How Disappointing!!!

[Smaug_The_Magnificent]

What a sad end to an era. Having enjoyed The Lord Of The Rings Trilogy so much, to hear that someone else will be helming The Hobbit is an absolute let down. I was all for The Hobbit being made, but I'm certainly not now. I understand that PJ is busy at present, but let's not forget, he promised the fans that HE would make the film when all the distrubution rights were sorted out. Anyone else directing these films will not capture the same magic and atmostphere that The Lord Of The Rings potrayed so well. I understand that everyone is eager for these films to be made, but I can only see these films being a cheap knock-off with anyone other than PJ directing. I know for certain, unless things change I will not waste my time watching these films.

Long Live The Lord Of The Rings Trilogy!!!

 

[grammaboodawg]

once you've read through the various threads on all 3 boards! Believe me, I'm a HUGE supporter for Peter Jackson to direct these films; but he seems to be happy as Executive Producer who will have final say over how these films are directed, edited, orchestrated, etc. Peter's at the helm, but he's allowing another director to stand behind the camera, just as he did with several other directors for LotR. Remember how he sat behind a bank of monitors and oversaw what was done? I see this as essentially being the same thing.

It's assured that all the NZ people will be recreating the Middle-earth we know and love. Weta is on board and they still have the specs for the sets, locations, props, costumes, etc. I'm sure they're already looking into ordering ooodles of foam latex! From what we're led to believe, everything's in place and in control by Peter Jackson. Del Toro is very excited to be working with him, and you know Jackson would never have agreed to do this at all if he wasn't happy with the agreement. I'm sure he's also going to have plenty of pre-viz/story boards for Del Toro to follow.

I'm delighted with this. If you think about a year ago that we had no idea if Peter was going to be involved at all... this is a huge success. I trust he's not going to let anything happen to Tolkien's story and the visual world that's been created. He's a geek and a fan, too... and he's all over this project.

Now if we can get the writer's strike over with, we can get on with it!

 

[grammaboodawg]

from the homepage. Her words have reassured me that Del Toro is a perfect match for Jackson's style and sentitivity in how he films fantasy.

I wonder if she's going to don her camoflage and load her camera to do some more spying for us?

 

[Smaug_The_Magnificent]

Thanks Grammaboodawg, all the points you brought out have gone a long way to ease my mind.

 

[vtboyarc]

I've never heard of him, or seen any of his movies. I feel let down.

 

[Darkstone]

I understand that PJ is busy at present, but let's not forget, he promised the fans that HE would make the film when all the distrubution rights were sorted out.

David O. Selznick made Gone With The Wind, Samuel Goldwyn made The Best Years of Our Lives, Darryl F. Zanuck made The Longest Day, Tim Burton made The Nightmare Before Christmas, and George Lucas made The Empire Strikes Back. All great films.

They made them, but they didn't direct them. (Can you name the directors?)

I'm sure The Hobbit will have "The PJ Touch".

 

[Elven]

on these two films - it's a sensible manouver - and who's to say he wont at some point Direct - I have faith - I hold to the belief that his name will be there ... and his vision will be seen through. I just feel he can reap a deserved reward this time round - the legals would have sorted that - and also take the focus off him to some degree ... he gets to make the decisions - he's further up the pyramid ... Have hope that Peter will make sure these films are as good as LOTR, Smaug The Magnificent.

Cheers
Elven

 

[grammaboodawg]

who can say whether or not he'd find a moment here or a moment there to peek through the eye of the camera. The world would be none the wiser, and he'd have his fun being behind the camera without the responsibility of doing it every day. I'll betcha real money he couldn't resist!

 

[grammaboodawg]

but I'd strongly suggest renting Hellboy (sequel out this summer) and Pan's Labyrinth. Hellboy is a comic book remake that's lots of fun. It has Ron Pearlman in it as Hellboy (tv's Beauty and the Beast, played Elijah's mean Pa in Huckberry Finn, etc.), and it also has John Hurt (Harry Potter wand-seller, voiced Aragorn in Bakshi's LotR), and a few other faces you may recognize. It's just fun with a lot of action, "I'm fireproof, and you're not." *shudder* Tehanu has a great writeup of Pan.

Pearlman is also said to be one of those who may be in The Hobbit, so it'd be a two-fer... seeing Del Toro's work and our possible Thorin

Let me know what you think of Hellboy. I watch it all the time when I'm working at the computer.

 

[merklynn]

I thought Perlman was a fan pick, not actually up for the role. I like the idea, though I hope he can do a less american sounding accent. Also, maybe I'm in the minority, but Pan's Labyrinth and Hellboy had no small share or faults, and certainly don't make me think of LOTR. No reason to think Del Toro will not do a good job, but not enough for me to click my heels in the air and think the Hobbit film is in safe hands. I'd like to hear more from Peter Jackson about what is going on.

On a slightly different topic, I'd like to see some kind of announcement in the next two weeks on the status of the Hobbit. I appreciate that the writer's strike is interfering, but It's almost February, and we need to hear that this project has some genuine life to it and isn't going to turn out to be a colossal let down as time constraints and NL problems end up nipping this movie in the bud. Activity on this movie is going to have to pick up pretty soon, otherwise I think there could be some internal problems we are not aware of.

 

[Elven]

Its almost evil, In the nicest possible way of course!! [] ... we just know he's gonna be there! Yeah!! [laugh]

 

[grammaboodawg]

I'd love to hear of some real plans being made. But we've just heard about Del Toro, and supposedly the papers haven't even been signed yet. Pearlman is a rumour; but I'm sure having worked with Del Toro on the Hellboy films, he's not out of the question. I just get the feeling that actors and directors working in NZ are shown a whole new approach to acting, character development, and directing. It's not Hollywood, so I get the feeling there tends to be more freedom in flushing out a character and taking the time in developing them. At least, those under Jackson's watch

 

[shortround]

I had not thought about taking the simillarion and turning it into the second movie but it will be hard to due.


I think that making a second movie with a weak director is going to be risky.

 

[Altaira]

Heee, typing "welcome" to Smaug made me grin. []

Have faith that the 'team' of Jackson and Del Toro (quite a formidable one) will produce a movie that will be unique, but still worthy of Tolkien and his fans.

Also, do try to scan the boards before you start a thread. There are a few threads from the Home Page news already on Del Toro.

Welcome again! [laugh]

 

[Arwen's daughter]

The filmmakers only have the rights for anything contained within The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings. Christopher Tolkien still holds the rights for all of the Professor's other works and doesn't intend to let them go. The bridge movie will have to depend on the Appendices of LOTR and whatever they can glean from the two texts (assuming LOTR as a single book, here).

 

[merklynn]

What is the situation with the rights for Tolkien's work? I understand that Saul Zaentz has the rights for the LOTR and the Hobbit, but how long does he retain these rights? Did Tolkien hand these over indefinitely? And I had thought Christopher Tolkien liked the Jackson LOTR movies. I thought he would probably be open to the idea of allowing works like Silmarillion to be bought and developed by Jackson if he was interested? Does anyone know the real deal on the rights and when (if ever) the Tolkien estate will get the LOTR and Hobbit film rights back from Zaentz?

 

[Darkstone]

What is the situation with the rights for Tolkien's work?

Zaentz owns the exclusive merchandizing rights to The Hobbit and LOTR, including rights for film, stage, etc. The only exception is the domestic film distribution rights for The Hobbit which UA somehow held onto.

I understand that Saul Zaentz has the rights for the LOTR and the Hobbit, but how long does he retain these rights? Did Tolkien hand these over indefinitely?

Yes. The rights belong to Zaentz now.


And I had thought Christopher Tolkien liked the Jackson LOTR movies.

"'My own position is that 'The Lord Of The Rings' is peculiarly unsuitable to transformation into visual dramatic form. 'On the other hand, I recognize that this is a debatable and complex question of art, and the suggestions that have been made that I 'disapprove' of the films, whatever their cinematic quality, even to the extent of thinking ill of those with whom I may differ, are wholly without foundation."
-Christopher Tolkien


I thought he would probably be open to the idea of allowing works like Silmarillion to be bought and developed by Jackson if he was interested?

Probably not. One would suspect if he thought LOTR was "peculiarly unsuitable to transformation into visual dramatic form" it'd go doubly so for The Sil.


Does anyone know the real deal on the rights and when (if ever) the Tolkien estate will get the LOTR and Hobbit film rights back from Zaentz?

Never. (Unless of course they buy them back.) Though the estate will probably get the US distribution film rights for The Hobbit back after the film is made. Which means this may be the only film treatment of The Hobbit we'll ever get.

 

[grammaboodawg]

"...only film treatment of The Hobbit we'll ever get..." In the words of Peregrin Took facing a pile of dooooo... "That was close!"

 

[Smaug_The_Magnificent]

Thank you everyone for your replies so far. My gripe wasn't exactly pointed at Del Toro, it was a general gripe that PJ wouldn't be directing the film and the fact that he was only going to be an executive producer. I thought that as a executive producer that he wouldn't carry that much power over the project. As for the script, I know there's a writers strike in the US, but I was under the impression that Fran and Peter had got some sort of pre-script together a couple of years ago. It would be nice to have a bit more info on what's happening with The Hobbit.

 

[Ainu Laire]

Lucas didn't direct one (or more) of his Star Wars films, and had a lot of control over it, IIRC. I don't imagine that PJ and co is just going to let this slide. I imagine that he has quite a bit of creative control.

And, of course, WETA is still there. Yay WETA!