According to various sources, Guillermo del Toro is currently in talks to direct back-to-back installments of J.R.R. Tolkein’s “The Hobbit”, which is being co-financed by New Line and MGM. Del Toro is well known for his high-quality work on such films as “Pan’s Labyrinth”, “Hellboy”, “Blade 2″, and “The Devil’s Backbone.”
Peter Jackson, who directed “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy, was not able to take on writing and directing roles on “The Hobbit” due to other commitments, including “The Lovely Bones” and “Tintin.” Instead, Jackson is opting to become an executive producer with approval over creative elements of both films.
The first “Hobbit” film is slated for a 2010 release, with the second film scheduled for a 2011 release. Principal photography for the films, which will be shot simultaneously, is tentatively set for 2009. Production budget is set at about $150 million for each film.
“The Hobbit” centers on Biblo Baggins and Gandalf, who go on a quest to find the treasure of a dragon named Smaug. “The Lord of the Rings” wasn’t written by Tolkein until 17 years after “The Hobbit.”
Remember earlier this week when we told you about how Heath Ledger’s death would likely impact the production of the film “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus”, which was only half-way through shooting? Well, shooting has now been put on hold while producers decide if they should recast Ledger’s role, or scrap the film entirely.
The film began production in December in London, and was set to begin filming in Vancouver this upcoming Monday. According to a representative from the British Columbia craft union, the production is now listed as “force majeure”, which is a ccntract clause that releases all parties from liability in exceptional circumstances, such as the sudden death of a leading cast member.
Terry Gilliam’s film cast Ledger as a member of a theater group trying to save a young woman from the devil. Singer Tom Waits was to play the devil, Lily Cole was the young woman, and Christopher Plummer was set to be the 1,000 year old Doctor Parnassus.
Justice League” (Warner Bros.) no longer has a speedy start date as planed because options lapsed with the young cast, which George Miller, the director, picked to play the DC superheroes.
Project might be lucky and start late summer or fall at the earliest.
Cast members, rumored Adam Brody, Scott Porter, Teresa Palmer, to name a few, found out, yet were promised the studio’s determination to make the film with them. In spite of all that, quite a few problems need to be resolved.
Couple of the problems are not getting the official response it needed on tax breaks from shooting in Australia and script needs work, and well…, when will that happen.
“Airbender – Book 3: Fire,†Volume 2, debuting on DVD January 22nd, 2008. In addition to Chapters 6 through 10, the DVD includes commentaries by the creators and crew, as well as a free exclusive Avatar comic book!
As the kids continue to prepare for the coming eclipse, Aang and Zuko learn about their shared past, Toph gets into trouble in a small Fire Nation village, and Katara learns a Water bending technique that she wishes she could “unlearn.†The action culminates in the Day of Black Sun. The long-awaited invasion of the Fire Nation will change everything. Or will it?
On January 22, 2008, Shout! Factory, in association with Nelvana Enterprises, will unleash “Medabots: The Complete First Season†on a 4-DVD set.
Enter the world of “Medabots,â€where kids have the ultimate power — and supercharged robots. Fueled with artificial intelligence and a specialized arsenal of high-powered weapons, the “Medabots†compete against each other in exciting Robattles, with the winners acquiring Medaparts from the defeated Medabot.
But more than anything else, these challenges are about courage and mind power, where the soul of the Medafighter and Medabot combine to emerge victorious.
Hitting over 3000 theaters nationwide this Friday, January 11th is Uwe Boll’s “In the Name of King: A Dungeon Siege Tale.” Starring in the fantasy-adventure film are Jason Statham, Ray Liotta, Claire Forlani, Burt Reynolds, John Rhys-Davies, Ron Pearlman, and Will Sanderson.
In the film, a simple family man is forced to take up arms after an evil sorcerer unleashes and army of blood thirsty beasts that destroy his small village and capture his beautiful wife. As the forces overrun the land in an effort to overthrow the king and his loyal magus, the former peace-loving peasant and his two companions venture into perilous, uncharted terrain on a daring rescue mission.
While waiting for the movie’s release this Friday, check out these exciting video clips that will give you a taste of what’s to come:
According to various sources, Guillermo del Toro is currently in talks to direct back-to-back installments of J.R.R. Tolkein’s “The Hobbit”, which is being co-financed by New Line and MGM. Del Toro is well known for his high-quality work on such films as “Pan’s Labyrinth”, “Hellboy”, “Blade 2″, and “The Devil’s Backbone.”
Remember earlier this week when we told you about how Heath Ledger’s death would likely 
