The Hobbit to be released in 2009 ?

[mrsbloom17]

i loved the hobbit, i read it after the lotr and it was so gud, i loved the eagles it was the best part about it, i loved it when they rescued them from the wolves and goblins, i was so happy seeing them in the return of the king, i was so happy when i saw them

[EG]

PRESS RELEASE

"THE HOBBIT" TO BEGIN PRINCIPAL PHOTOGRAPHY IN NEW ZEALAND in 2005

New Line Acquires Distribution Rights; Paul Andersson to Direct; McKellan, Serkis to Return

(Los Angeles - April 1st 2004) - The Hobbit will begin principal photography in Wellington, New Zealand, in 2005, under the direction sci-fi/fantasy director Paul Andersson, it was jointly announced today by Robert Shay, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of New Line Cinema; Michael Lyne, President and Chief Operating Officer of New Line Cinema; Mark Ordesky, President of Fine Line Features; and Andersson, who is also a writer and producer of the production.

Following the unprecedented world-wide success of The Lord of the Rings trilogy, capped by 11 Academy Award(R), acquiring the rights to distribute The Hobbit was of paramount importance to New Line, a division of Time-Warner Inc.

President and Chief Operating Officer of New Line Productions Mark Ordesky said: "What Lord of the Rings has proved is that [fantasy] can be synonymous with quality drama and storytelling."

The agreement between New Line Cinema, which held film rights to The Hobbit, and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc., which possessed the distribution rights, includes share of costs and profits, with New Line Cinema to retain creative control of the project. The distribution rights will be split between the domestic and international markets, with New Line taking the domestic distribution rights and MGM taking the international rights.

At the helm of the project is well-known science fiction and fantasy Director Paul Andersson, the young director whose portfolio includes smash successes such as Resident Evil, Event Horizon and Mortal Kombat. After earning critical and commercial acclaim for Event Horizon, Andersson relishes picking up after the success of The Lord of the Rings films and staking a claim in the Tolkien landscape, bringing to life the earliest of J.R.R. Tolkien's novels, The Hobbit.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of New Line Cinema Robert Shay said: "A big reason for the franchise's success has been creative people. Andersson is so passionate about the subject and we feel very confident he can stay loyal to the precedent."

Andersson will begin work on the film immediately following the release of Alien vs. Predator, the latest installment of the highly successful Alien series, to be released in August 2004.

Based on J.R.R. Tolkien's first novel of Middle Earth, The Hobbit tells the story of Bilbo Baggins and his adventures with alongside a band of dwarves intent on recovering their treasure from the treacherous Dragon, Smaug. Bilbo and the dwarves are accompanied on their journey by the mysterious wizard Gandalf, to be played by a returning Sir Ian McKellan. While in pursuit of the dragon's treasure, Bilbo finds a magical golden ring and runs afoul of the evil Gollum (Andy Serkis).

WETA Workshop will return to execute armor, miniatures, creatures and special effects make-up under the direction of supervisor and Academy Award(R) winner Richard Taylor.

Michael Lyne, President and Chief Operating Officer of New Line Cinema, said: "The works of Tolkien are among the greatest adventures ever written, and the road to making this film is proving to be a wonderful adventure in its own right. Like Bilbo, the hero of this saga, we're on a film 'quest.' "

Andersson said: "My team and I are looking forward to pouring our hearts into The Hobbit, so it's a great thrill to know we will be taking up residence in Middle Earth."

Leading the cast will be Sir Ian McKellan, who reprises his role as the wise wizard Gandalf. Sir Ian, who was knighted for his contributions to the performing arts, received an Oscar(R) nomination for his portrayal of Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. Equally loved by fantasy fans for his role as Magneto in X-Men and X-2, Sir Ian's screen successes include Emile, Apt Pupil, Scandal, And the Band Played On (Emmy nomination and CableACE Award), Cold Comfort Farm, Rasputin (Golden Globe Award), Richard III, Bent and Swept From the Sea. He has had a stellar career on stage in England and the U.S., and received the Tony Award for his role in Amadeus.

Also returning will be Andy Serkis, whose ground-breaking performance brought to life the unimaginable Gollum. Prior to his role in The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers and The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King, Serkis has played a huge range of parts in theatre in London and across the United Kingdom. Recently critically acclaimed roles include Iago in "Othello" (Royal Exchange Theatre); Potts in the original cast of "Mojo" by Jez Butterworth; "King Lear" and "Hush," all for the Royal Court Theatre.

Founded in 1967, New Line Cinema is the entertainment industry's leading independent producer and distributor of theatrical motion pictures. New Line licenses its films to ancillary markets including cable and broadcast television as well as to international venues. The company, which is a subsidiary of Time Warner, Inc., operates several divisions including in-house theatrical distribution, marketing, home video, television, acquisitions, production, licensing and merchandising units.

[EG]

So looks like PJ isnt going to direct it....  thats going to be SO wierd.... but I guess King Kong is getting in the way timewise because it looks like Newline want to get a move on with it  Filming starts this Autumn!!!

the Hobbit to be released Summer 2007 ............. 3 years away!

[EG]

*crosses fingers that this isnt a late April fool!*

[The Seventh Witch (Me!)]

Who's Paul Andersson? Have we seen any of his stuff?


Three YEARS!!

[EG]

sorry.... looks like it is an April Fool

the Copyright on the site says....

 MMIII NW LINE PRODUCTIONS. ™ THE SEUL ZEANTZ COMPANY D/B/A TOLKEIN ENTERPRISES UNDER LICENSE TO NW LINE PRODUCTIONS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

YEAH right

[The Seventh Witch (Me!)]

Oh right! LOL! Phew!

[lyri]

Yes, its a fake.
There is also this:

"Special Announcement
April 2nd
Stay tuned"

Now why would there be a special announcement the day after it's announced, which just happens to fall on the day after April Fools Day ...

[darth jim-bob-mike-fred]

  the hobbit will be an amazing film but not as good as LOTR

[Morgul]

It was definately an April Fools joke more info at http://www.thehobbitfilm.com/

Where they are going to be starting a campaign to let NL & MGM/UA know how much the fans want to see the film made!

[spikes_insane]

the hobbit will be an amazing film but not as good as LOTR

I agree, it could be good but no way will it beat LOTR

[rosslotruk]

Hi
I love Lord of the rings. My fav movie is the Return of the King.

[Ceridwen]

No offence but if you want to advertise your site then please put them in your signature please thanks.  

I don't think that they should make the Hobbit into a film now. If they wanted to make it into a film then I think they should of made it before they made the other three movies.

I think it will spoil it now and I think it should just remain as a book. The Hobbit game is cool though.

[EG]

Check out this site (theres too much info there to copy it all)

TORN are asking ppl to write, YES write to campaign for the Hobbit.... emails and petitions only have so much power, but the power of the handwritten word has SO much more!

So check it out.... and send letters and postcards!!  NOW!!!!  (if you check out the site, it has postcards and letters you can download, if you dont want to write your own!)

http://www.thehobbitfilm.com/

(heres the addresses....)
Robert K. Shaye
New Line Cinema Corporation
888 7th Avenue
New York, NY 10106

Alex Yemenidjian
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc.
10250 Constellation Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90067

Danny Rosett
EVP Marketing and Distribution
United Artists Corporation
10250 Constellation Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90067

[spikes_insane]

woah cheers for that I am gonna write

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