The Hobbit News

Here is a translation of an article from a bulgarian forum.

Sir Ian Mackellen will act in "The Hobbit".

The british actor Sir Ian Mackellen, who took the role of the wizard Gabdalf in the trylogy "LOTR" will also act in movies by Tolkien - In "Hobbit", said Sir Ian Mackellen for "Empire".
Acording to Mackellen, he already talked about this to Gilermo Del Toro and it is already confirmed, that the role will be given exactly to him. "It's obvious, that people do not refuse such a role. I like playing Gandalf", says the actor.
Mackellen said, that he has read "Hobit" and knows the plot, but now even the director of the movie can not explain, how will he make the movie. "But I can say, that it will be something lurid", says Sir Ian Mackellen.
In the mean time the agent of Mackellen, said for the agency "Asoshated press", that Ian has no official contract.
Let me remind you, that Del Toro was chosen for a director of the movie in april. The 43 years old Del Toro will need to live in New Zealand 4 years, so he can work for the New Line Cinema.
The shots have to begin in 2009. For now the synopsis for the movie is that, two movies will be relased in 2010 and in 2011. The budget will be arround 150 million dollars.

From www.cinemablend.com

Viggo Mortensen In The Hobbit!

By Josh Tyler 2008-05-21 03:39:12

We already know that Guillermo del Toro is working on getting Sir Ian McKellan and Andy Serkis back as Gandalf and Gollum respectively for The Hobbit. Tonight Variety added another returning cast member into the mix. Apparently director Guillermo del Toro is also reaching out to Viggo Mortensen, who played Aragorn in Lord of the Rings, to reprise his role for one of the two Hobbit films.

If you’ve read The Hobbit you’re probably trying to figure out where the heck Aragorn fits in, since he’s not actually in the book. Odds are he won’t be in the first movie, but the un second one, which will be cobbled together mostly out of ancillary Tolkien material that fills in the gaps between “The Hobbit” and the “Lord of the Rings” books. In those Aragorn figures prominently, used by Gandalf to capture and question Gollum and wooing the lovely Arwen who becomes his bride at the end of Return of the King. It’s likely that’s what del Toro is wooing Viggo for.

Everyone in the Lord of the Rings cast has seemed open in the past to returning for more work on any future film. Viggo in particular has always seemed especially dedicated to his character, and I can’t imagine him letting anyone else portray Aragorn son of Arathorn, as long as he has anything to say about it. If del Toro wants him, I’m willing to be Viggo signs up.

That would be great if they could get the old cast back. I think Viggo was dedicated to the character so much but he might have detached by now. He has done how many movies since? Uh Hidalgo, Hisotry of Violence, Eastern Promises, Alatriste, Appaloosa, The Road, Good. Did I miss any?

From www.slashfilm.com

Viggo Mortensen, Ian McKellen, Andy Serkis in Talks for The Hobbit

Posted on Tuesday, May 20th, 2008 at 11:06 pm by: Peter Sciretta


Guillermo del Toro will enter pre-production on the two-film big screen adaptation of The Hobbit after Hellboy II: The Golden Army hits theaters in July. Variety reports that Warner Bros has already had “preliminary contact” with three actors from Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy about reprising their roles for the upcoming prequels:

Viggo Mortensen (Aragorn)
Ian McKellen (Gandalf)
Andy Serkis (Gollum).

Guillermo promises that he is doing everything in his power to bring all the original team back.

“We will all be involved in the script in some fashion but the exact definition is about a week away,” del Toro told the trades. “I am all for keeping the actors who originated the parts, as much as availability and their willingness will allow.”

Basically, del Toro knows he needs to please the fans, first and foremost. It should be noted that on May 24th, WETA will be hosting a one-hour live online chat with Jackson and del Toro to answer the 20 most asked fan questions/concerns. Smart move.

Previously
Serkis lists The Hobbit on his upcoming production calendar on his official website and last month McKellen confirmed to Empire Magazine that he will return.

“Yes, it’s true. I spoke to Guillermo in the very room that Peter Jackson offered me the part, and he confirmed that I would be reprising the role. Obviously, it’s not a part that you turn down; I loved playing Gandalf.”

No word on Ian Holm who played an older Bilbo Baggins in Fellowship, will likely be recast as he is getting too old (76) to play the part.

Rings actor keen to work on latest films

The Dominion Post | Monday, 30 June 2008

American actor Viggo Mortensen, who played Aragorn in The Lord of the Rings, says he would happily reprise his role for Peter Jackson if asked.

"I'd rather not have another actor play the part that I started out playing for Peter Jackson. And I had a lot of friends from that experience, so it would be nice to work with them again," Mortensen told website Reelz Channel.

The Hobbit and a second film detailing 60 years between the end of The Hobbit and the start of The Lord of the Rings, will be largely shot in Wellington in 2010.

Aragorn does not appear in The Hobbit, but the second film might include the first time Aragorn meets elf princess Arwen – played by Liv Tyler in The Lord of the Rings, when he meets Gandalf the wizard and when he fights for the kingdoms of Rohan and Gondor under the alias of Thorongil.

"It's possible that they might ask me and some of the others to be part of it."

Guillermo del Toro, the director of the two films, has said he was in talks with Mortensen and others, but Mortensen said he had not heard directly from anyone involved.

From E online

Hobbit Director del Toro Talks Cast, Creatures

Today 9:34 AM PDT by Fred Topel


New Line Cinema, Lester Cohen/WireImage.com


The two movies based on the Lord of the Rings prequel, The Hobbit, may be a long ways off—hang on until 2011 and 2012, nerds!—but they're pretty much all Mexican director Guillermo del Toro gets to talk about these days. Sure, he's out promoting this summer's comic book flick Hellboy II: The Golden Army, but, like, what's up with Bilbo Baggins and Gandalf and that dragon?

We got the big scoop from del Toro himself at the Saturn Awards, where he received a lifetime achievement award. Here's what he told us about The Hobbit's casting, creatures and story:


First of all, expect some crazy new creatures. If you've seen Hellboy or his epic Pan's Labyrinth, you know del Toro would go beyond Orcs and talking trees. He promises to respect J.R.R. Tolkien's and Peter Jackson's creations, but sees many more new ones. "I plan to bring myself to The Hobbit," he said. "No doubt about that."



So what's he working on? Well, you know those creepily talented kids who sit alone in the corner drawing in notebooks? That's del Toro. He sketches all his magical beings in personal notebooks, but now the studio wants to own his ideas. So until all the paperwork is done, "it will be sketched on napkins, or it'll be sketched on loose pieces of paper."



And even though The Hobbit was Tolkien's tot-sized adventure, the film version will not be The Lord of the Rings for Kids. "Tolkien had, in the last third of the book—I wouldn't say an edge, but had a somber tone that normally would not conjure the term 'family.'"

And what about the cast? Who's gonna be the next Viggo Mortensen? Well, Gandalf is already locked up, as Ian McKellen has agreed to pick up his wizard's staff again. But the rest of the roles are wide open, despite what you hear about James McAvoy or anyone else.



"We'll cast whoever seems to fit the pages," del Toro said. Wannabe Hobbits may have to chase him down to New Zealand, though, where he'll be spending much of the rest of the year, checking in with the creature designs and the Middle Earth set.



"For me," he said, "it's like commuting to Burbank."

From moviesblog:

Viggo Mortensen Still Waiting For Guillermo Del Toro’s ‘Hobbit’ Call

Published by Shawn Adler on
Wednesday, September 17, 2008 at 10:25 am.

Last year, “Lord of the Rings” star Viggo Mortensen told MTV News that he was game for a chance to return to Middle-earth, and would welcome the opportunity to portray Aragorn in a “Hobbit” bridge film.

So why hasn’t director Guillermo del Toro called him yet?

“I haven’t heard anything,” the once and future king of Men said of news about the movie. “I met [Guillermo] once years ago,” but haven’t talked to him since.

The real reason that Viggo hasn’t heard anything, of course, is that scriptwriting for the sure to be blockbuster is in such an early stage, cast or even potential cast have yet to even be discussed, let alone contacted.

Still, though, there are actors, like Ian McKellen for instance, that have publically stated and affirmed their participation. So why not Mortensen? Is Aragorn going to be in the bridge film or not?

“Ian is very proactive. He’s been banging that drum!” Mortensen laughed. “It was a very important project to all of us and especially to him I think. He wants to make sure Gandalf is in there and in there early! I’m going to cross that bridge when I get to it.”

Make no mistake about it, though – Mortensen DOES want to go “back again,” having not changed his opinion since last year.

“Obviously,” he said. “I would rather have the chance to play that role myself since I originated it on film than have someone else do it.”

Given Mortensen’s statements, and del Toro’s own, we know that Aragorn will appear in some capacity in the bridge film. My question today is: How much? How much of a presence would you want or tolerate?

Guillermo Del Toro on 'The Hobbit' Casting
October 15, 2008 07:13:37 GMT

The Academy Award-nominated director discusses the rumors flying around the casting for the J.R.R. Tolkien's adaptation project from Hugo Weaving and Ian McKellen to Doug Jones and Viggo Mortensen.
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After opening up about his vision on the creatures of "The Hobbit", dragon Smaug and Wargs, director Guillermo Del Toro speaks out about what he knows of the casting. Talking to MTV, the 44-year-old fesses up that no one has definitely come on board the project though he and his crew have in mind some of the potential actors.

Asked whether Hugo Weaving will be cast as Elrond once again, Del Toro reveals that he has the intention to approach the star as well as other "Lord of the Rings" actors, like Andy Serkis and Ian McKellen. "Oh yeah. We have to approach him - of course," he says. "Hugo Weaving, Andy Serkis, Ian McKellen - they all must be approached to do the movie."

Moving on to the speculation of Doug Jones as the potential candidate for the Elvin King, the man behind "Pan's Labyrinth" hints that Jones may get another part but the King. "I would love to find a part for Doug. It's not necessarily the Elvin King. I think there is a part that will suit him, but it's not the Elvin King," so he claimed.

Additionally, he also addresses the issue of Viggo Mortensen's casting. On the occasion, Del Toro insists that he has not spoken to the Aragon's depicter. Exposing his reason, he further states, "I think that if you create the situation in which the actor has felt invited, that you cannot or do not find him fit for the part, he will feel slighted. Damaging to our relationship and damaging to the project. We are really cautious about not saying any names, because until the pages tell us what to do, we shouldn't."

To be produced by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson who has directed Tolkien's other novel adaptation "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, "Hobbit" will be a two-part movie centering on Bilbo Baggins. The first part, "The Hobbit", tells the story when the character embarks on a journey to reclaim the stolen treasure by the dragon Smaug and eventually comes into possession of the One Ring, while the second "The Hobbit 2" will serve as a bridge between "Hobbit" and "LOTR". "Hobbit" is scheduled for December 1, 2011 release and "Hobbit 2" is set to be released exactly a year later on December 1, 2012.