Original Hobbits Back For Hobbit Movie?
Published on: 19th January, 2009
Original Hobbits Back For Hobbit Movie?Related News
Trawling through all the Sundance Festival news stories for any Hobbit movie gossip, I found several interviews with Guillermo Del Toro but he managed to side step all Hobbit questions. With all this practice, he’s getting quite good at dancing around all queries concerning Middle Earth.
I had just about given up on finding anything of note when I came across this little gem of an interview with Dominic Monaghan by MTV.
“They really want us to come back, and I think there’s a really strong chance that we might be back,” Monaghan happily told the reporter who quickly dropped any thoughts of questioning Monaghan about his latest film which he was at the festival to promote.
‘They’ being Elijah Wood, Sean Astin and Billy Boyd who together with Monaghan played the original 4 Hobbits in The Lord of the Rings trilogy.
He went on:
“It’s being produced by Peter Jackson, who obviously made the first films, and his special-effects company are making it. It’s directed by Guillermo del Toro, who I think, outside of Peter Jackson, would be the number one person to give this any amount of the tenderness that it deserves. Obviously, Ian McKellen’s going to be back for it, and Andy Serkis is going to be back for it.”
If at this point you are thinking as I was “Well that’s because they are in The Hobbit where as Frodo, Sam, Pippin and Merry aren’t, he went on to explain how he expects it to work:
“We’re not in ‘The Hobbit,’ no, but I think the idea in their heads (Jackson and Co.) is that the trilogy of the ‘Lord of the Rings’ films was so beloved by the fans that they’re really keen to try to say thank you for the support that they gave to the ‘Lord of the Rings’ movies and possibly bring back some of those characters that they know and love.”
Apparently he’s been chatting with Jackson and the other writers so it sounds like it is at least being considered for what you would assume/imagine/hope is the second Hobbit movie although at no point does he mention the second movie.
I wonder if he was supposed to let quite so much slip, or in true Meriadoc style has he put his foot in it?
Source: MTV Movies
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Wasn’t it always Pippin who put his foot in his mouth? =P Being a Took and all =)
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Who knocked the armor down the well? I rest my case
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Hahaha =D Pippin! =P
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smart ass
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*grins* =D
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“…that they’re really keen to try to say thank you for the support that they gave to the ‘Lord of the Rings’ movies and possibly bring back some of those characters that they know and love.”
B.S.
They’re keen to sell movie tickets. For non-fans of the books, they need to bring back the stars. I really hope they stay true to the books. I swear, if Viggo or Liv end up shooting the Black Arrow I will be pissed!!!!!
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You hit the nail on the head there Tom. Because the fans love them, they will bring back some of the characters…
For the money!!
For f… sake! How old - young… will Pippin or the rest be??
Embryo Peregrin?
Sperm n Egg Merry?
Twinkle in the old gaffers eye Samwise?
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I cannot agree more with the very pointed comments regarding the irrelevance of the 4 hobbit heroes of LotR in the story of “There and Back Again”. Anyone who has read The Hobbit even once will know beyond all certainty that its pages depict the adventures of one hobbit, 13 dwarves and a wizard. If any of the 4 legendaries from LotR make appearance, let alone play major roles in the telling of this grand story, we will have nothing more than a gross, albeit elegant adulteration.
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Yes, for all of you Pippin Fans, he is not mentioned in the Hobbit at all, and plus, he will not be alive for many years to come! Sorry to burst your bubble!
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By the way, none of the Main Hobbits Besides Bilbo are alive in the Hobbit, and I do not believe that the 4 Hobbits could even play any role in this Movie unless it goes on and shows the birth of Frodo and such.
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Just for giggles they could have the four hobbits in the back ground. Like how Pippen was part of the band. Make their appearce kind of an easter egg hunt.
…I wonder if Jackson will be making his own appearence again? Or will Del Toro do it?
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Oh God, please no cheezy added romances or stupid cameos. (I know, romance wasn’t implied, but still) I’m already disenchanted enough with certain aspects of the movie trilogy, particularly some of the changes in the original story and some of the lame dialogue that Tolkien would have likely despised.
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People seem to be forgetting the second film, or second ‘part’ of the film that is apparently being used to tie The Hobbit into LOTR so they can be watched as a 5-piece
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The following is a reply to David Roman:
Actually, there is no such thing as this “Trilogy”.of which you speak.Tolkien actually meant for it to be 3 seperate “Parts” in which he divides them up into, to keep readers in suspense, since he realeased them all at different times. All of this is stated in the 50th Edition of “The Lord of the Rings”. I would highly recommend buying the Hard-Covered Edition. I hope this has cleared things up! Thanks!
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I thought it was one piece broke into six parts?
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Well, yes there are Six Parts, divided under “3″Books. However, these are split up in the movie, and they are suppose to be right after each other. But there are 6 parts, under “3″ Books
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Actually, the six part division is the only one Tolkien had a hand in. Additionally, the six parts are called “books”, and the three volumes are called “parts”. The three volume division was made by Tolkien’s publisher, not Tolkien. This is in the Foreword to the 50th Anniversary Edition of LOTR. In the “Letters”, Tolkien actually complained about the three volume division, particularly TTT, since the two “Books” in that volume were so unrelated. The movies however ARE divided into three parts.
I also have to agree with everyone who has said that the four hobbits should not be in “The Hobbit”, as they are not born and have no relevance to the story. I will be interested to see if the second film is a “bridge” as was originally indicated, or will be “The Hobbit” after the death of Smaug, which del Toro has suggested may be the case.
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I know the the four hobbits did a great job in LOTR but people have to realize that LOTR wasn’t just sucessful because of actors or the amount of money spent. It was sucessful because it did a good job of portraying a timeless classic. It worked because (for the most part) it stayed true to Tolkien, save for the wargs in the second movie and so on.
It made money because it was good. Even if people don’t read books now a days and don’t know anything about the source the Hobbit movie will come from they’re going to scratch their head about the presence of these four hobbits. Audiences are smart enough to know that this a prequel and that those characters weren’t born yet. If they have to bring those actors back, then bring them back as different characters, dwarves maybe. Sure they’ll be in makeup, but at least we won’t have a movie that is untrue to the text.
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I have a suggestion: bring back the actors, but put beards on them and have them play some of the minor dwarfs: Elijah Wood and Sean Astin could play one of Dori, Nori or Ori, perhaps Dominic Monaghan and Billy Boyd could play Bifur and Bofur or Oin and Gloin. And while we’re at it, John Rhys Davies could play Balin. As for Orlando Bloom, it would be very easy to include a minor role for Legolas as his home realm is among the Wood Elves of Mirkwood.
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I think what most of you need to remember that the books and the movie are NOT going to be identical. it’s just not feasible, and honestly, some things that work in literature just don’t work on the big screen. That being said, I think PJ was always true to the essence of Tolkien and I think he will continue to stay true to it with del Toro.
I freely admit that I would love to see my hobbits in one of the Hobbit movies (being a Pippin-junkie myself) but I for some reason never really thought about how old they would be at the onset of Bilbo’s journey! I trust though, that if they are put in the movie, PJ and del Toro will make it believable.
As for other characters like Legolas, Gimli, and Aragon, well… I think that’s a bit easier! Legolas is the son of Thranduil, is he not? So it would make total sense for him to make an appearance in Mirkwood and maybe even at the Battle of Five Armies. Gimli could come with the dwarves from the Iron Hills to aid Thorin, and Aragon… well he’s a bit more difficult, but maybe he could be passing through Rivendell or Lake-town? Even Arwen could make a small appearance when Thorin and Co. pass through Rivendell.
Wow, sorry for the long post, but I just want you guys to realize that there are ways of making this work that are realistic. There is stuff going on in Middle-earth outside of Bilbo’s adventure, so seeing some of our favorite old characters isn’t out of the realm of possibility. Don’t be too hasty to judge and I’m sure things will work out wonderfully!
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Unfortunately what motivates movies is money. Even the need for a dialogue about the 4 hobbits returning in the Hobbit move is ludicrous. There is no question that the 4 actors were marvilously cast and did a fabulous job. But the Hobbit is a different story. If they, or Viggo or Liv or…show up, the movie will be a disappointment. But producers do not care what fans of the story think. They know we will watch. They want all the “others”. It is not about the Tolkien fans, it is about everyone else.
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Erika, I have to disagree that PJ always remained true to the essence of Tolkien. By removing such themes/events as healing and renewal (Aragorn), the ultimate failure of Frodo to destroy the Ring, the removal of the Scouring of the Shire that was, according to JRRT “foreseen from the outset”, PJ and Co. have effectively created an entirely new story only loosely based on Tolkien’s original. I know that there are differences between books and films, but changing that much is not necessary. Especially for The Hobbit, which is less than a third of the length of LOTR.
I agree with DAVE DAVIES that money is the prime motivator here. I have little doubt that the Frodo, Sam, Merry and/or Pippin, as well as Aragorn, Legolas and maybe Gimli will all be back. This is because PJ and GDT aren’t making the The Hobbit, they’re making The Lord of the Rings: The Prequel. Additionally, there is NO WAY (sorry, but I can’t italicize stuff) to make it realistic for the LOTR Hobbits to be in The Hobbit (singular) when they weren’t even born. Additionally, it is impossible to have it realistic for Aragorn, who was 10-years-old at the time of The Hobbit, to be in Lake-town, though a small cameo in Rivendell be POSSIBLE. Arwen however was in Lorien during the events of The Hobbit, and could not be in Rivendell. Legolas IS the sun of Thranduil, but in the (made-up) backstory for the LOTR MOVIES, PJ and Co. decided that Legolas had never seen anyone die. Tolkien never mentioned this, but continuity within the movie franchise is important as well, and there would be no way to reconcile Legolas fighting in The Hobbit with his naivete in the LOTR movies.
I know that there were events in Middle-earth beyond Bilbo’s adventure (the White Council springs to mind), but they are not part of The Hobbit, and should not be in the movie. This movies is being and will continue to be billed as The Hobbit, not “The Middle-earth Schmorgasborg of Events”. PJ and GDT should keep their movies at just The Hobbit, because adding other storylines is dishonest and takes away from Bilbo - the main character.
In short, I am extremely doubtful, even after much thought, that “things will work out wonderfully.” The LOTR movies were good AS MOVIES, but not great. They were horrible adaptations. The Hobbit is looking like it will be a horrible adaptation as well, though it remains to be seen if it will be good as a movie.
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I agree with Jacob, the LOTR movies were a very poor adaptation of Tolkien’s stories. I particularly was disappointed with the portrayal of Gimli and the dwarves in the LOTR movies. I don’t know if PJ disliked the dwarves, but his version of Gimli was a very brash, crude, and otherwise unsophisticated background character, who was of very little use to the fellowship other than in a fight. Tolkien had a much higher respect for the dwarves, and in reality Gimli was every bit as helpful to the fellowship as Legolas, who was placed on a pedestal by Jackson & Co.
I will be very curious to see how Jackson & Del Torro portray Thorin & Co. My guess is they will be cast in the same mold as Gimli - brash, unsophisticated, and selfish. Granted the dwarves do have some selfish characteristics, but I thought Jackson overplayed this trait tremendously with Gimli. For example, in Tolkien’s version of the Fellowship, Gimli never begged Gandalf to pass through Moria. He went willingly with Gandalf, but only after Gandalf believed it to be the only possible passage through the Misty Mtns.
Hopefully, the new movies will do a better job of portraying the dwarves, and staying more true to Tolkien’s greater story. But I am doubtful.
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for all you who are soooo bloody worried about not staying true to the book, any of the said characters would only be in the second of the two movies…. that (the second movie) film is going to use the apendixies (written by tolkien) to fill in the gap between the fellowship of the ring and the end of the hobbit book…..(which is true to tolkien) …. so stop wetting your bed over it…… we have tolkien fanatics in charge of making the movies
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Simple (see my arguments in other related previous posts on this web site) “Jackson” equals not “true to book” - did it for the LOTR films - will do it again for The Hobbit. For those who have the extended versions of the LOTR films- listen to the director’s track on his “justification” for changing things from the book in making the films - they aren’t justified and this brings a new meaning to artistic licence - more like self centered artistic “butchery”. As Stevo’ says above maybe (and probably) will see our four “famous” (and huge money making) hobbits in the (2nd) Hobbit film. Del Toro please save us Tolkien purists!
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fool of a took lol
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[...] Original Hobbits Back For Hobbit Movie? [...]
if i was casting roles for the hobbit movie i would try to land the following actors:
bilbo: topher grace(he might also have been a good frodo in another universe)
thorin: james cosmo(he played “campbell” in braveheart)
balin: brendan gleeson
bombur: robbie coltrane(he has that aura of gruffness and geniality as seen in the “harry potter movies”)
its also a good idea as suggested by another person to use maybe dominic monaghan and billy boyd to play fili and kili…i think theyd fit in nicely there.
the part of thranduil would be perfect for willem dafoe. he has the look of nobility with the slightest hint of ruthlessness that would be good for that character. if not in “the hobbit” then definitly in any future silmarillion movie as thingol.
maybe peter jackson could put himself in as another dwarf…maybe dwalin or ori….
and Ron perlman would be awesome as Beorn(assuming they even use the character…you know how they totally reshape a story to benefit a movie )
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please,please,stay true to the story of the hobbit
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Ok gang, I guess you have to think of this as storytelling. Obviously the only way to bring back old characters is to begin the movie as a retrospect from Bilbo,s POV. Perhaps Bilbo is telling ,Sam ,Merry, Pippin, And Frodo about his adventure and then get to the main parrt of the film. There you could reprise Ian, Elijah, Sean, Dom and Billy and I would like to see them start the movie like that, after all Hobbits love storytelling.
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I think I would cast the actor Rupert Friend as Thranduil. He’s young yes, but makeup can always give him the illusion of looking a bit older. Plus, he is a splitting image of Orlando Bloom.
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Um guys… Dom was Merry not Pippin… just so you know Billy was Pippin… so yeah just so you know
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They could cast one of them as Bilbo but without completely changing the story there’s no way to bring them all back.
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