The Hobbit

[Perdita]

Ronan Keating has revealed that he has auditioned for a part in the Lord Of The Rings prequel The Hobbit.

The Boyzone singer, currently on tour in Australia, confirmed that he is moving to Hollywood with his family to actively pursue his acting ambitions.

"We are going there in July, Yvonne and the kids. We'll get the kids enrolled in school there," he told The Sun.

"It may be for six months or we could even give it a year. We'll see what happens. I've done a couple of castings, I've done an audition for The Hobbit.

"That starts shooting in New Zealand in July so we'd be based there for quite a while instead of LA if it happens."

According to recent reports, the release of the two-part fantasy epic has been delayed until 2012.

Boyzone release new single 'Gave It All Away' on March 1.

DS

[tammyy2j]

James Nesbitt has signed on to play dwarf Bofur in Peter Jackson’s two-part adaptation of The Hobbit.

The actor should feel pretty at home on the movie set, considering he’ll be among other Brit TV talents Richard Armitage (Spooks, Robin Hood), Aidan Turner (Being Human) and Rob Kazinsky (EastEnders).

“James’ charm, warmth and wit are legendary as is his range as an actor in both comedic and dramatic roles,” says Peter Jackson. “We feel very lucky to be able to welcome him as one of our cast.”

Meanwhile, acting newbie Adam Brown has been enlisted to play Ori, yet another member of the company of dwarves who set out to free the Lonely Mountain of Smaug.

“Adam is a wonderfully expressive actor and has a unique screen presence,” Jackson reveals.

[tammyy2j]

Cate Blanchett has signed on to the cast of director Peter Jackson’s adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s fantasy epic The Hobbit, reprising the role of the ethereal elf Galadriel that she played in Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy.

[tammyy2j]

Sir Ian McKellen has explained why it took him so long to confirm his return for Lord Of The Rings prequels The Hobbit.

The actor, who has agreed to reprise his role as wizard Gandalf for the two-part J.R.R. Tolkien adaptation, revealed why he has only just put pen to paper on a contract.

"The deciding negotiation was not about money but about dates," McKellen wrote on his website. "Gandalf is needed on set over the next 18 months but with sizeable breaks when I can work on other projects. My worry that I could not easily escape from Middle Earth was lifted."

McKellen stated that the ongoing talks led him to consider whether or not he should take on the role again.

"As my agent continued to negotiate with Warner Bros, I kept wondering was Gandalf what I most wanted to do, more than a new play for instance or indeed a new part?" he added. "Sequels aren't necessarily as rewarding to act in as their originals.

"Could I let Gandalf go? Would anyone else care if I did? Elsewhere, does anyone care that Michael Gambon was not the first to play Dumbledore?"

However, McKellen said that he believes Martin Freeman to be the "perfect" choice for Bilbo Baggins and praised Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens's script for The Hobbit: Part 1.

"It was true to the style, the fun and the romance of the trilogy," he commented.

The Hobbit will begin production on February 21.

[lizann]

Orlando Bloom is set to earn $1 million dollars for his upcoming return as Legolas in The Hobbit. The catch is, he will only be in the upcoming Peter Jackson directed prequel for less than two minutes, which makes his return to the The Lord of the Rings universe a fleeting cameo.

[tammyy2j]

Saoirse Ronan will reunite with her Lovely Bones director Peter Jackson on The Hobbit.

The Oscar-nominated Irish actress's involvement in the two-part fantasy prequel was confirmed by the movie's casting director Ros Hubbard.

Asked about the strong presence of Irish acting talent in The Hobbit, which features Aidan Turner, James Nesbitt and Ronan, Hubbard told IFTN: "We had been wanting to put Aidan Turner into film for a long time because he had done an awful lot of TV and we told him when we finally met him, 'We are going to concentrate on getting you into the movies.' I didn't think it would be as big as this. But how great for him.

"And Jimmy is thrilled to bits, his whole family have gone out, it is just wonderful. And working with Peter Jackson is like working with a family. So they'll have a great time. Saoirse's family will go too, everyone is very close and very loving on those sorts of jobs. It's not like typical studio movies at all."

Ronan's other movie roles include Atonement and Peter Weir's The Way Back.

Filming on The Hobbit was recently delayed after Jackson underwent surgery for a perforated ulcer.

[Perdita]

It's been a turbulent few years for The Hobbit (director changes, studio implosions, Peter Jackson's hospital visits), but any day now the long-awaited Lord Of The Rings prequel will go in front of cameras in New Zealand. James Nesbitt, who can soon be seen in medical drama Monroe, will be one of many recognisable faces in the cast as dwarf Bofur. We got on the phone to James to chat about his 'dwarf training', group bonding and immersing himself in J.R.R. Toklien's Middle Earth.

You're over in New Zealand filming The Hobbit at the moment - how's that going?
"Good. We haven't actually started filming yet. We got here quite early - we were always going to spend a number of weeks mainly kind of getting fit because it's a huge project and will involve a lot of stamina and stuff. And also getting used to the different types of work we'll be doing."

How's Peter Jackson doing after his surgery?
"Peter got a bit ill but he's well and on the mend now so we start in a few weeks. It's been a fantastic experience. Obviously it's very sad here at the moment with the earthquake in Christchurch. It's been very keenly felt all over the islands. But Kiwis are a tight-knit group and everyone's offering a lot of support. But yes, it's terribly beautiful. It's a wonderful opportunity. It's great for me just to be involved in something this epic and to have the opportunity to work with all these great people. It really is something I'm very grateful for."

You said before you were having dwarf training - what's that been like?
"Yeah, it's good! I mean, we're all playing dwarves - we're playing Tolkien dwarves, Bilbo Baggins goes on this journey with 13 dwarves, so it's great. We're just really doing different things."

What have they been making you do?
"We're doing lots of horse riding and stunts and stuff. We're basically playing! It's a very good way to earn a living, it's great. They're working us hard I have to say! But they're very down to earth. It has such a feeling of being a little company, it just happens to be a little company of thousands of people! But everyone is enjoying it. Every day's a little treat."

Who is the best and worst at the stunts, horseriding and so on?
"Richard Armitage is very good at the old horse riding because of course he did it in Robin Hood, so he's very good at that. Of course he's playing our leader, so it's right that he's good at that. Aidan Turner and Rob Kazinsky, they're fit young men. But we're all shapes and all sizes and we all have our own skills."

Were you a fantasy film fan before you joined The Hobbit?
"No I wasn't really, to tell you the truth. But obviously coming out to do this now I've immersed myself in it a bit. It's funny - as a company, we watched the three films together, so we were in the cinema all together. It's a very exciting prospect to be watching those and thinking, 'Oh my God, I'm going to be in something like that'. It is a chance to be a kid again."

The Hobbit movies are due for release in December 2012 and December 2013.

[Perdita]

Peter Jackson's two-part adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit has today started production in New Zealand.

The prequels will be filmed back-to-back at Wellington's Stone Street Studios and on location in New Zealand. Director Jackson will shoot both movies in 3D, based on a script co-written with Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens and Guillermo del Toro.

The Hobbit will take place 60 years before the events of the Lord Of The Rings trilogy, tracking the journey of Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) as he joins a company of thirteen dwarves on a quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor from dragon Smaug.

Freeman will be joined in the cast by Richard Armitage (Thorin Oakenshield), Ken Stott (Balin), Graham McTavish (Dwalin), William Kircher (Bifur), James Nesbitt (Bofur), Stephen Hunter (Bombur), Rob Kazinsky (Fili), Aidan Turner (Kili), Peter Hambleton (Gloin), John Callen (Oin), Jed Brophy (Nori), Mark Hadlow (Dori) and Adam Brown (Ori).

Sir Ian McKellen and Andy Serkis will reprise their roles as Gandalf and Gollum, while Cate Blanchett (Galadriel) and Elijah Wood (Frodo Baggins) are also confirmed to return.

Jeffrey Thomas and Mike Mizrahi are recent additions to the cast as as Dwarf Kings Thror and Thrain respectively.

The Hobbit has experienced numerous production problems, including bankruptcy to its backers MGM, the departure of original director Guillermo del Toro and the threat of union strikes in New Zealand.

The Lord Of The Rings trilogy grossed $2.9 billion at the worldwide box office and collected 17 Academy Awards, including 11 wins for 2003's Return Of The King.

The first Hobbit movie is due for release at the end of 2012, with the follow-up arriving a year later in 2013.

[Perdita]

Director Peter Jackson is scrambling to recast a role in upcoming movie The Hobbit after actor Robert Kazinsky quit due to "personal reasons".

The star had signed up to play Fili, a member of the Company of Dwarves, in the Lord of the Rings prequel and recently flew to New Zealand to start filming his scenes.

Jackson has now confirmed Kazinsky's departure from the movie and assured fans he is working hard to find a replacement.

He writes in a post on his Facebook.com page, "I am sad to report that Rob Kazinsky, who was cast in the role of Fili, is having to leave The Hobbit and return home, for personal reasons. Rob has been terrific to work with and his enthusiasm and infectious sense of humour will be missed by all of us. I should say that Rob's departure will not affect ongoing filming of The Hobbit, nor will it impact work done to date, as we had yet to film much of Fili's storyline. At the moment we are shooting scenes featuring Bilbo without the Dwarves, which will give us time to find a new Fili. I'll keep everyone posted with updates as they come."

Kazinsky has not confirmed the reason for his departure, only admitting he is suffering a "health issue", and he has thanked Jackson for his understanding.

He writes in a post on Twitter.com, "Thanks for all your support, Peter and team have been the most wonderful and supportive team to work for and it's with a truly sad heart that things have turned out this way. The Hobbit will go on to be as great as I've seen and I will miss the family and friends that I've (made) here. From every disaster I've tried to make an opportunity... It's a health issue... all will be well in time, promise!"


WENN

[tammyy2j]

Martin Freeman has accidentally revealed that his Sherlock co-star Benedict Cumberbatch has landed a role in The Hobbit.

The actor made the revelation at the 2011 BAFTA Awards after the pair picked up the 'Best Drama' award for the BBC One detective series.

Speaking in the winners' press room, Freeman let slip to reporters that Cumberbatch would be working with him again very soon in Peter Jackson's Tolkien adaptation.

Cumberbatch added afterwards that his casting was supposed to have been kept secret and refused to disclose details about his character.

Freeman later went on to comment: "I knew I was a big mouth, I didn't know how much of a big mouth, and I've ruined everything. And now I might not have a job to go back to!"

Cumberbatch joins a cast which now includes Stephen Fry, Aidan Turner, Hugo Weaving and Sir Ian McKellen.

[tammyy2j]

Trailer
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