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MorgolKing
Ossiriand
Oct 25 2010, 5:40pm
Post #1 of 40
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Christopher Lee
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I know there's a lot of concern of where The Hobbit will be filmed, but is anyone else worried about Christopher Lee reprising his role as Saruman?
Continuity means a lot to me in movies -- that's why I'm so excited PJ is doing these movies. I'd hate to see anyone other than Christopher Lee play Saruman during the White Council scenes. He's already said that he probably couldn't make another trip to NZ due to his age (87 now I think), but that he'd be delighted to reprise his role if he could do his scenes in London. If The Hobbit is moved, I hope it's moved to the UK just for this reason.
Of course, the best result would be for the films to be made in NZ and for Christopher Lee to be shot in the UK. Anyone have any news or ideas on Christopher Lee as Saruman?
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Welsh hero
Mithlond
Oct 25 2010, 5:49pm
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he feels to old to travel so far. And as he's almost 90, I agree.
But if they could do what they did in Star Wars and put his head on a younger man or something, it would be ideal
http://www.facebook.com/hobbitnz
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Gildor
Ossiriand
Oct 25 2010, 5:59pm
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There are certainly plenty of ways to get him involved without him having to fly to NZ. And didn't Howard Shore do most of his work in the UK? If Shore can, then so can Lee! Fingers crossed that he'll be Saruman, but I guess we'll have to wait and see.
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AngryDwarf
Lindon
Oct 25 2010, 6:08pm
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He deserves a peaceful retirement
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As nice as the idea of reprising some roles are, but time is relentless demon.
I think Christopher Lee deserves to enjoy a calm retirement.
I'm confident that Peter and all the casting stuff (and maybe some special effects guys?) find a very appropriate solution to have a younger Saruman that feels true to the story and true to the continuity of the films.
If they have Martin Freeman to do a younger Ian Holm (a perfect fit and my personal favorite right from the beginning), they will find younger Saruman that fits the bill - even if we don't know him yet 
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someone please whip the Whipp!
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Auraran
Menegroth
Oct 25 2010, 6:42pm
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I've often thought that instead of flying, he could take a leisurely sea cruise to NZ ... but even that would be tiring. I think your idea is the best one. They must have him, in my opinion.
If they're going to film him, however, I suggest they make it their top priority before filming anything else.
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Welsh hero
Mithlond
Oct 25 2010, 6:45pm
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when the movie is out he will be 90.
Far to old to travel in to NZ to work. The only way is the face replacing thing. After all, they did it in the LOTR
http://www.facebook.com/hobbitnz
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Flagg
Dor-Lomin
Oct 25 2010, 6:53pm
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He does deserve a peaceful retirement
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and at almost ninety, perhaps she should be thinking about one. But he continues to appear in live-action roles, his latest being the upcoming Hugo Cabret. He's also appeared in The Resident and Season of the Witch just this year. I don't think he's ready to stop acting yet – he does seem to love his work, as he's appeared in more films than any other actor, last time I checked. Depicting Saruman's downfall from a noble Istar to a servant of Sauron could be a powerful final performance for him, if he does intend to stop working soon. And he is a great Tolkien fan, after all.
It makes a certain amount of sense to recast Bilbo for the prequel, since hobbits normally age (and though Bilbo technically shouldn't, the ring's anti-ageing factor is largely downplayed in the films) – but Istari do not age, so having a younger actor take over the Saruman role would not make sense, especially since they plan on bringing back McKellen.
Besides, Christopher Lee shooting a few greenscreen scenes in a local studio isn't going to be as demanding as it would be for Ian Holm to fly over to New Zealand and play the lead role in two huge action films.
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sphdle1
Hithlum
Oct 25 2010, 7:01pm
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I think he has been asked & here is my theory on what may happen...
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I think the movies will be primarily shot in NZ; however I think there will a fair bit that is shot at the old Harry Potter location, especially for Freeman, as he has to juggle his schedule between the Hobbit and Sherlock. It makes sense that they do certain scenes in the UK for this reason, and likewise if Lee accepts the gig, he will no doubt do his parts at the HP location with Freeman, McKellen, etc. Warner will utilize all their resources to make this movie happen, though I think the vast majority of it will be in NZ.
I would also bet that Lee does reprise his role, as he could have retired years ago...he must do it because it's what he loves to do. It's what keeps him young I'm sure.
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Lindele
Mithlond
Oct 25 2010, 7:10pm
Post #9 of 40
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than continuity. i hate seeing actors replaced. But, you have to consider. Christopher Lee is substantially older now than he was in LOTR. There is no way they can totally hide that, in my opinion. I mean, he is OLD now. so i guess i'm saying that even if he does reprise his role, i think the continuity could be off quite a bit
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MorgolKing
Ossiriand
Oct 25 2010, 7:10pm
Post #10 of 40
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I think the best solution is going to be putting him in front of a green screen and flying up some of the other actors to the UK. I just can't imagine another Saruman. As others have stated: It makes sense with Bilbo, but not Saruman. Also, you know that Christopher Lee would love to reprise his role -- these books are his passion.
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Richie Rich
Ossiriand
Oct 25 2010, 7:27pm
Post #11 of 40
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Keeping continuity is very important to me as well; just as Ian Mckellen is Gandalf, Christopher Lee is Saruman. I'm sure Peter Jackson will do whatever is necessary to keep Christopher Lee in The Hobbit.
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shadowdog
Nargothrond
Oct 25 2010, 7:45pm
Post #12 of 40
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they can fly the actors involved with Christopher Lee to the UK to shoot his scenes. I have, for a number of years followed the shooting of the Pirates movies and have been amazed at the number of times they have flown people half way around the world to shoot a couple of scenes at a specific location. 
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macfalk
Doriath
Oct 25 2010, 7:50pm
Post #13 of 40
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You do know that England-NZ takes over 20 hours to fly? Imagine then the amount of days it would take to cruise there.
The greatest adventure is what lies ahead.
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Flagg
Dor-Lomin
Oct 25 2010, 7:53pm
Post #14 of 40
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If he boards the ferry now he might reach NZ by the time they start filming. //
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Kyriel
Forum Admin
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Oct 25 2010, 8:12pm
Post #15 of 40
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That makes a lot of sense to me
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We know Christopher Lee was THE big Tolkien fan from the LotR movies - bigger, even than PJ. In fact, Lee had hoped for years to play Gandalf, himself! So I really doubt he'd pass on the opportunity to play Saruman again if there was any way it could be worked out.
We also know PJ is keen to get all the original cast members back, if they have an actual place in TH. Saruman certainly does. That being said, I'm sure his clever mind has already been working overtime on ways to slide Lee into the film.
My original theory was that Lee would do some green screen work in the UK, then be digitally composited with the other actors later. But it would work even better if he could film his scenes on actual sets, with other actual actors.
Anyway, I can't help feeling confident that he'll get in there somehow....Of course, I also couldn't help feeling confident James McAvoy would end up being Bilbo, so take with salt as needed. 
ETA: I don't see how Saruman would have any scenes with Bilbo, though, only with the White Council. So no Lee and Freeman together.
Those left standing will make millions writing books on the way it should have been. --Incubus
(This post was edited by Kyriel on Oct 25 2010, 8:13pm)
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Gandalf'sMother
Nargothrond
Oct 25 2010, 8:46pm
Post #16 of 40
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I actually welcome no continuity
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I am dying to see a different vision of Tolkien's world, which is why I was so excited about GDT's involvement. Now that PJ will be giving us his take again, I welcome anything that will make these films feel different - such as a new Saruman, and even perhaps, blasphemy of all blasphemies, a new Gandalf!
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carrioncrow
Menegroth
Oct 25 2010, 8:47pm
Post #17 of 40
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I preemptively absolve these film makers of any sins of continuity with PJ:LOTR films.
I want an excellent film adaptation of JRRT's THE HOBBIT. It is a work deserving of such treatment.
Demanding dovetailing with PJ:LOTR films (great though they were) throws up aditional hurdles to success and hog ties the imagination of some very creative people.
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Flagg
Dor-Lomin
Oct 25 2010, 8:52pm
Post #18 of 40
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What was so bad about Peter Jackson's version? //
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Richie Rich
Ossiriand
Oct 25 2010, 8:56pm
Post #19 of 40
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Yeah, I was always told, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it"
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Kangi Ska
Gondolin
Oct 25 2010, 9:02pm
Post #20 of 40
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My question is: What makes you so certain Saruman was even writen into the Hobbit(s? //
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Kangi Ska Resident Trickster
New Zealand is as close to Middle-earth as you can get.
At night you can not tell if crows are black or white.
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Flagg
Dor-Lomin
Oct 25 2010, 9:11pm
Post #21 of 40
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in interviews that GdT and PJ planned to incorporate the Necromancer/White Council storyline, and the recent confirmation of Radagast seems to support that. If they're including the Necomancer and the White Council, they'll have to include them in a very strange way if they want to leave out Saruman.
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Kangi Ska
Gondolin
Oct 25 2010, 9:24pm
Post #22 of 40
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There are ways to do Dol Guldur without Saruman appearing on screen.
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Before you start clamoring, I am not advocating this but it could be done and I can think of several ways off hand.
Kangi Ska Resident Trickster
New Zealand is as close to Middle-earth as you can get.
At night you can not tell if crows are black or white.
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Eledhwen
Forum Admin
/ Moderator
Oct 25 2010, 9:37pm
Post #23 of 40
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Some old guy in his 90s - or possibly a centenarian, I can't quite remember - emigrated to NZ from the UK to join his family. He took a cruise out to Wellington. It was in the news and everything. Sadly I think he died a year or so after arriving. But he got out there very comfortably! I think it's about a month's voyage.
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squire
Gondolin
Oct 25 2010, 9:54pm
Post #24 of 40
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Those days are past, for obvious reasons. Checking, I see that one can find passenger-carrying freighters that transit from the UK to Austronesia in the realm of 32-42 days. Accommodations are not spartan, but not as entertaining as cruise ships. There is one problem: most of these lines refuse to take passengers over the age of 75, since they are not equipped for gerontological emergencies!
A second option that would be fun for any of us to contemplate except perhaps the gentle and aged Mr. Lee, is taking the train from London to Saigon, via the Chunnel, Moscow, Trans-siberian line, Beijing, and Hanoi. From there, several buses and trains by short stages through Cambodia and Thailand to Singapore (comfy, Mr. Lee sir?). Then take the one twice-monthly freighter line on to Melbourne, and try to convince them to detour to N.Z. - total time, about 45-50 days in constant motion. (Wake up! Wake up, sir, we're here at last. Oh my GOD!!! Help, get help...!)
I think it is past time to try to draft Christopher Lee into the Hobbit films. Even if he were willing - and blessed fan that he is, he may be, given a London studio shoot - I think his aged appearance is beyond make-up's magic to re-transform him into a good Saruman that we will be seeing before he even appears in LotR. Any CGI effects in this regard are inevitably going to look a bit off in closeup. And as someone else has said, I agree that The Hobbit films need some freedom to be themselves, rather than doing expensive and contrived continuity backflips, just to dovetail perfectly into a different story with a different tone, that takes place eighty years later in story time, in a different part of Middle-earth, and made into films that were shot over a decade ago.
squire online:
RR Discussions: The Valaquenta, A Shortcut to Mushrooms, and Of Herbs and Stewed Rabbit
Lights! Action! Discuss on the Movie board!: 'A Journey in the Dark'. and 'Designing The Two Towers'.
Footeramas: The 3rd (and NOW the 4th too!) TORn Reading Room LotR Discussion; and "Tolkien would have LOVED it!"
squiretalk introduces the J.R.R. Tolkien Encyclopedia: A Reader's Diary
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