Del Toro no longer directing The Hobbit

[Lookalike Mark Chapman]

I know McCoy lost out to Ian Holm when they were casting for the original films (and Jonny Vegas lost out to Sean Astin as Sam), so maybe that's where the rumour's come from.

[Helvetica Scenario]

As much as I'd love to see McCoy scoring such a high-profile role, I can't see it happening (unless he's being considered for one of the dwarves). Hopefully, PJ's looking at someone considerably younger rather than glossing over the sixty year gap between the stories. Micheal Sheen or Sean Pertwee, perhaps? Saying that, I'd pay good money to see Adam Buxton as Bilbo (with Joe as Gandalf, naturally).

[Helvetica Scenario]

The McCoy plot thickens: http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2010/08/28/38114-sylvester-mccoy-up-for-radagast-the-brown/

Big news coming from the Dunoon Observer/Argyllshire Standard today. Sylvester McCoy confirms he is in contention with another actor for one of two Wizard parts in the upcoming 'Hobbit' films. We know Ian McKellen will like to return as Gandalf, and we've heard some rumblings of Radagast the Brown having a bigger role, so if you put two and two together — is Sylvester McCoy up for Radagast the Brown?

    "I am being cast in The Hobbit," he said. "We're currently in negotiations – there are two of us under consideration. It's not the Bilbo role, but could be bigger."

[surreal]

That excites me a lot more than The Hobbit to be honest.

It did me too, until I read this review of the script from a site I trust:

http://twitchfilm.net/reviews/2010/08/guillermo-del-toros-at-the-mountains-of-madness-script-review.php
now I'm not so sure

[Feralkid]

It did me too, until I read this review of the script from a site I trust:

http://twitchfilm.net/reviews/2010/08/guillermo-del-toros-at-the-mountains-of-madness-script-review.php
now I'm not so sure

Oh, nice that Matthew Robins is at last getting officially credited on this Del Toro script - he's been Guillermo's ghost writer for a while. 

[Helvetica Scenario]

It seems that Martin Freeman was (or maybe still is) the front-runner for the role of Bilbo: http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2010/09/07/38360-martin-freeman-was-first-choice-for-bilbo/

While we have no information (yet) if Freeman actually turned down the role, we can say with absolute certainty that he was the first choice to step into the hairy Hobbit feet as early as last year. Developing and keeping good sources means that sometimes secrets must stay secret but since Freeman has been outed now, we can definitively declare that 'The Sun' article is absolutely talking about the right actor and so the rest of the story may well have merit.

Predictably crappy Sun article (complete with the usual quotes from 'a source'): http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/film/3127402/Holmes-says-no-to-hobbit-role.html

[mobias]

They're really going to have to give up on this soon aren't they. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-11414204

[An tSaoi]

Allegedly, it's going to be in fucking 3D.

The proposed live-action version of J. R. R. Tolkien's The Hobbit will now reportedly be released in 3D.

The New York Times has now confirmed that the two proposed film adaptations of The Hobbit will be made in 3D, despite early statements made by panelists at San Diego Comic-Con this year that the film would remain in traditional 2D.

[Santa's Boyfriend]

Has Peter Jackson pissed off a witch or something?  Now his miniature effects studio has burned to the ground.

[sirhenry]

Has Peter Jackson pissed off a witch or something?  Now his miniature effects studio has burned to the ground.

in a tiny, cgi-enhanced conflagration.

[Jake Thingray]

Dennis Potter once said that you could just about make a good ten-minute cartoon from the late Professor Tolkein's fictions. Quite right too.

[VegaLA]

Allegedly, it's going to be in fucking 3D.

[Santa's Boyfriend]

Apparently the Hobbit movies have just been given the green light and a start date, and PJ is officially signed on to direct.  Woo!

...but the shit with the unions isn't sorted out yet, and may mean they have to shoot it somewhere other than New Zealand.  Boo!

[SavageHedgehog]

Dennis Potter once said that you could just about make a good ten-minute cartoon from the late Professor Tolkein's fictions. Quite right too.

I don't disagree with either of you, but why on earth was someone asking Potter about Lord of the Rings?

[Glebe]

Great news... bit doubtful about the 3D, those glasses can give a bit of a dark tinge in low-light scenes. Hopefully they'll have improved the technology a tiny bit by the time the first film comes out. Its been strongly suggested that they'll officially announce Martin Freeman as Bilbo soon... he certainly has a Hobbity look to him, dunno how he'll come across emulating Ian Holm though. David Tenant was up for Bilbo, apparently he may have some role in the movie. James Nesbitt has also been rumoured in a major role... Michael Fassbender among another names mentioned.

[VegaLA]

Looks like the Unions are sorting their shit out, but Jackson is giving them the finger and is eyeing the UK for production.  Can New Zealand's Prime Minister save the day?

http://www.darkhorizons.com/news/18561/-hobbit-dispute-ends-but-move-begins-

Stay tuned!

[CaledonianGonzo]

Casting announcement :

http://chud.com/articles/articles/26038/1/MARTIN-FREEMAN-IS-BILBO-BAGGINS-AND-THE-WORLD-REJOICES/Page1.html

Also - Richard Armitage as Thorin?

[Santa's Boyfriend]

Looks like Jackson has his poker face on.

EDIT: Or possibly not.  In fact he looks really quite upset...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XoUN2AGxrnA&feature=player_embedded

[VegaLA]

Casting announcement :

http://chud.com/articles/articles/26038/1/MARTIN-FREEMAN-IS-BILBO-BAGGINS-AND-THE-WORLD-REJOICES/Page1.html

Also - Richard Armitage as Thorin?

Is Sly McCoy still in the running for a part? Would moving production to the UK improve his chances?

[mobias]

Part of me still thinks this production is kind of doomed. Its been hit by so many problems and there's such a weight of expectation on it that perhaps it can never meet. The success of the original trilogy has now played against Peter Jackson and co. The first three were quite an interesting success story in that they seemed like they were such a labour of love and on the one hand quite a tight nit homely bunch of cast and crew but on the other a huge epic Hollywood production. Also I think a lot of people really didn't think they were going to be as nearly successful as they were both artistically and financially. Now everyone wants a cut of the potential billions these two new films could make. Its understandable but not at the cost of them even happening in the first place. From watching that interview with Peter Jackson it looks like its almost ending in tears before the movie is even begun shooting.     

[Bingo Fury]

Showing the power of persistence, Sylvester McCoy just announced at an NZ convention that he has actually been cast in The Hobbit. I believe the character he's playing is named Radagast, who doesn't actually appear in the book, but would be included to make some kind of link with the LOTR trilogy.

[Santa's Boyfriend]

Wow, looks like the NZ PM is changing the law in order to ensure the Hobbit movies stay in NZ!

I don't blame him though, the films are worth a shitload of cash to them.  And it looks like NZ will be middle earth once again.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10683486

[VegaLA]

Nebitt and Adam Brown officaly cast.

http://www.darkhorizons.com/news/18646/nesbitt-brown-signed-for-the-hobbit-

No mention of McCoy though.