The Hobbit: Peter Jackson Returns
The rumors are true: Lord of the Rings trilogy filmmaker Peter Jackson and New Line have come to an agreement, and will band together to bring The Hobbit to the big screen, split over two live-action films. MGM and New Line will co-finance the project, with New Line handing North American distribution, and MGM handing the International. It is currently believed that Peter Jackson will not be available to direct either of the two films, as his schedule is full. The announcement says that Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh will serve as Executive Producers of two films, which will be shot simultaneously.
Spider-Man director Sam Raimi has been anxiously watching this project, and his future schedule is pretty much clear. Raimi has said that he wouldn’t be involved unless Jackson produced, and it looks like the perfect situation is now in place. I wouldn’t be surprised if we see the Raimi announcement before Christmas.
Said Peter Jackson, “I’m very pleased that we’ve been able to put our differences behind us, so that we may begin a new chapter with our old friends at New Line. ‘The Lord of the Rings’ is a legacy we proudly share with Bob and Michael, and together, we share that legacy with millions of loyal fans all over the world. We are delighted to continue our journey through Middle Earth. I also want to thank Harry Sloan and our new friends at MGM for helping us find the common ground necessary to continue that journey.”
Principal photography is tentatively set for a 2009 start with a production budget of $150 million per film. They are currently eyeing release dates in 2010 and 2011. It has been previously rumored that the film would be shot and released in 3D, although Jackson and New Line are keeping mum at this time.
Arnold Schwarzenegger to return for Terminator 4?
When MGM first announced Terminator 4, they warned fans that the movie would feature an all new cast, which includes an all new Terminator. Many people speculated that because of his political career, Arnold would be absent.
“We did have to think about a new franchise character. He couldn’t carry the movies anymore. So that caused us to have, I think, a pretty novel approach about what the new terminator would be like,” screenwriter John Brancato said.
Well it now looks like Arnold Schwarzenegger might return after all, albeit briefly.
“I think it’s in his contract [to make an appearance],” MGM CEO Harry Sloan told The Boston Herald.
So it looks like Arnold might film a cameo after-all. Sloan also revealed that the hunt has begun for a new Terminator star. Rumored Terminator replacements over the last couple years have included: Ralph Moeller, Vin Diesel, The Rock and Orlando Bloom (no, seriously).
Terminator 3 stars Claire Danes and Nick Stahl are not expected to return for the fourth film. Although T3 star Claire Danes has said publicly that she has an option for a fourth film, if they want her back.
“None of the cast is coming back,” Stahl told SciFi Wire in early 2005. “The T4 story is changing conceptually. I believe it’s a jump to the future, so my character will be quite a bit older. That’s all that I know. So I’m not coming back, which is a drag.”
via: Moviehole
The Hobbit Is Happening
It’s official…Peter Jackson and New Line Cinema have settled all their differences, and The Hobbit is a go.
I’m excited. You should be excited, too.
Enough from me…I’ll just let the press release from earlier today speak for itself:
ACADEMY AWARD-WINNER PETER JACKSON AND NEW LINE CINEMA JOIN WITH MGM TO PRODUCE “THE HOBBIT,” EAGERLY-ANTICIPATED FANTASY ADVENTURE EPIC
NEW LINE AND MGM TO CO-PRODUCE AND SHARE WORLDWIDE DISTRIBUTION RIGHTS
PETER JACKSON AND FRAN WALSH TO EXECUTIVE PRODUCE TWO FILMS BASED ON “THE HOBBIT”
Los Angeles, CA (Tuesday, December 18, 2007) Academy Award-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson; Harry Sloan, Chairman and CEO, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (MGM); Bob Shaye and Michael Lynne, Co-Chairmen and Co-CEOs of New Line Cinema have jointly announced today that they have entered into the following series of agreements:
* MGM and New Line will co-finance and co-distribute two films, “The Hobbit” and a sequel to “The Hobbit.” New Line will distribute in North America and MGM will distribute internationally.
* Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh will serve as Executive Producers of two films based on “The Hobbit.” New Line will manage the production of the films, which will be shot simultaneously.
* Peter Jackson and New Line have settled all litigation relating to the “Lord of the Rings” (LOTR) Trilogy.
Said Peter Jackson, “I’m very pleased that we’ve been able to put our differences behind us, so that we may begin a new chapter with our old friends at New Line. ‘The Lord of the Rings’ is a legacy we proudly share with Bob and Michael, and together, we share that legacy with millions of loyal fans all over the world. We are delighted to continue our journey through Middle Earth. I also want to thank Harry Sloan and our new friends at MGM for helping us find the common ground necessary to continue that journey.”
“Peter Jackson has proven himself as the filmmaker who can bring the extraordinary imagination of Tolkien to life and we full heartedly agree with the fans worldwide who know he should be making ‘The Hobbit,’” said Sloan, MGM’s Chairman and CEO. “Now that we are all in agreement on ‘The Hobbit,’ we can focus on assembling the production team that will capture this phenomenal tale on film.”
Bob Shaye, New Line Co-Chairman and Co-CEO comments, “We are very pleased we have been able to resolve our differences, and that Peter and Fran will be actively and creatively involved with ‘The Hobbit’ movies. We know they will bring the same passion, care and talent to these films that they so ably accomplished with ‘The Lord of the Rings’ Trilogy.”
“Peter is a visionary filmmaker, and he broke new ground with ‘The Lord of the Rings,’” notes Michael Lynne, New Line Co-Chairman and Co-CEO. “We’re delighted he’s back for ‘The Hobbit’ films and that the Tolkien saga will continue with his imprint. We greatly appreciate the efforts of Harry Sloan, who has been instrumental in helping us reach our new accord.”
The two “Hobbit” films – “The Hobbit” and its sequel – are scheduled to be shot simultaneously, with pre-production beginning as soon as possible. Principal photography is tentatively set for a 2009 start, with the intention of “The Hobbit” release slated for 2010 and its sequel the following year, in 2011.
The Oscar-winning, critically-acclaimed LOTR Trilogy grossed nearly $3 billion worldwide at the box-office. In 2003, “Return of the King” swept the Academy Awards, winning all of the eleven categories in which it was nominated, including Best Picture – the first ever Best Picture win for a fantasy film. The Trilogy’s production was also unprecedented at the time.
For more information about “The Hobbit” films, please visit www.TheHobbitBlog.com.
Daniel Craig will be 007 until 2014!
According to The Hollywood Reporter and Obsessed With Film, Daniel Craig is contracted for four more Bond films. MGM chairman and CEO Harry Sloan added that franchises are “the base of any studio”. Which in other terms means they make them the most money. Adding more films to the Bond franchise is a good move, especially with Daniel Craig playing the lead.
Casino Royal gave the franchise a much needed jolt, I mean Die Another Day wasn’t bad, it was just that they thought they needed to top the previous film in terms of gadgets, action and effects, but it just made things a lot more unbelievable. Invisible car? Surfing a huge wave of ice?
If Daniel does complete all the films in his contract he will be one behind Sean Connery and two behind Roger Moore, and will probably make him ‘the’ James Bond for a whole new generation. No doubt the franchise will need another jolt in 7 years time, maybe we will get a 3D view of that iconic gun barrel, but until then we can just wait and hopefully, enjoy.
