McKenzie’s known as The Lord of the Ring’s Figwit, an elf extra in Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings. As was “every available man in New Zealand at the time” the actor recalls. But not every extra was spotted by a devoted fan and dubbed Figwit (Frodo is great, who is that?).

Perhaps one of the most significant indications of his increased fame is the bump-up to a named character that Jackson gave McKenzie in the upcoming The Hobbit.

“I think the nomination just trumps being a speaking elf,” McKenzie quips. “But it’s close, a close call.”

Worlds collided on the set of The Hobbit when McKenzie broke out his guitar and began a freestyle jam, Shire style. “It was Gandalf’s song,” McKenzie recalls laughing. “He was singing ‘it’s a beautiful day in Rivendell, do da do do do.’” Now if that is not a perfect fit for Oscar night 2014, I’m not sure what is. “It would be fun, and Ian Mckellen is a really funny guy so I think he’d be well up for it,” McKenzie says. Keep those fingers crossed, Conchords and Figwit fans.

Source: sfluxe.com

Bret McKenzie, it’s a beautiful day in Rivendell is a post from: The Hobbit Movie

The Hobbit team have been praised for their positive impacts upon New Zealand communities during production of the movie. The high numbers of guest beds taken up by sleepy crew has helped to boost the Nelson Tasman area, which sits on the Western tip of New Zealand’s South island, in a time of record flooding and landslips.

Nelson Tasman Tourism Chief Executive Lynda Keene expressed her gratitude to the crew and said: “This is a good result in a month where we had the highest rainfall in the region in 50 years and floods impacted on the region’s trading over what would normally be a busy two-week period (Dec 14 to Dec 28). The filming of The Hobbit in December has probably helped the result and is indicative of the importance film tourism can have to a region.”

Source: stuff.co.nz

Hobbit Helps to Fight Floods is a post from: The Hobbit Movie

Scottish comedian Billy Connolly will play a pugnacious dwarf in Peter Jackson’s upcoming The Hobbit movies, the New Zealand director said.

Mr Jackson said the recruitment of Mr Connolly, known as the “Big Yin”, completed casting for his latest Tolkien epic, a two-film adaptation of The Hobbit currently being shot in Mr Jackson’s homeland.

“We could not think of a more fitting actor to play Dain Ironfoot, the staunchest and toughest of dwarves, than Billy Connolly, the Big Yin himself,” Mr Jackson said in a statement. “With Billy stepping into this role, the cast of The Hobbit is now complete. We can’t wait to see him on the battlefield.”

Source: timesofmalta.com

Billy Connolly cast in upcoming Hobbit movies is a post from: The Hobbit Movie

THE HOBBIT, Production Video #5 is a post from: The Hobbit Movie

THE HOBBIT, Production Video #4 is a post from: The Hobbit Movie

The Hobbit is to be filmed in Nelson at the end of this year! And 400-500 crew and cast will be staying in the region. Nelson is a city on the eastern shores of Tasman Bay, and is the economic and cultural centre of the Nelson-Tasman region. Established in 1841, it is the second oldest settled city in New Zealand.

The Hobbit publicist Melissa Booth said she was unable to confirm locations.

“We’re just looking forward and trying to get the film made. I think everyone is happy to be back at work.”

Pohara motelier Steve du Feu said the filming of The Hobbit was “good news” for businesses in Golden Bay. His motel, The Sandcastle, is one of a number in Golden Bay that have been booked out by 3 Foot 7 for 10 days in mid-November and a week in early December.

“The increased activity in the bay associated with this will be an awesome boost after what has been a pretty quiet winter. The crew will be made to feel very welcome,” he said.

Bob Haswell of Clifftops Retreat in Ruby Bay said he had friends working on the film in Wellington and “it looks like some of them might be coming to Nelson”.

Mr Haswell is connected to Tasman Helicopters, which was involved during the filming of parts of The Lord of the Rings trilogy in the Nelson region, but he said the company had not been approached about helping with The Hobbit.

Nelson Mayor Aldo Miccio said the likelihood that The Hobbit crew might be coming to Nelson was news to him, but he was not surprised. “It’s in line with what we have been hearing – that Nelson is going to be a destination for filming.”

He said the crew of Kiwi Flyer had told him that word was spreading that Nelson was “the place to come”.

“I think we’re going to see a lot more of this in the future.”

Source: stuff.co.nz

A Nelson-shaped part of Middle Earth is a post from: The Hobbit Movie

Bilbo reads intently as his guests look on…

Source: Empire Magazine

Site photo with Bilbo! Wow! is a post from: The Hobbit Movie

Swedish actor Mikael Persbrandt, known for his leading “tough-guy” roles, spoke recently about playing the reclusive and heroic Beorn.

In The Hobbit, Beorn is an immense brawny shapeshifter, who is vegetarian and lives in a wooden house between the Misty Mountains and Mirkwood on his own after the Orcs killed the rest of his race. Beorn can transform at will into a bear. Mikael describes a scene, which could well be the part of the story where Beorn interrogates a wolf and a goblin to verify Gandalf’s story.

In an interview (translated from Swedish), Mikael spoke about what it was like to play Beorn.

“When, during the first days, I was hoisted up to the ceiling in the west King Kong studio in Wellington, I knew what to do. Even though it was embarrassing and a hassle to start with a severe torture scene, I knew I could even suggest things.”

Peter Jackson was impressed with your audition.

“I did not made it complicated. Just as one can imagine “how exactly would I react if I lose a child ?”…

[He bends down and knocks in the wooden floor.]

” … no more than I can imagine “what am I like as a Shapeshifter”?, living with horses and animals in the forest. One must look into oneself and try. I act pretty much in the same way in “The Hobbit” as I would in a love drama.”

There has been much anticipation of “The Hobbit”.

“I bought a mountain bike in New Zealand and was often up biking in the mountains while I was waiting.”

It is the in the Hamilton-movies that you trained your body?

“Yes, but it comes in damn handy in New Zealand. It is for Hamilton that I was with the Navy Seals and the Swedish equivalent. I’ve been at this gym.” [He points to the shirt with "Nacka martial arts center."]

“I drive all the time. Including this morning. Two miles uphill and then weights. It has become like a poison to me. Six days a week.”

You practice your English?

“Yes, I do that with Peter Jackson’s film. In Hamilton I talk in both Russian and English. I try to be a good student. I have had some resistance. It was useless to go for English lessons at home when you did not have concrete offers abroad.”

Source: Nojes Bladent

Beorn talks about being a bear is a post from: The Hobbit Movie

Orlando Bloom spoke recently about Wellington, the Hobbit Movie set and his up and coming roles.

He said of Wellington “Wellington is remarkably unchanged after 10 years… It hasn’t been hit by the onslaught of consumerism…” and admitted that he would like to spend more time there.

When asked about how the Hobbit Movie is going to compare with the success of the LoTR movies, Orlando spoke about his impression of the studios, which have grown massively since the last movies, saying they had “a remarkable setup”. He also praised director Peter Jackson.

The new movie is being shot in 3D, but this does not pose any additional challenges as an actor – it just takes a little longer to set up.

When quizzed about his apparent penchant for roles where he gets to dress up in “interesting outfits and long hair”, he laughed and said this was not a pre-requisite and that he just wanted to “have fun”.

Source: 3news.co.nz

Long hair and dressing up not a pre-requisite for Orlando is a post from: The Hobbit Movie

Leaving Flynn, their baby son, tucked up at home, Orlando Bloom and wife, Victoria’s Secret model Miranda Kerr, braved the New Zealand chill to view a four-bedroom open plan waterfront home featuring a gym, home cinema, spa, swimming pool, home cinema, wine cellar and spectacular views across Karaka Bay.

Orlando, playing Legolas, has already been in New Zealand for two weeks. He was joined by Miranda and Flynn a week ago, after the Victoria’s Secret model had returned to the catwalk for the first time since giving birth, for the David Jones department store in Sydney, Australia.

Source: Mail Online

Orlando Bloom and Miranda Kerr hunt for Hobbit hole is a post from: The Hobbit Movie

Lost star Evangeline Lilly is the latest celebrity to join the cast of The Hobbit. The 31-year-old actress, who played Kate Austen in Lost, was in New Zealand to play Woodland Elf, Tauriel, as Peter Jackson announced on his Facebook page. He said, “Her name means ‘daughter of Mirkwood’ and, beyond that, we must leave you guessing!”. Sadly there will be no romantic connection to Legolas. Read his full letter below:

Yikes! I can finally get back to some postings! We’ve finished our first block of shooting and moved straight into location scouting. More on that soon… But today, I’m thrilled to announce two new cast members who will be joining us for our second block of shooting.

Evangeline Lilly will be playing a new character‚the Woodland Elf, Tauriel. Her name means ‘daughter of Mirkwood’ and, beyond that, we must leave you guessing! (No, there is no romantic connection to Legolas.) What is not a secret is how talented and compelling an actress Evangeline is; we are thrilled and excited she will be the one to bring our first true Sylvan Elf to life.

I’m also highly excited that Barry Humphries will be portraying the Goblin King, in much the way Andy Serkis created Gollum. Barry is perhaps best known for his business and social connections as the long-time manager of Dame Edna Everage. He has also been an ardent supporter of the rather misunderstood and unfairly maligned Australian politician, Sir Les Patterson. However, in his spare time, Barry is also a fine actor, and we’re looking forward to seeing him invest the Goblin King with the delicate sensitivity and emotional depth this character deserves.

Evangeline and Barry, along with Welsh actor Luke Evans as Bard and Benedict Cumberbatch as Smaug, just about rounds out the major casting. I cannot wait to get stuck into these new scenes!

More soon, including a flurry of answers to your questions. Sorry for the delay!

Cheers, Peter J.

 Source: Peter Jackson's Facebook Page

Star of Lost joins The Hobbit Cast is a post from: The Hobbit Movie

Hollywood star Orlando Bloom has been seen out and about in Wellington, joining a growing number of Hobbit actors arriving in the city as production resumes after a three-month hiatus.

Wellingtonians Miranda Webster, Aggie Galloway, Kayla Carruthers, Sam Walton and Hannah Robson met Bloom yesterday when they saw him shopping in the central city.

Ms Carruthers, 19, said she and her friends were on Vivian St when they saw Bloom go into a photography store.

“We weren’t sure at first if it was him or not, so we waited around casually outside the stop, and then when he came out we saw it was definitely him.”

They approached the star, who plays elf archer Legolas in Sir Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings and Hobbit films, and asked if he would pose for a photo or two.

“He was really, really nice, and asked us how we were going. He was dressed really casually, and his hair was a bit shaggy.”

Bloom, who recently celebrated the birth of his first child with his wife, model Miranda Kerr, is reportedly set to earn $1 million for his return as Legolas, despite appearing in the film for less than two minutes.

British actor Stephen Fry, who will play the Master of Laketown, has also been seen around the city this week.

Source: stuff.co.nz

Orlando Bloom thrills Wellington shoppers is a post from: The Hobbit Movie

Luke Evans Talks Bard The Bowman

Source: Empire

Bard the Bowman in Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit is a post from: The Hobbit Movie

THE HOBBIT, Production Video #3 is a post from: The Hobbit Movie

Source: Facebook

New Hobbit Production Video is a post from: The Hobbit Movie

New Line Cinema and MGM have released the first photo of Jed Brophy as Nori, Adam Brown as Ori and Mark Hadlow as Dori in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.

First Look at Dori, Nori and Ori in The Hobbit is a post from: The Hobbit Movie

Richard Armitage has spoken with Total Film about his role in Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit:

We recently sat down with the British actor to talk about his role as dwarf Thorin Oakenshield in the two-part Tolkien epic, and he told us: “There’s going to be quite a lot more humour.

“The book is so focused on the dwarves, so I think it’s a chance for Peter [Jackson] and Fran [Walsh] to really look at that whole race in more detail, their heritage and what they’re like as characters.”

The dwarves aren’t just there as comic relief though, as Armitage has learnt while wielding the Orcrist, Thorin’s legendary goblin sword.

“It’s bloody heavy!” he told us. “But it’s absolutely beautiful to look at. Every time they bring something new out everyone gasps. The armour that the dwarves emerge from the mountain wearing at the end of the film will be the armour of all armour.”

Tolkien fan Armitage said that he’s in his element shooting in New Zealand: “There was a scene in The Lord Of The Rings where they find the stone trolls, and they’re identical in The Hobbit.

“I love those moments, when you link into the world of the film that you’ve seen before.”

Source: TotalFilm.com

Richard Armitage talks about his role as a dwarf is a post from: The Hobbit Movie

Empire, the first magazine in the world to put The Hobbit on its cover.

Over ten years ago, catching a whiff something really big was going down in New Zealand, Empire decided to feature the next film from promising Kiwi director Peter Jackson on its cover. After all, he just happened to be making The Lord Of The Rings. Listen closely to his commentary on Return Of The King and Jackson actually recalls the day that issue of Empire arrived on set — he couldn’t quite get his head around the fact they were still shooting! To paraphrase someone in a black and white movie, it was the start of a beautiful friendship.

So in honour of Jackson’s long-awaited return to Middle-earth for two dragon-and-dwarf-laden prequels — as a “good luck charm” according the director — Empire takes its symbolic and rightful place as the first magazine in the world to put The Hobbit on its cover. A resplendent ‘younger’ Gandalf the Grey (look closely for subtle differences in costume from his 60-year older Rings self) taking centre stage alongside the first look at Martin Freeman’s Bilbo Baggins (keep your eyes peeled for a hint or two of dwarf in the issue).

Personally invited onto the set barely a month into production, Empire delightedly watched a film — two films — already in full swing. Thirteen cantankerous dwarves, one barely tolerant wizard, and a befuddled hobbit are seen arriving at the gates of Rivendell and sneered at by local elves. Jackson assures us he is once again reaching for the mighty spectacle of Lord Of The Rings, but also bringing a certain ‘Hobbity-ness’ all its own. “The tone is actually the part of it I’m enjoying the most,” he laughs, casting a fond eye upon his rabble of exotic dwarves, clattering about set like they own the place. “They have a healthy disregard for the icons of Middle-earth.”

For the full story see the August issue of Empire out on June 30.

Source: Empire Magazine

World’s First Hobbit Movie Cover is a post from: The Hobbit Movie

Peter Jackson has shared the first images from his Lord of the Rings prequels:

Source: Entertainment Weekly

First official images from The Hobbit is a post from: The Hobbit Movie

Peter Jackson has updated his Facebook page confirming our previously reported casting of Luke Evans as Bard and Benedict Cumberbatch as the voice of Smaug. He has also announced Barry Humphries will be portraying a CGI Goblin King and Evangeline Lilly will be cast as Tauriel:

Yikes! I can finally get back to some postings!  We’ve finished our first block of shooting and moved straight into location scouting. More on that soon… But today, I’m thrilled to announce two new cast members who will be joining us for our second block of shooting.

Evangeline Lilly will be playing a new character—the Woodland Elf, Tauriel. Her name means ‘daughter of Mirkwood’ and, beyond that, we must leave you guessing! (No, there is no romantic connection to Legolas.) What is not a secret is how talented and compelling an actress Evangeline is; we are thrilled and excited she will be the one to bring our first true Sylvan Elf to life.

I’m also highly excited that Barry Humphries will be portraying the Goblin King, in much the way Andy Serkis created Gollum. Barry is perhaps best known for his business and social connections as the long-time manager of Dame Edna Everage. He has also been an ardent supporter of the rather misunderstood and unfairly maligned Australian politician, Sir Les Patterson. However, in his spare time, Barry is also a fine actor, and we’re looking forward to seeing him invest the Goblin King with the delicate sensitivity and emotional depth this character deserves.

Evangeline and Barry, along with Welsh actor Luke Evans as Bard and Benedict Cumberbatch as Smaug, just about rounds out the major casting. I cannot wait to get stuck into these new scenes!

More soon, including a flurry of answers to your questions. Sorry for the delay!

Source: Peter Jackson

CGI Goblin King and Tauriel casting announced is a post from: The Hobbit Movie