The Hobbit movies

[CosmicDebris]

Freakin' James Cameron

James Cameron’s Advice To GDT On The Hobbit: “Get Out Of That Thing”

August 14th, 2010 by Earl | Source: Herald Sun | Discuss | 6 Comments and 5 Reactions

In an article by Australia’s Herald Sun about the re-release of James Cameron’s Avatar in 3D later this month and his upcoming producing role on GDT’s next directorial project At The Mountains Of Madness, there’s some very interesting information on James Cameron’s thoughts on GDT directing The Hobbit.

“I was telling him for a long time to get out of that thing because there is only room for one captain on the ship,” Cameron says. “Instinctively I knew that Peter was going to take over and do the movie. Guillermo, to his credit, didn’t listen to me and wanted to do continue and had some great designs – and I have seen all the designs. Of course he would have done a spectacular job, but don’t we want to see Peter do it? He should do it and Guillermo should do his thing. That’s what I told both of them – you should just stay in your corners.“

Speaking of the designs for The Hobbit, it might be good to recall that in an interview with James Cameron by Ain’t It Cool News last August on the then to-be-released Avatar, there was mention of James Cameron having seen WETA’s designs for The Hobbit. A snippet from that article reads:

Cameron mentioned that he’d seen some of their [WETA's] design work on THE HOBBIT and that it really is the original trilogy world created by Weta and Peter Jackson, but with a slight influence of Guillermo del Toro’s style. Cameron said the two styles mix perfectly together.

Back then, GDT used to frequent our message boards, and joined in our discussion about the AICN article. Here’s what he had to say:

For what is worth: Jim and I have been dear friends for over 17 years now. But that has not prevented us being very critical of each other’s work through the years. Just so you know- he would NEVER declare anything like this if he didn’t feel that way. What he saw were very strong designs and maquettes: GOBLINS and their environment, SMAUG (fully designed but without final color / texture), SPIDERS OF MIRKWOOD, MIRKWOOD, STONE TROLLS, WARGS, IRON HILL DWARVES, GUNDABAD ARMY, THRANDUILL’S THRONE ROOM etc, etc and he was delighted. This for me, as his friend, and as a filmmaker, meant a whole lot. You will / may disagree at the end of the process but, I assure you, this IS his opinion.

[Cyber-Robin]

This reminds me. Various DW and other sites have been stating that Sylvester McCoy is to play Bilbo in this.

I hope it's true. McCoy is the pwn

[CosmicDebris]

I have not heard any official news on his casting yet, still just rumors. Still, sometimes rumors are true...

[taboo]

i think this movie will never get fucking made

[CosmicDebris]

I think it will...someday....maybe I will have kids to take to it...

[Tijnn.]

This movie better be goddamn good.

[CosmicDebris]

Or else ...?

[Tijnn.]

I will be disappointed, of course.

[Captain Hypersock]

Smaug better be voiced by Chris Sabat.

[Malintex_Terek]

I will be disappointed, of course.

It's easy to forget a good film after a summer of smelly turds like we've been subjected to. I don't doubt that it'll be a good film though...just hold on to your short-swords.

[Cyan D. Funk]

Back the fuck up.

There's a Mountain of Madness adaption being made?

[Sakonosolo]

Fucking hell I didn't know James Cameron was producing AtMoM. Dammit he should just go die in a ditch somewhere.

Back the fuck up.

There's a Mountain of Madness adaption being made?

Yes. AND BY MOTHERFUCKING GUILLERMO DEL TORO !!!

[Ubiq]

i think this movie will never get fucking made

I don't see how MGM can afford for it not to be made.

Smaug better be voiced by Chris Sabat.

I still think it ought to be James Earl Jones.

It'll probably wind up being Andy Serkis though.

[CosmicDebris]

I don't think it'll be Andy Serkis since he's going to be Gollum. Besides, that's one of their golden opportunities to get another big name in there without having to worry about appearance.

[RobbyBevard]

I don't see how MGM can afford for it not to be made.

Because they're like 4 billion dollars in debt. Yes, with a b.

They can't get the next Bond film off the ground either.

If you can't afford to make a guaranteed franchise moneymaker like the Hobbit or Bond... there's a problem.

[CosmicDebris]

How the heck did they get that far in debt? Do they have politicians in their finance department?

[Cyber-Robin]

Sylvester McCoy has enjoyed a return to his home town of Dunoon in his role as this year’s Chieftain at Cowal Highland Gathering, first reported here. He told the local paper, the Argyllshire Standard, that he is in talks for a major role in the upcoming feature film The Hobbit which is due to start filming in 2011. "I am being cast in The Hobbit," he told the paper, "We're currently in negotiations - there are two of us under consideration. It's not the Bilbo role, but could be bigger."

So yeah. Just throwing this here =3

[Cyan D. Funk]

*looks up*

Hmm, dude looks like Johnny Cash...

[Ubiq]

Because they're like 4 billion dollars in debt. Yes, with a b.

They can't get the next Bond film off the ground either.

If you can't afford to make a guaranteed franchise moneymaker like the Hobbit or Bond... there's a problem.

Keep in mind that they only have international distribution rights to The Hobbit while Warner Brothers owns the local distribution and production rights through New Line. Worst comes to worst and they have to have immediate cash, they can sell the international distribution rights back to Warner Brothers. If anything, they're probably going to try to extort as much money as possible out of them for those rights.

How the heck did they get that far in debt? Do they have politicians in their finance department?

This seems to happen to MGM every twenty to thirty years or so. In the late '60s, they nearly floundered after a decade of either major hits or massive flops (they tended to make massive films that would either earn more money than every other film they made combined or would lose more money than the rest of their lineup could make), but were saved by a real estate developer who turned their massive studio backlot 3 into condos and who sold most of the props at auction.

In '86, they were bought by Ted Turner, who quickly sold them again, but who kept their film, television, and animation libraries. That's at least part of what is killing them now. Most studios can make some quick cash by releasing their old material on DVD or even selling it off to another group, but MGM can't do that for the most part as the bullk of their most high profile products (The Wizard of Oz and their animation) along belong to Time Warner.

Far as I can tell, right now their problem is that their only real major assets are James Bond and the distribution rights to The Hobbit. Besides the two Bon films, I can't really think of any successful films that they've made over the past few years.

[CosmicDebris]

Finally some solid news on casting!

http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2010...r-hobbit-cast/


Martin Freeman – Bilbo Baggins
Richard Armitage – Thorin Oakenshield
Aidan Turner – Kili
Rob Kazinsky – Fili
Graham McTavish – Dwalin
John Callen – Oin
Stephen Hunter – Bombur
Mark Hadlow – Dori
Peter Hambleton – Gloin