Hobbit

[lynn]

The scuttlebut is that the studio has spent so long dithering over greenlighting The Hobbit that they've lost Del Toro to a scheduling conflict. Replacing him is Neil Blomkamp of District 9 fame.

[drivebyluna]

I heard Neil is out and Jackson is back in.

[Scary Gary]

I heard the same. PJ is back.

[lynn]

seems like the most logical choice really.
Ben tells me they never really wanted Blomkamp, they just tossed up a name to take pressure off PJ while he realised he'd have to do it.

[Gilberto]

I like that Jackson may be back, but I was kind of hoping a new director would give the Hobbit a different tone. The Hobbit is supposed to be jaunty adventure, not a dark epic.

[lynn]

Yeah but really, Del Toro is pretty dark as well. And with PJ Producing it was sure to be fairly close to the original.

[Gilberto]

This is a good thing if it's real, but they need to go ahead and get the damn thing shot. How is it you guys do LOTR back to back to back but it takes you 10 years to make the freakin' Hobbit?

[Scary Gary]

The holdup is the MGM bankruptcy/sale. They already closed the possibility of a 23rd Bond movie, now they are dragging their feet with The Hobbit. Surely, they must realize that the movie would be a cash cow, so there must be something else holding up the works.

[lynn]

Yeah, I read one website proposing that they haven't officially hired a director because then they'd have to pay him. They need to get the ball rolling before it flies out of control from their hands.

[Gilberto]

They need someone to take these projects off their hands. You're broke? Unload Bond and the Hobbit while they're still viable. The franchises are of no value if you kill them.

[Scary Gary]

Jul 29, 2010 16:58:46 GMT -5 Gilberto said:

They need someone to take these projects off their hands. You're broke? Unload Bond and the Hobbit while they're still viable. The franchises are of no value if you kill them.

Here is the last update on MGM's bankruptcy I read. screenrant.com/mgm-bankruptcy-deadline-extension-kofi-68850/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ScreenRant+%28Screen+Rant+-+TV+and+Movie+News%29

[broox]

Some casting news! Looks good so far...

www.cnn.com/2010/SHOWBIZ/Movies/10/22/the.hobbit.martin.freeman.ew/index.html?hpt=Sbin

[lynn]

Yeah, looks like things are getting moving, apart from the conflict over those stupid New Zealand actors actually wanting to get paid the same amount as everyone else so that Jackson has to spend actual money on them. Bastards.

[broox]

Hey, I don't make anywhere near the money I'd make for doing the same job I do now in New York or LA, and when I lived in Savannah I made nowhere near what I make here for doing the same job. Location does matter in the media market. Perhaps it shouldn't, but it does. If they're not careful he's just going to shoot it in England and they'll lose it all

[lynn]

Yeah well you can blame Australia, apparently it was actually the Australian actor's guild that made the complaint on behalf of the NZers. Which sounds far too altruistic for us, I wonder if we're not just jealous of them and secretly trying to sabotage the production?