The Hobbit in July 2007?

[Meneltarmacil]

Of course, some may regard that as a blessing ...

I believe there's a saying out there that goes something like this: "Better the devil you know than the devil you don't know." Peter Jackson may have done some things to LOTR that we didn't like, but how do we know somebody else won't be worse?

[Tuor in Gondolin]

Is there any reasonable speculation as to who else
might direct such a movie?

[Azaelia of Willowbottom]

*sigh* I had a whole post written out, but my wireless decided to go all wierd and it died right as I clicked "submit reply", so here we go again...

I think that the date is just a rumor.

If I may, I'll use Harry Potter as an example. The fifth Harry Potter movie is set to come out in July 2007...but anyone involved in Harry Potter fandom has been hearing about the production of that movie probably from about the time the fourth movie left the theaters. The director's name came first, then the projected date of release...and then followed news of which actors had signed on, etc. That movie is already shooting now.

There has been no news of that kind about The Hobbit at all, which makes me suspicious. I hadn't expected a Hobbit movie until maybe 2010... and that's if they seriously started the process now! That would give them time to untangle their rights mess, pick a director, get at least a draft of the script, audition actors and pick a cast, actually shoot the movie, loop dialogue, give the CGI team enough time to do their magic, find a composer, write a soundtrack, go through the editing process, and then promote the thing for release. Obviously, some of that stuff happens stimultaneously, but still. It's a huge undertaking, and I just don't think that they can do it in under a year. Rumors about the LOTR trilogy started in January '98...the first of those movies didn't appear until December '01. Granted, that was a much larger undertaking, but still.

I don't trust this news.

And I actually wouldn't mind if PJ directed TH. I'm used to his style, and I may be in a minority, but I actually liked the movies, despite differences from the book. *ducks*. I've just been able to appreciate the movies for the movies and the book for the book. His Middle-earth looks enough like mine so that it isn't jarring to watch. And as Menel said, better PJ who we know loves the book, and will stay true at least to the spirit of the story, than someone we have no familiarity with at all. I would trust PJ with TH. *ducks again*

I've read the news, and I think that it's just not enough to trust. A glimpse of what may have been the words "The Hobbit" on a July '07 calendar...? Could mean anything, including wishful thinking on New Line's part. I'm not going to trust it until New Line actually comes out and says it...the fact that they still haven't is a red flag. This stuff isn't just rumored about one year before it happens. Also, I think it's strange that the reporter wanted to be kept anonymous. I guess that keeps him/her safe if it turns out to be untrue...suspicious. [/werewolf mode, ]

[ninja91]

What movies are Jackson directing? Also, if it is for New Line, we cant count him out. Let us watch how this all plays out...

[The Saucepan Man]

Originally Posted by Azaelia

I hadn't expected a Hobbit movie until maybe 2010... and that's if they seriously started the process now! That would give them time to untangle their rights mess, pick a director, get at least a draft of the script, audition actors and pick a cast, actually shoot the movie, loop dialogue, give the CGI team enough time to do their magic, find a composer, write a soundtrack, go through the editing process, and then promote the thing for release. Obviously, some of that stuff happens stimultaneously, but still. It's a huge undertaking, and I just don't think that they can do it in under a year.

The date doesn't necessary have to mean the release of the film. It could signify the commencement of production, or even just a (legal?) meeting to discuss it.

Originally Posted by 91st ninja

What movies are Jackson directing?

As far as I am aware, his current commitmments are directing the screen adaptation of the novel Lovely Bones and producing a re-make of The Dam Busters.

[Rikae]

I don't believe it (unless, as TSM said, it's the date they'll start production). They would be filming it now, and they can't with the legal issues standing in the way.

I also hope that, when/if it's made, PJ directs it. I have a long list of complaints about his LOTR, but at the end of the day I liked them as movies and felt they were more faithful to the spirit of the books than not. I doubt another director would do better, and besides, it seems to me TH should have the same feel, as much as possible, as LOTR. I'll also be very disappointed if different actors play Gandalf and/or Gollum. (A different actor for Bilbo would be forgivable, since he would have looked much younger).

[Child of the 7th Age]

It's definitely not the date of the film's release. It would take a lot longer than that to get everyone on board and do the filming. It could simply be the date for filming to start or some sort of a meeting relating to legal/business matters. Or quite possibly it means nothing at all and is just a figment of someone's overactive imagination.

Probably a hoax, but I reckon it's a dead cert that 'The Hobbit' will become a movie eventually. I'd be annoyed if it didn't, like Lord of the Rings it's one of the finest works of Fantasy Literature I've ever read, children's book? Haha, I think not!