The Hobbit (film series): Difference between revisions

Browse history interactively

← Previous edit Next edit →

Content deleted Content added

VisualWikitext

Inline

Revision as of 20:24, 28 September 2009

Redirect to:

Guillermo del Toro

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+#REDIRECT [[Guillermo del Toro]]
-{{Otheruses4|the 2011 film adaptation|the 1977 animated TV movie|The Hobbit (1977 film)}}
-{{Infobox film
-| name           = The Hobbit
-| image          =
-| image_size     =
-| caption        =
-| director       = [[Guillermo del Toro]]
-| producer       =  [[Peter Jackson]] (executive)<br/>[[Mark Ordesky]]
-| writer         = '''Screenplay:<br />'''Guillermo del Toro<br />Peter Jackson<br />[[Fran Walsh]]<br />[[Philippa Boyens]]<br />'''Novel:'''<br />[[J. R. R. Tolkien]]
-| narrator       =
-| starring       = [[Ian McKellen]]<br />[[Andy Serkis]]<br />[[Hugo Weaving]]<ref name=weaving />
-| music          = [[Howard Shore]]
-| cinematography =
-| editing        =
-| distributor    = [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer|MGM]]/[[20th Century Fox|Fox]]<br /><small>(Globally)</small><br />[[New Line Cinema|New Line]]/[[Warner Bros.|WB]]<br /><small>(North America)</small>
-| released       = December 2011<br />(''The Hobbit: Film 1'')<br />December 2012<br />(The Hobbit: Film 2)
-| runtime        =
-| country        = [[New Zealand]]<br/>[[United States]]
-| language       = [[English language|English]]
-| budget         = [[US$]]300 million
-| gross          =
-| sequel         = [[The Lord of the Rings:The Fellowship of the Ring]]
-}}
-'''''The Hobbit''''' is an upcoming two-film series based on the novel [[The Hobbit|of the same name]] by [[J. R. R. Tolkien]]. The films are in development for release in December 2011 and December 2012 and will be directed by [[Guillermo del Toro]], with [[The Lord of the Rings film trilogy|''The Lord of the Rings'' film trilogy]] director [[Peter Jackson]] serving as [[executive producer]] and co-writer.  Originally, the first film would have adapted ''The Hobbit'' and the second would have bridged the gap between this and ''The Lord of the Rings'', but it is now the director's intention to split and expand the narrative of ''The Hobbit'' over both films.
-==Development==
-:''See also: [[The Lord of the Rings film trilogy#Development|Development of The Lord of the Rings film trilogy]]''
-[[Peter Jackson]] and [[Fran Walsh]] expressed interest in 1995 in filming ''[[The Hobbit]]'', which would be part one of a trilogy (the other two would have been based on ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'').<ref>{{cite book | author = [[Brian Sibley]] | title = Peter Jackson: A Film-maker's Journey | publisher = [[HarperCollins]] | date = 2006 | location = London | pages = 313-16 | id = ISBN 0-00-717558-2}}</ref> Frustration arose when Jackson's producer, [[Harvey Weinstein]], discovered [[Saul Zaentz]] had production rights to ''The Hobbit'', but [[film distribution|distribution]] rights still belonged to [[United Artists]] (which had kept those rights, believing that filmmakers would probably adapt ''The Hobbit'' rather than ''The Lord of the Rings'', and therefore wanted a profit).<ref>{{cite news|author=Tom Ambrose|title=The Return of the Ring|work=[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]]|date=March 2009|page=67}}</ref> The studio was on the market, so Weinstein's attempts to buy those rights were unsuccessful. Weinstein asked Jackson to press on with adapting ''The Lord of the Rings''.<ref>{{cite book | author = [[Brian Sibley]] | title = Peter Jackson: A Film-maker's Journey | publisher = [[HarperCollins]] | date = 2006 | location = London | pages = 323-25 | id = ISBN 0-00-717558-2}}</ref> [[New Line Cinema]] eventually produced ''The Lord of the Rings'', and their rights to film ''The Hobbit'' were set to expire in 2010.<ref name=peace>{{cite news | author = Benjamin Svetkey | title = 'The Hobbit': Peace in Middle-Earth? | work = [[Entertainment Weekly]] | date = 2007-10-04 | url = http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20036782_20037403_20142132,00.html | accessdate=2007-10-05}}</ref> In September 2006, [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer]], owner of UA, expressed interest in teaming up with New Line and Jackson to make the prequel.<ref>{{cite news | author = Stax | title = MGM Eyes Hobbit, T4 | work = [[IGN]] | date = 2006-09-11 | url = http://movies.ign.com/articles/732/732006p1.html | accessdate=2007-08-17}}</ref>
-In March 2005, Jackson launched a lawsuit against New Line, claiming he had lost revenue from merchandising, video, and computer games releases associated with ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring|The Fellowship of The Ring]]''.<ref>{{cite news | title = Director sues over Rings profits | work = [[BBC News Online]] | date = 2005-03-02 | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/film/4312463.stm | accessdate=2007-08-17}}</ref> He did not seek a specific settlement, but requested an [[audit]] to see whether New Line had deprived him of money.<ref name=peace/> Jackson felt the lawsuit was minor, and that New Line would still let him make the film,<ref name=action/> although he wanted it settled before he would make the film.<ref name=peace/> New Line co-founder [[Robert Shaye]] was annoyed with the lawsuit and said in January 2007 that Jackson would never again direct a film for New Line, accusing him of being greedy.<ref>{{cite news|title=Jackson ruled out of Hobbit film|work=[[BBC News Online]]|date=2007-01-11|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6251099.stm|accessdate=2008-09-30}}</ref> MGM boss Harry Sloan halted development, as he wanted Jackson to be involved.<ref name=merger>{{cite news | author = Dade Hayes, Dave McNary | title = New Line in Warner's corner | work = [[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] | date = 2008-02-28 | url = http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117981598.html?categoryid=10&cs=1 | accessdate=2008-02-29}}</ref> By August, after a string of flops, Shaye was trying to repair his relationship with the director. He said, "I really respect and admire Peter and would love for him to be creatively involved in some way in ''The Hobbit''."<ref>{{cite news | author = Patrick Goldstein | title = THE BIG PICTURE: New Line's midlife crisis | work = [[Los Angeles Times]] | date = 2007-08-10 | url = http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/movies/la-et-goldstein10aug10,0,7800308.story?coll=la-headlines-entnews | accessdate=2007-08-17}}</ref> The following month, New Line was fined $125,000 for failing to provide requested accounting documents.<ref name=peace/>
-[[File:PeterJacksonCCJuly09.jpg|thumb|[[Peter Jackson]], [[executive producer]] of the films.]]On December 18, 2007, it was announced that Jackson would be [[executive producer]] of ''The Hobbit'' and its sequel. New Line and MGM will co-finance the film, and the latter studio will distribute the films outside North America – New Line's first ever such deal with another major studio.<ref>{{cite news | author = Michael Fleming | title = 'Hobbit' back on track as twin bill | work = [[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] | date = 2007-12-18 | url = http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117977891.html?categoryid=13&cs=1 | accessdate=2008-10-02}}</ref> Each film is budgeted at an estimated [[US$]]150 million,<ref>{{cite news | author = Borys Kit | title = Del Toro doubles up for 'Hobbit' | work = [[The Hollywood Reporter]] | date = 2008-01-27 | url = http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3i331d7d05b8008476b2fae087024a2b8e | accessdate=2008-01-28}}</ref> which compares to the US$94 million budget for each of the films in Jackson's ''Lord of the Rings'' trilogy.  After completion of the merger of New Line Cinema with [[Warner Bros.]] in February 2008, the films were announced as scheduled for release in Decembers 2011 and 2012.<ref name=merger/> Producer [[Mark Ordesky]] will return to supervise the prequels.<ref>{{cite news | author = Anne Thompson | title = Shaye kept New Line afloat | work = [[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] | date = 2008-03-06 | url = http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117982001.html?categoryId=2508&cs=1&query=the+hobbit | accessdate=2008-03-07}}</ref> Jackson explained he chose not to direct because it would have been unsatisfying to compete with his previous films.<ref name=webchat/>
-That same month, the [[Tolkien Estate]] - through the [[Tolkien Trust]] - and [[HarperCollins Publishers]] filed a suit against New Line for [[breach of contract]] and [[fraud]] and demanded $220 million in compensation. The suit claimed New Line had only paid the Estate an upfront fee of $62,500, despite the trilogy earning an estimated $6 billion worldwide from box office reciepts and merchandise sales. The suit claimed the Estate was entitled to 7.5% of all profits made by any Tolkien films, as established by prior deals. The suit also sought to block the filming of ''The Hobbit''.<ref name = "lawsuit1">{{cite news|author=Alex Dobuzinskis|title=Legal settlement clears way for "Hobbit" movie|work=[[Reuters]]|date=2009-09-08|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/entertainmentNews/idUSTRE5875BK20090908|date=2009-09-08}}</ref><ref name = "lawsuit2">{{cite news|title=Legal path clear for Hobbit movie|work=[[BBC]]|date=2009-09-10|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8245300.stm|date=2009-09-10}}</ref>
-[[Guillermo del Toro]] has said he was a fan of Jackson's trilogy and had discussed directing a film adaptation of ''[[Halo (series)#Film|Halo]]'' with him in 2005. Though that project stalled, they kept in contact.<ref name=webchat/> In a 2006 interview Del Toro was quoted saying "I don't like little guys and [[dragon]]s, hairy feet, [[hobbit]]s, [...] I don't like sword and sorcery, I hate all that stuff".<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.salon.com/ent/audiofile/2006/10/12/conversations_toro/ | title = Conversations: Guillermo del Toro | work = [[Salon.com]] | date = 2006-10-12 | accessdate=2008-06-04}}</ref> After he signed on to direct in April 2008,<ref name=golden/> Del Toro posted on ''TheOneRing.net'' forums that he had been enchanted by ''The Hobbit'' as a child, but found that Tolkien's other books "contain[ed] geography and genealogy too complex for my prepubescent brain". In taking the job of director, Del Toro was now "reading like a madman to catch up with a whole new land, a continent of sorts &ndash; a [[cosmology]] created by brilliant [[philologist]] turned [[Shaman]]". He also posted that his appreciation of Tolkien was enhanced by his knowledge of the fantasy genre and the folklore research he had undertaken while making his own fantasy films.<ref name=webchat/>
-[[Pre-production]] began around August 2008, with Del Toro, Jackson, Walsh, and [[Philippa Boyens]] writing the scripts.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://hollywoodinsider.ew.com/2008/08/the-hobbit.html|author=Nicole Sperling|title=Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens join Guillermo Del Toro penning 'The Hobbit'|work=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|date=2008-08-19|accessdate=2008-08-20}}</ref> Del Toro collaborated with Jackson, Walsh and Boyens via [[videoconferencing]], and flew every three weeks, back and forth from [[Los Angeles, California]] (where some of the designs were done)<ref name=golden/> to New Zealand to visit them.<ref>{{cite news|author=Michael Fleming|title=Guillermo Del Toro booked thru 2017|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=2008-09-03|url=http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117991560.html?categoryid=13&cs=1|accessdate=2008-09-06}}</ref> Del Toro spent his mornings writing, and afternoons looking at material related to Tolkien to help him understand the writer's work. He watched [[World War I]] documentaries and examined Jackson's memorabilia about the war, including working reproductions of planes, tanks, cannons, ships and uniforms. Del Toro felt Tolkien's experiences in that war impacted his stories.<ref name=wardocs>{{cite news|author=Max Evry|title=Guillermo del Toro on The Hobbit and Frankenstein|work=ComingSoon.net|date=2008-10-05|url=http://www.comingsoon.net/news/hobbitnews.php?id=49378|accessdate=2008-10-05}}</ref>
-By November 2008, every week Del Toro, Jackson, Walsh and Boyens would realize something new about the story which continually changed the script.<ref>{{cite news|author=Ryan Rotten|title=Guillermo del Toro Gives Hobbit Update|work=ComingSoon.net|date=2008-11-12|url=http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=50460|accessdate=2008-11-25}}</ref> The writing hours increased to twelve each day, as they dedicated three weeks to finally deciding the films' structures.<ref name=twobreaks>{{cite news|author=[[Guillermo del Toro]]|title=I promise to give you news|publisher=''TheOneRing.net'' forums|date=2008-11-16|url=http://newboards.theonering.net/forum/gforum/perl/gforum.cgi?post=149375;#149375|accessdate=2008-11-25}}</ref> During the first few months of 2009, writing would start from 8:30 am and end at 3 pm when Del Toro would meet with Weta (i.e. [[Weta Workshop]] and [[Weta Digital]] film effects companies). Completion of the story outlines and treatments ended in March 2009, and the studios approved the start of writing the screenplay.<ref name=empire>{{cite news|author=Chris Hewitt|title=The Two Towers|work=[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]]|date=June 2009|pages=137-140}}</ref> Filming will take place throughout 2010 in New Zealand, and Del Toro will renovate the [[Hobbiton]] sets in [[Matamata]].<ref name=webchat>{{cite web | title = An Unexpected Party Chat transcript now available! | work = Weta Holics | date = 2008-05-25 | url = http://www.wetanz.com/holics/index.php?itemid=695&catid=2 | accessdate=2008-12-09}}</ref> On his part, Jackson has kept the [[Rivendell]] scale model and the [[Bag End]] set (which he has used as a [[Guest house (secondary suite)|guest house]]) from the trilogy.<ref name=action/> During the middle of the shoot, there will be a break which will allow Del Toro to edit ''The Hobbit'' while sets are altered for the second film.<ref>{{cite news|author=Carl Cortez|title=Guillermo del Toro escapes 'Labyrinth' and ends right back into 'Hellboy'|work=iF Magazine|date=2008-07-09|url=http://www.ifmagazine.com/feature.asp?article=2879|accessdate=2008-07-14}}</ref> The director expected the shoot to last 370 days.<ref name=mignola>{{cite news|title=Del Toro talks ‘Hobbit’ in Live Chat|publisher=BilboHobbit.com|date=2008-11-27|url=http://bilbohobbit.com/del-toro-talks-hobbit-in-live-chat/|accessdate=2008-11-29}}</ref>
-In September 2009, a settlement was reached, with New Line paying the Estate an undisclosed sum. [[J. R. R. Tolkien]]'s son and [[literary executor]] [[Christopher Tolkien]] said in a statement: "New Line may now proceed with its proposed films of ''The Hobbit''."<ref name = "lawsuit1" /><ref name = "lawsuit2" />
-==Direction==
-{{quote box|width=35%|quote=<div style="text-align:left;">The first film will stand on its own, and the second will be a transition and fusion with Peter's world. I plan to change and expand the visuals from Peter's, and I know the world can be portrayed in a different way. Different is better for the first one. For the second, I have the responsibility of finding a slow progression and mimicking the style of Peter.|source=Del Toro on tonal consistency with Jackson's trilogy<ref>{{cite news | author = Stuart Levine | title = Exclusive: Guillermo del Toro on 'Hellboy II' | work = [[Premiere (magazine)|Premiere]] | date = 2008-07-07 | url =  http://www.premiere.com/features/4642/exclusive-guillermo-del-toro-on-hellboy-ii-page4.html | accessdate=2008-07-08}}</ref>}}
-Del Toro interprets ''The Hobbit'' as being set in a "world that is slightly more golden at the beginning, a very innocent environment" and the film would need to "[take] you from a time of more purity to a darker reality throughout the film, but [in a manner] in the spirit of the book".<ref name=golden/> He perceives the main themes as loss of innocence, which he likened to the experience of England [[Aftermath of World War I|after World War I]], and greed, which he says [[Smaug]] and [[Thorin Oakenshield]] represent.<ref name=webchat/> [[Bilbo Baggins]] reaffirms his personal morality during the story's third act as he encounters Smaug and the Dwarves' greed.<ref name=dinner>{{cite news|author=Joe Utichi|title=Guillermo del Toro - RT's Dinner and the Movies Interview|work=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|date=2008-07-11|url=http://uk.rottentomatoes.com/m/dinner_and_the_movies/news/1739826/guillermo_del_toro_rts_dinner_and_the_movies_interview|accessdate=2008-07-12}}</ref> He added "The humble, sort of a sturdy moral fibre that Bilbo has very much represents the idea that Tolkien had about the little [[English people|English]] man, the average English man",<ref name=narration/> and the relationship between Bilbo and Thorin would be the heart of the films.<ref>{{cite news | author = Shawn Adler | title = Director Guillermo Del Toro Answers Your ‘Hobbit’ Questions | work = [[MTV]] Movies Blog | date = 2008-07-02 | url = http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2008/07/02/director-guillermo-del-toro-answers-your-hobbit-questions/ | accessdate=2008-07-02}}</ref> The [[Elf (Middle-earth)|Elves]] will also be less solemn.<ref name=webchat/>
-Del Toro met concept artists [[John Howe]] and [[Alan Lee]], [[Weta Workshop]] head [[Richard Taylor (movies)|Richard Taylor]] and make-up artist Gino Acevedo to keep continuity with the previous films,<ref name=golden/> and he has also hired European comic book artists to complement Howe's and Lee's style on the trilogy,<ref name=european/> including [[Mike Mignola]] and [[Wayne Barlowe]], who began work around April 2009.<ref name=empire/> He has also considered looking at Tolkien's drawings and using elements of those not used in the trilogy.<ref name=narration>{{cite news | author = Shawn Adler | title = Guillermo Del Toro Answers 'Hobbit' Fans' Questions About Returning 'Rings' Cast, Religion And More | work = [[MTV]].com | date = 2008-07-02 | url = http://www.mtv.com/movies/news/articles/1590278/story.jhtml | accessdate=2008-07-02}}</ref> As Tolkien did not originally intend for [[One Ring|the magic ring Bilbo finds]] to be the all-powerful talisman of evil it is revealed to be in ''The Lord of the Rings'', Del Toro will address its different nature in the story, but not so much as to draw away from the story's spirit.<ref name=dinner/> Each [[Dwarf (Middle-earth)|Dwarf]] will need to look different from each other.<ref>{{cite news|author="xoanon"|title=Del Toro Interview Part 2: “This is the hardest movie I’ll probably ever do!”|work=TheOneRing.net|date=2008-10-20|url=http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2008/10/20/30314-del-toro-interview-part-2-this-is-the-hardest-movie-i%e2%80%99ll-probably-ever-do/|accessdate=2008-10-20}}</ref> Del Toro will redesign the [[Orc (Middle-earth)#Adaptations|Goblins]] and [[Warg#Tolkien.27s Wargs|Wargs]]<ref name=webchat/> and the [[Mirkwood]] spiders will also look different from [[Shelob]].<ref name=dinner/> Del Toro felt the Wargs had to be changed because "the classical incarnation of the demonic wolf in [[Norse mythology|Nordic mythology]] is not a [[hyena]]-shaped creature".<ref name=wardocs/>
-[[Image:JohnHoweSmaug.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Guillermo del Toro noted that [[John Howe]]'s illustrations of [[Smaug]] "approximate" his vision of the character<ref name=approx>{{cite news|author=Josh Horowitz|title=Guillermo Del Toro Talks 'Hobbit' Casting, Creatures|work=[[MTV]]|date=2008-10-14|url=http://www.mtv.com/movies/news/articles/1596909/story.jhtml|accessdate=2008-10-15}}</ref>]]
-Del Toro also wants the animals to speak so Smaug's speech will not be incongruous, though he explained portraying the talking animals will be more about showing people can understand them.<ref name=dinner/> Smaug will not have a "snub [[Simian]] [mouth] in order to achieve a dubious lip-synch",<ref name=webchat/> and Del Toro notes that such is the attention given to him that he will be the first design begun and the last to be approved.<ref name=wardocs/> The director, whose [[Chinese zodiac|Chinese zodiac sign]] is the [[Dragon (zodiac)|Dragon]], is fascinated by the mythological species and attempted to include one in ''[[Pan's Labyrinth]]'', but was unable to for budget reasons. His favourite cinematic dragons are [[Maleficent]] in ''[[Sleeping Beauty (1959 film)|Sleeping Beauty]]'' and Vermithrax Pejorative from ''[[Dragonslayer]]''.<ref name=webchat/> He has also provided a foreword to Howe's portfolio book ''Forging Dragons'', where he discussed the dragon's differing symbolism and roles in various cultures and legends.<ref>{{cite web|author=[[Guillermo del Toro]]|title=“SVNT DRACONES”|publisher=[[John Howe]]'s official website|date=2008-10-15|url=http://www.john-howe.com/news/comments.php?id=P239_0_1_0_C|accessdate=2008-10-15}}</ref>
-[[Ian McKellen]] and [[Andy Serkis]] (who played [[Gandalf]] and [[Gollum]], respectively), have met Del Toro,<ref name=golden/> and ideally, he wants every actor (including [[Ian Holm]], who played Bilbo in ''Rings'') to reprise their roles,<ref name=european>{{cite news | author = Shawn Adler | title = Guillermo Del Toro Addresses 'Hobbit' Fans' Concerns, Talks Possible Casting | work = [[MTV]] | date = 2008-04-28 | url = http://www.mtv.com/movies/news/articles/1586421/story.jhtml | accessdate=2008-04-30}}</ref>  although he acknowledged some may be unable to because of health problems; he would also consider having Holm narrate the films.<ref name=narration/>  Del Toro, in an interview with BBC radio has stated that [[Hugo Weaving]] will also reprise his role as [[Elrond]].<ref name=weaving>{{cite news | author = Brendon Connelly | title = Guillermo Del Toro Confirms Hugo Weaving For The Hobbit… And Much More| work = [[/film]] | date = 2009-06-11 | url = http://www.slashfilm.com/2009/06/11/guillermo-del-toro-confirms-hugo-weaving-for-the-hobbit-and-much-more/ | accessdate=2009-06-11}}</ref> All 13 Dwarves and [[Beorn]] will appear,<ref name=webchat/> while Thorin's father [[Thráin II]] will also feature.<ref name=empire/> [[Doug Jones (actor)|Doug Jones]]—who portrayed various creatures in ''[[Hellboy (film)|Hellboy]]'', its [[Hellboy II: The Golden Army|sequel]] and ''[[Pan's Labyrinth]]'' &ndash; was interested in playing [[Thranduil]], King of Mirkwood and [[Legolas]]' father, but del Toro said he wanted Jones for a different role.<ref name=approx/> Similarly, Hellboy star [[Ron Perlman]] is a person whom del Toro has "something in mind for".<ref name=webchat/>
-Del Toro and Jackson have a positive working relationship, where they will compromise on disagreements to the benefit of the film.<ref name=webchat/> Del Toro believes he will be able to shoot all of the films himself,<ref>{{cite news|author=Shawn Adler|title=Guillermo Del Toro To Fly Solo On ‘Hobbit’ Directing Duties, Says No To Peter Jackson Assist|work=[[MTV]] Movies Blog|date=2008-10-08|url=http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2008/10/08/guillermo-del-toro-to-fly-solo-on-hobbit-directing-duties-says-no-to-peter-jackson-assist/|accessdate=2008-10-08}}</ref> although Jackson noted he had similar hopes for filming all of his trilogy, and has offered to help as [[second unit]] director. Del Toro will shoot the films in the trilogy's 2.35:1 [[Aspect ratio (image)|aspect ratio]], rather than his signature 1.85:1 ratio.<ref name=webchat/> He hopes to collaborate again with cinematographer [[Guillermo Navarro]].<ref name=mignola/> Del Toro shares Jackson's passion for scale models and background paintings,<ref name=fix>{{cite news|author=Patrick Kolan|title=Guillermo Talks The Hobbit's Effects|work=[[IGN]]|date=2008-08-19|url=http://uk.movies.ign.com/articles/899/899973p1.html|accessdate=2008-09-27}}</ref> though he wants to increase the use of [[animatronics]]; "We really want to take the state-of-the-art animatronics and take a leap ten years into the future with the technology we will develop for the creatures in the movie. We have every intention to do for animatronics and special effects what the other films did for [[virtual reality]]."<ref name=golden>{{cite news | title = Guillermo del Toro Chats with TORN About ‘The Hobbit’ Films! | publisher = TheOneRing.net | date = 2008-04-25 | url = http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2008/04/25/28747-guillermo-del-toro-chats-with-torn-about-the-hobbit-films/ | accessdate=2008-04-26}}</ref> Spectral Motion (''Hellboy'', ''[[Fantastic Four (film series)|Fantastic Four]]'') are among those Del Toro wants to work with again.<ref name=mignola/>  Some characters will be created by mixing [[computer-generated imagery]] with animatronics, and some will solely be created with animatronics or animation. Gollum will be entirely digital again, as Del Toro noted "if it ain't broke, why fix it?"<ref name=fix/>
-Del Toro and Jackson considered the sudden introduction to [[Bard the Bowman]] and Bilbo being unconscious during the [[Battle of the Five Armies]] to be "less cinematic moments" reminiscent of the novel's more "fairy tale world" than ''The Lord of the Rings'', which they would change to make ''The Hobbit'' feel more like the trilogy. However, Del Toro considered some of these moments like Bilbo waking up to find the battle is over iconic and would require the "fairy tale logic [to] work as is".<ref name=empire/>
-==Second film==
-{{quote box|align=left|width=40%|quote=When you lay out [...] the story beats contained within the book (before even considering any apendix{{sic}} material) the work is enormous and encompasses more than one film. That's why we are thinking of the TWO INSTALLMENTS as parts of a single NARRATIVE. That's why I keep putting down the use of a "bridge" film (posited initially). I think the concept as such is not relevant anymore. I believe that the narrative and characters are rich enough to fit in TWO films.|source=A post by Del Toro on TheOneRing.net<ref>{{cite web|author=[[Guillermo del Toro]]|title=Hola|publisher=TheOneRing.net|date=2008-11-08|url=http://newboards.theonering.net/forum/gforum/perl/gforum.cgi?post=147373;#147373|accessdate=2008-11-25}}</ref>}}
-MGM expressed interest in a second film in 2006, set between ''The Hobbit'' and ''The Lord of the Rings''.<ref>{{cite news | title = Hobbit, Crown, Panther News | work = [[IGN]] | date = 2006-11-14 | url = http://movies.ign.com/articles/746/746019p1.html | accessdate=2007-08-17}}</ref> Jackson concurred, stating "one of the drawbacks of ''The Hobbit'' is [that] it's relatively lightweight compared to ''Lord of the Rings''... There [are] a lot of sections in which a character like Gandalf disappears for a while. From memory &ndash; I mean, I haven't read it for a while now &ndash; but I think he references going off to meet with the [[White Council]], who are actually characters like [[Galadriel]] and [[Saruman]] and people that we see in ''Lord of the Rings''. He mysteriously vanishes for a while and then comes back, but we don't really know what goes on."<ref name=action>{{cite news | author = Steve Daly | title = Action Jackson | work = [[Entertainment Weekly]] | date = 2006-09-22 | url = http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,1538494,00.html | accessdate=2007-10-05}}</ref> Jackson was also interested in showing [[Gollum]]'s journey to [[Mordor]] and [[Aragorn]] setting a watch on the Shire.<ref>{{cite news|author=Eric Vespe|title=Quint and Peter Jackson talk THE HOBBIT and a potential return to low budget horror!!!|work=[[Ain't It Cool News]]|date=2008-10-08|url=http://www.aintitcool.com/node/30085|accessdate=2008-10-08}}</ref>
-After his hiring in 2008, Del Toro confirmed the sequel would be about "trying to reconcile the facts of the first movie with a slightly different point of view. You would be able to see events that were not witnessed in the first."<ref name=european/> He also noted the story must be drawn from only what is mentioned in ''The Hobbit'' and ''The Lord of the Rings'', as they do not have the rights to ''[[The Silmarillion]]'' and ''[[Unfinished Tales]]''.<ref>{{cite news|title=News of the Week|work=[[Sci Fi Weekly]]|date=2008-07-07|url=http://www.scifi.com/sfw/news/sfw_news_20080707.html|accessdate=2008-09-30}}</ref> Del Toro also added (before writing began) that if they could not find a coherent story for the second film, they would just film ''The Hobbit'', stating "''The Hobbit'' is better contained in a single film and kept brisk and fluid with no artificial 'break point'."<ref>{{cite news|author=[[Guillermo del Toro]]|title=2 centavos|publisher=''TheOneRing.net'' forum|date=2008-05-26|url=http://newboards.theonering.net/forum/gforum/perl/gforum.cgi?post=101653;guest=3666153#101653|accessdate=2008-10-01}}</ref> By November 2008, he elaborated he felt the book was more detailed and eventful than people may remember.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ifmagazine.com/new.asp?article=7125|author=A.C. Ferrante|title=Guillermo del Toro updates about ''The Hobbit'' status|work=iF Magazine|date=2008-11-12|accessdate=2008-11-12}}</ref> Del Toro was faced with two possible places to split the story,<ref name=twobreaks/> including Smaug's defeat. He noted the second film would need to end by leading directly into ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring|The Fellowship of the Ring]]''.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2008/10/07/hobbit-films-will-be-one-continuous-journey-promises-guillermo-del-toro/|title=‘Hobbit’ Films Will Be One ‘Continuous Journey,’ Promises Guillermo Del Toro|author=Shawn Adler|work=[[MTV]] Movies Blog|date=2008-10-07|accessdate=2008-10-08}}</ref> In June 2009, Del Toro revealed he had decided where to divide the story based on comments from fans about signifying a change in Bilbo's relationship with the dwarves.<ref>{{cite news|author=Eric Ditzian|title=Guillermo Del Toro Rules Out Directing ‘Hobbit’ Bridge Film|work=[[MTV]] Movies Blog|date=2009-06-05|url=http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2009/06/05/exclusive-guillermo-del-toro-rules-out-directing-hobbit-bridge-film/|accessdate=2009-06-08}}</ref>
-The second film's story would also have depended on how many actors could have reprised their roles.<ref name=webchat/> [[Christopher Lee]], who played Saruman in Jackson's films, said he would have liked to have shown the Wizard's corruption by [[Sauron]],<ref>{{cite news | author = Glen Ferris | title = Christopher Lee On The Hobbit | work = [[Empire (magazine)|Empire Online]] | date = 2008-06-04 | url = http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=22681 | accessdate=2008-06-04}}</ref> but he would not be comfortable flying to New Zealand at his age.<ref>{{cite news|author=Elisabeth Rappe|title=Looks Like Christopher Lee Might Not Return to Middle-Earth|work=Cinematical|date=2008-07-13|url=http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/13/christopher-lee-wont-return-to-middle-earth/|accessdate=2008-07-14}}</ref>
-However, as of July 2009, Del Torro and Jackson confirmed that both films will be based on the Hobbit. This creates room to not only be faithful to the source, but to create room for expansion on the story in order to bring The Hobbit to a larger and more epic tale, like the trilogy. New Line has also recently expressed interest in making a third film to follow the two Hobbit films in order to bridge The Hobbit with The Lord of the Rings.
-==Video games==
-* [[Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment]] have the rights to develop a video game based on ''The Hobbit'' following the expiration of [[Electronic Arts]]' ''The Lord of the Rings'' license in 2008.
-* [[Traveller's Tales]] also created a demo for a [[Lego]] version of ''The Hobbit'' as a pitch to Jackson.<ref>{{cite news|author=Ben Fritz|title=Lord of the Rings game rights now at Warner Bros.|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=2009-03-12|url=http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/2009/03/lord-of-the-rings-ga.html|accessdate=2009-03-14}}</ref>
-==References==
-{{reflist|2}}
-==External links==
-* [http://www.thehobbitblog.com/ ''The Hobbit'': The Official Movie Blog]
-* [http://www.theonering.net/ TheOneRing.net]
-* {{imdb title|id=0903624|title=The Hobbit: Part 1}}
-* {{imdb title|id=1170358|title=The Hobbit: Part 2}}
-{{Hobbit}}
-{{Guillermo del Toro}}
-{{Peter Jackson}}
-{{DEFAULTSORT:Hobbit Film, The}}
-[[Category:Upcoming films]]
-[[Category:2011 films]]
-[[Category:2012 films]]
-[[Category:English-language films]]
-[[Category:Fictional-language films]]
-[[Category:Films directed by Guillermo del Toro]]
-[[Category:MGM films]]
-[[Category:Middle-earth films]]
-[[Category:New Line Cinema films]]
-[[Category:New Zealand films]]
-[[Category:Epic films]]
-[[Category:Prequel films]]
-[[da:The Hobbit Film]]
-[[es:El hobbit (película)]]
-[[fr:Bilbo le Hobbit (film, 2011)]]
-[[it:The Hobbit (film 2011)]]
-[[la:The Hobbit (pelliculae)]]
-[[hu:A hobbit (film)]]
-[[no:Hobbiten (film)]]
-[[ru:Хоббит (фильм)]]
-[[fi:The Hobbit (elokuvaduologia)]]
-[[sv:Bilbo – En hobbits äventyr (film)]]
-[[tr:Hobbit (film)]]