Hobbit delayed by a year?

[Bêthberry]

Originally Posted by Morthoron

As I'm not quite sure what you just said, I'll just pretend I am holding the TV remote and nod my head like I understand. It often works at home.

*Nods and smiles*

I'll have to remember this, as an example of a handy extricatory rhetorical device if ever it appears you are getting the best of me in a discussion.

Originally Posted by Mister Underhill

Never seen The Big Sleep? I'm shocked that a movie aficionado such as yourself never caught it. Ah well, the main attractions are Bogie being Bogie and the sparks he strikes with Bacall onscreen. It works much better as a novel. Take out most of Chandler's lively prose and strip it down to bare plot and I'm afraid it's a bit difficult to make sense of.

Anyway, what made me post is to say that in a lot of those old forties movies there didn't have to be any particular "activities" as you so delicately put it to prompt smoking; everybody smoked like chimneys all the time. They'd wake up in the morning and reach for a smoke.

Well, I say never miss an opportunity for innuendo, whether it fits fully or not, Mister Underhill. But, yes, sad to say, I do have these gaps. It comes from having not been born in the generation that watched these movies when they first were released.

Although I have seen the absolutely wonderful A Matter of Life and Death, 1946 version, which I believe in the US was released as Stairway to Heaven and revived by Martin Scorsese. My parents spoke endlessly of it, admiringly, to much laughter. There's a coke machine in heaven for the Yankee flyers; I cannot recall if there is much smoking in it, but as a film, it's

Originally Posted by Lalwendë

Personally I think it has been delayed while all the British actors auditioned for the role of the next Doctor - now the 11th has just been announced they can start casting for The Hobbit

Does this mean that David Tennant is now available to play a younger Bilbo?

[Tuor in Gondolin]

Does this mean that David Tennant is now available to play a younger Bilbo?

Only if he goes on a binge eating spree.
Even a middle-aged Bilbo wasn't exactly svelte.

[Bêthberry]

Originally Posted by Tuor in Gondolin

Only if he goes on a binge eating spree.
Even a middle-aged Bilbo wasn't exactly svelte.

Well, you know, Tennant has just had surgery on his back, so I was thinking that might faciliate a more rounded appearance, shall we say.

[Lalwendë]

Originally Posted by Bêthberry

Well, you know, Tennant has just had surgery on his back, so I was thinking that might faciliate a more rounded appearance, shall we say.

I suppose he might get t'hump if the new Doctor turns out even better.

I'll get me coat...

[Mithalwen]

Originally Posted by Bêthberry

Does this mean that David Tennant is now available to play a younger Bilbo?

Tennant is a fine actor (though Dr Who doesn't appeal to me now I am not 6 and don't find it at all scary) but he is far too lanky and fey to be Bilbo. I could see him as the elven king if we forget that he had gold hair in the book - but of course he wouldn't fit with being Orli's dad so it won't work for this set up) but he does have that dangerous quality ... can easily see him chucking Thorin in the clink.

[Tuor in Gondolin]

Actually, DT would make a rather good Elrond,
especially TH Elrond, but for Bilbo, remember
that in human terms you're thinking a 40ish
Babbit/Death of a Salesman type person, hmmm...

[Mithalwen]

Actually - David Tennant for me is far more silmarillion-ish. There are various roles he would be good for - Eol maybe particularly. I don't suppose it will happen but there are some Sil stories which would make great films. I have alwasy felt that the Hobbit (which truly comes alive when it is read aloud) with the mini cliff hanger ever couple of chapters was best suited to a tV serial like the classics they used to adapt for Sunday afternoon teatime family viewing -. But modern lifestyle means that they don't do them so much and of course it aint where the money is...

[Mister Underhill]

Narnia To Take Off With Fox

Following Disney's decision not to co-finance the next Chronicles of Narnia feature, 20th Century Fox said Wednesday that it plans to partner with Walden Media to make the movie. Daily Variety reported today (Thursday) that the film, Voyage of the Dawn Treader, will have a production budget of $140 million -- far less than the $215 million that last year's Prince Caspian cost. Nevertheless, the Los Angeles Times commented today that while the budget is much lower than Caspian, "it's still a big gamble." But Variety observed, "Dawn Treader is "considered to be a more family film-friendly book, and the goal is to get back to the magical aspects present in the first Narnia pic[ture] but mostly absent from Prince Caspian."

Also, I heard that Spielberg finally forged a deal to get the first Tintin movie going.

Actually I wonder if a bit of a budget crunch for The Hobbit might not be a good thing. Filmmakers often do their best work when they're forced to get creative to solve problems instead of just aiming the money hose at them.