Hobbit movie progressing

[Tuor in Gondolin]

There's a not uninteresting argument in TheOneRing.net for
a cameo by Orlando Bloom in TH.

Why Orlando Bloom
should be in ‘The Hobbit’

Although the author seems
under the misapprehension that Gollum was confined in the
dungeons (not up a tree) in Mirkwood.

An excerpt:

So while Legolas had no explicit role spelled out in the text, Princes of Mirkwood wouldn’t miss events like the notable capture of Dwarves or the restoration of his father’s honor and kingdom via war.

Now if it were up to me, Bloom would probably not speak a word in either of the two Hobbit films but would stand behind Doug Jones Thranduil silently supporting and honoring his father. He would definitely be present at the flicks’ biggest battle doing low-key but unmistakable Legolas moves.

I don’t know that Bloom would agree to a part with no dialog but if he would it would be a classic nod to his non-mention in the books while providing a line of continuity from del Toro’s films to Jackson’s. It wouldn’t require a large time commitment either and would likely delight studios and financiers. It wouldn’t be an over-the-top, distracting cameo but a tasteful, clever and humorous walkthrough that would also feel just ‘right’.

[Tuor in Gondolin]

In "interesting" news, TheOneRing reports that
Matthew Goode has auditoned for the role of Bilbo.

[mark12_30]

Originally Posted by Tuor in Gondolin

There's a not uninteresting argument in TheOneRing.net for
a cameo by Orlando Bloom in TH. Although the author seems
under the misapprehension that Gollum was confined in the
dungeons (not up a tree) in Mirkwood.

I do not think they kept him in the trees all the time.

‘ We guarded this creature day and night, at Gandalf’s bidding, much though we wearied of the task. But Gandalf bade us hope still for his cure, and we had not the heart to keep him ever in dungeons under the earth, where he would fall back into his old black thoughts.’... ‘In the days of fair weather we led Gollum through the woods; and there was a high tree standing alone far from the others which he liked to climb....

"keep him ever in dungeons" would nowadays be written "Keep him always in dungeons" or "leave him in dungeons all the time". I think he spent time in the dungeons. I think they periodically took him to the trees for recess, or Holiday.

[Morthoron]

Further construction on Hobbiton:

http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2010...on-set-pics-4/

Please notice they've widened the doors so that PJ's head will fit through.

[Herald_of_Mandos]

Originally Posted by Airaloske

if they add a bunch of stupid female characters or genderbend -ANY- of the dwarves, or add a bunch of sappy useless romance I will probably not go see it. I don't want one of my favorite stories to be ruined by PC pandering.

Don't worry, apparently all that will be kept to a bare minimum– only Kili will be female. Word is that she's in male disguise, running away from an arranged Dwarven marriage with the aid of her twin brother Fili:http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2010/04/01/35816-fili-and-kili-concept/

There's a lot of speculation on who will play the part, especially as it's still unclear whether or nor she'll have a beard:

http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2010/04/01/35817-kili-concept-1/
http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2010/04/01/35818-kili-concept-2/

Kili's role as Bilbo's love interest– cut tragically short when she takes an arrow for him at the Battle of Five Armies– is to be treated in a very sensitive and understated manner, "faithful to the spirit, if not the letter, of Tolkien's work": http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/film/news/e3ice1c355368464e5cfe3992dddf46b871

Looks like Tolkien purists everywhere can heave a sigh of relief!

[Tuor in Gondolin]

And in a bow to political correctness Bard will be played
by Uma Thurman. Peter Jackson explained that this will
be true to the spirit of Tolkien's Middle-earth mythology,
specifically citing the role of
Eowyn as a shield maiden and oliphaunt hamstring slicer.
At the conclusion of TH Part I Thorin and Co. arrive at
Bard's place to find her mourning the loss of her fiancee
when the necromancer's goblin minions entered their nuptial
celebrations and killed all of the wedding party but her.

Part II of TH is reported to also have some R rated violence
concluding with Bard's attack on the perpetrators at the Battle
of Five Armies.

[Lindale]

Should I give up hope of ever seeing TH on this lifetime?

[Brinniel]

Another setback for The Hobbit....

Del Toro has stepped out and will no longer be directing.

Full story.