Jackson And Co To Write Screen Play
Written by ady on August 20, 2008 – 5:14 pm -I would have put money on it anyway but today it was confirmed that the same team that wrote the Lord Of The Rings screen play (Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens) will also write the 2 Hobbit movies together with Guillermo Del Toro of course.
The official press release states that Jackson and Del Toro got so deeply involved in The Hobbit that they couldn’t bare the thought of handing it over to someone else.
It was originally thought that Jackson’s schedule was far too tight to allow him to get too involved but apparently gaps have been found.
I suspect though that Jackson has had second thoughts and decided he has to be involved in the writing. He promised the money men 2 Hobbit movies in return for their settling his long running “monies owed” claim. Problem is though, there is only one Hobbit book.
Del Toro stated soon after being signed up to direct that:
“We believe there is a second movie. If there isn’t, there will not be. If we find it, we will shoot it, but by God, if we do not find it, we will not shoot it. I am anxious to shoot the book, and I’m willing and able to dedicate myself to shooting the second film.”
It’s a valid point and one that may well have been raised by outside writers.
Filling the Hobbit out to make two movies is a completely different proposition to the trimming and cutting down they had to do for The Lord Of The Rings. Even when we assume much of the work will come from Tolkiens notes to fill in the gap between the end of The Hobbit and the start of The Fellowship Of The Ring, they are still only notes at the end of the day.
I have a feeling today’s announcement comes after Jackson has had time to mull over the story. He may well feel that if this is to be pulled off, he is the only one qualified to do it and who could argue?
After all, he does have the qualifictions….. He’s been there and now he’s going back again. I just hope the trip is as memorable as the one he made a decade ago.
Tags: Fran Walsh, Guillermo Del Toro, Hobbit Movies, peter jackson, Philippa Boyens, the hobbit
Posted in Hobbit Movies |
August 23rd, 2008 at 1:14 pm
Well we wait with bated breath! Philippa, you claim you are a big Tolkien fan and have read his books many times. Well, now is the time to redeem yourself and the whole “middle earth” project. It is time to use your influence to “encourage” - “Jackson” and Fran to keep the script writing of the film(s) true to the writing in the book. I’m sure there might even be enough “material” in the Hobbit book to satisfy any “creative licence” urge that people (or a person) might be feeling. Maybe even another homage to Ray Harryhausen - with “shock horror” maybe some (full featured) Trolls, big spiders or maybe even a dragon - just for a change. I ‘m sure this “encouragement” can then quite easily be passed on to the director without too much trouble as he has already stated himself that “I am anxious to shoot the book”.
Now wouldn’t that make for an exciting film(s). Again a plea from all Tolkien fans worldwide keep the film(s) true to the book.
October 30th, 2008 at 4:39 pm
They obviously should and most likely will try to stick to the book. However making a movie is quite different than a book. Compromises have to be made, details summarized and characters altered. Thats just the way it is. They don’t just make a movie for people who have read the books, they make it for those who haven’t as well and they have to provide entertainment or the movie will flop.
October 31st, 2008 at 3:48 am
Interesting comments. I agree that some compromises might have to be made which may mean the leaving “out” or “altering slightly” of things or characters (that are in the book) - to keep the entertainment value and pace of a film going. This on the other hand should not automatically allow someone (anyone) to ADD “SIGNIFICANT changes” INTO a story and/or film (especially a film that is based on a very popular book). This has always been a bad trait especially in particular to the “American film industry” - probably the world’s most “viewed” industry - bar “Bollywood”. Too many “classic book” films have been affected by this over the years - so this should be stopped from happening again now. I have stated this before that the Hobbit book (or even the LOTR book(s)) already has enough “material” in it to be used to fulfil this “film” need - regardless if someone has read the book or not. In reference to the “movie being a flop” well I’m not exactly sure how many people in the world have read the Hobbit book, but one has to take into consideration the fact that it’s sequel (LOTR) was voted “the book (or book(s)) of the century” by a worldwide book readers audience. This can also be supported by the fact that a “large” no. of copies of the Hobbit (and the LOTR) book(s) have already been sold world wide. Add to this the further fact that these books have also been printed in many different languages (to the present day). These facts really don’t support how the Hobbit with such an “audience” prior to even it’s film release (or possibly even production) “will flop”. To further strengthen my argument I make reference to the Harry Potter films (as discussed previously in another article on this web site). These films were made “close” to what was written in the books. Not many people throughout the “century” had read these books - prior to the release of the first film in the series - but it became a worldwide “sensation” for many months (before and since). This lead to thousands (if not millions) of people eagerly waiting for each sequel of film and book as they were in production. Possibly the latest films in this series haven’t made as much money to date (or generated as much interest) as their prequels but on the other hand the Hobbit will probably only require one (or a planned second film) to tell / show it’s story - not a lot of room to loose large amounts of popularity/or money. The comments made above “that’s just the way it is” also isn’t supported. Why are there so many discussions on the “production” of the Hobbit occurring currently in the first place and on so many different websites for that matter? Any comments (and/or actions) on any topic can quite easily be read or even passed onto the people “making the decisions” on films (or actions, whatever) relevant to these topics. This then should force a review which in turn allows these “decision makers” to set the goal to “make everybody happy” with what they are doing (which ultimately leads to more people going to see their films and then in turn making them even more money). Just look at the impact that “comments” made by “film critics” can have on a film. One should not be forced into believing that “that is the way it is” for anything in their lives.
November 15th, 2008 at 3:13 am
I think Wendy O’ William’s should direct the film(s)!!!!
She’s as psychotic as an Orc! She’d be perfect for the JOB! HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HAhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!
Okay, Just Kidding!!!!
No really, I think Peter Jackson should be the only director for the film(s), and no one else! I also think Christopher Lee should be the voice over for Smaug!!!!