them up for extras for the film.   They're not happy about this and have to be pacified with copious amounts of scrumpie.

[Cymbyz]

Scrumpie?  I thought they were mad for mushrooms!

[Irish Hermit]

Scrumpie?  I thought they were mad for mushrooms!

Yes, mushrooms is their favourite food and scrumpie is their favourite drink.  Lately they have taken to raiding the commerical mushroom growing sheds run by humans and can munch their way through a shed or two in a night.   

Mushroom farmers are employing possum hunters to shoot them when they sneak up on the sheds.   

This has shocked the Liberals who have suggested 1) running a programme to cull 20% of the hobbits or 2) teaching them to grow their own mushrooms.

[ytterbiumanalyst]

That's a shame, but at least some of Guillermo's magic will be there. On the plus side, perhaps this moves him closer to making At the Mountains of Madness, for which I think he is the perfect director.

I am eagerly looking forward to At the Mountains of Madness. I know there's been some talk about it, but I don't know if there are any concrete plans yet.

[Iconodule]

That's a shame, but at least some of Guillermo's magic will be there. On the plus side, perhaps this moves him closer to making At the Mountains of Madness, for which I think he is the perfect director.

I am eagerly looking forward to At the Mountains of Madness. I know there's been some talk about it, but I don't know if there are any concrete plans yet.

In interviews I've read, Del Toro has basically framed his near-future projects as preparation for At the Mountains of Madness... essentially they will allow him to develop his skills and technology and get the finances to make At the Mountains of Madness as good as it can be. I also look forward to his Frankenstein which he says will be a "faithful Miltonian tragedy."

[ytterbiumanalyst]

That's a shame, but at least some of Guillermo's magic will be there. On the plus side, perhaps this moves him closer to making At the Mountains of Madness, for which I think he is the perfect director.

I am eagerly looking forward to At the Mountains of Madness. I know there's been some talk about it, but I don't know if there are any concrete plans yet.

In interviews I've read, Del Toro has basically framed his near-future projects as preparation for At the Mountains of Madness... essentially they will allow him to develop his skills and technology and get the finances to make At the Mountains of Madness as good as it can be. I also look forward to his Frankenstein which he says will be a "faithful Miltonian tragedy."

Excellent news. I am consistently impressed by Del Toro's work.

[PeterTheAleut]

Scrumpie?  I thought they were mad for mushrooms!

Yes, mushrooms is their favourite food and scrumpie is their favourite drink.  Lately they have taken to raiding the commerical mushroom growing sheds run by humans and can munch their way through a shed or two in a night.  

Mushroom farmers are employing possum hunters to shoot them when they sneak up on the sheds.  

This has shocked the Liberals who have suggested 1) running a programme to cull 20% of the hobbits or 2) teaching them to grow their own mushrooms.

Or 3)  Pacify 'em with some pipe weed.

[Irish Hermit]

Last updated 31/05/2010

http://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/film/3758073/Hobbit-director-Del-Toro-quits

Guillermo Del Toro has quit as director of the two The Hobbit movies, but will still help write the screenplays for the Lord of the Rings prequels.

"In light of ongoing delays in the setting of a start date for filming The Hobbit I am faced with the hardest decision of my life," the Mexican filmmaker said in a press release.

"After nearly two years of living, breathing and designing a world as rich as Tolkien's Middle Earth, I must, with great regret, take leave from helming these wonderful pictures."

Del Toro and producer Sir Peter Jackson said they remained committed to the films and would do everything they could to satisfy fans.

Del Toro said he would be first in line to see the finished films.

"I've been privileged to work in one of the greatest countries on earth with some of the best people ever in our craft and my life will be forever changed.

More at the link above

[Jakub]

^ Bad news indeed, ... nutzzzz... salute, it's Chopin time (justa wee bit )