The Hobbit In Pre-Pre-Production

The Hobbit In Pre-Pre-Production

The Hobbit Effects Supervisor Richard Taylor says everything is moving right along.

By Hawksblueyes - Apr 03, 2010 07:04 AM EST
Filed Under: Fantasy
Source: MTV



Larry Carroll from MTV talked with The Hobbits Effects Supervisor Richard Taylor over the phone recently. Taylor was fairly forthcoming with information on all things Hobbit.

Here is what he had to say to MTV.....

"The great thing now is that we have experience, which we didn't have last time. We were going into it so green. This time, at least, we have the knowledge of what we learned last time, and hopefully we're wise enough to learn from that."

"The lovely thing about 'The Hobbit' is that the race of the dwarves comes to the forefront in the story, and [we'll depict] the uniqueness of the collection of the dwarves. In the "Rings" trilogy, the only dwarf we really spend extensive time with is Gimli. In "The Hobbit," Bilbo makes his journey with a whole group of them."



"Gimli had an incredible presence, of course. But he was only one character. And it's fantastic to think that we're going to be able to develop the dwarves to such a higher degree... the richness of their culture. The fact that through so many different dwarfs, you'll get to appreciate their cultural differences, where they come from, them as a people."

"We haven't actually started fully on pre-production yet — we're still in the design phase — but it's a wonderful opportunity to work with a unique director in [director] Guillermo [del Toro] and continue to work with Peter [Jackson] as the producer, who is so heavily involved."


On the subject of reported "production delays" Taylor seemed unconcerned.

"It's been an unrushed period of pre-pre-[production], and that's been a pleasure as everyone gets back into the right headspace," he said. "As far as schedules go, you'd need to talk to someone else about that. But from our own perspective, we're enjoying this early phase as it's ticking along."


I believe this movie will be every bit as epic as Lord Of The Rings When it is finally made.
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JoshWilding
JoshWilding - 4/3/2010, 8:03 AM
I loved the books but was never a HUGE fan of the movies...I am very much looking forward to this though! Nice find HAWKS! :) Oh and hell no to Del Toro directing The Avengers! Give him Doctor Strange maybe but he is not the right kind of director for The Avengers IMO.

Guys, check out my DAREDEVIL Fan Cast!!! Just click the link!!!
BubbaDude
BubbaDude - 4/3/2010, 8:06 AM
Still going to be 2 movies, I guess?

Been over 10 years now since the first LOTR movie....get with it already
Hawksblueyes
Hawksblueyes - 4/3/2010, 8:11 AM
Multi: I don't know if anything concerning the status of this movie has changed but I do think it will eventually get made. There is too much money to be made from the name alone for it not to.

I do think by the time it is made they will know exactly what they are doing and it should be fantastic.

I also sort of hope it is delayed long enough for Del Toro to be considered for The Avengers. Your idea for that is growing on me.

Josh: Thank you sir.:)
Hawksblueyes
Hawksblueyes - 4/3/2010, 9:01 AM
Multi: Do you think Marvel would gamble on Norton for a movie having so much importance to their company?
LuckyKyd
LuckyKyd - 4/3/2010, 9:07 AM
@Multi: Now there is a notion... I actually joked about it a week or two ago, but I don't think I would mind Edward Norton, not after what he did with the script for TIH, he sure do understand to adapt and explore the comic material in depth

Still, I agree with Josh in regards to Mr. Del Toro, he should do Doctor Strange!
screams
screams - 4/3/2010, 9:30 AM
I'm glad to hear they are moving along in pre-production. They do have a short list for Bilbo, and it's likely they have who they want, but cannot confirm before they have a green light and a budget... which probably won't come until after MGM is purchased.

I have faith.
JoshWilding
JoshWilding - 4/3/2010, 11:05 AM
MULTI: Now Ed Norton directing The Avengers is an idea I can very much get behind! It was clear to see on The Incredible Hulk special features that he wanted to be heavily involved with making the movie and I'm sure he'd do a great job. Still Favreau, Abrams and Vaughn remain my top choices while I'd be more than happy to give Johnston and Favreau a chance depending on how Thor and The First Avenger turn out!
ATOMbomb
ATOMbomb - 4/3/2010, 11:09 AM
I really liked LOR but I don't understand why they always do this. Shouldn't The Hobbit have come first..thats Hollywood never doin things in order. Abrams would be great for The Avengers or Len Wiseman, I really liked the last Die Hard.
Hawksblueyes
Hawksblueyes - 4/3/2010, 11:44 AM
Multi: Very good point, I would be much more inclined to take a chance on Norton than I would Whedon.
LEEE777
LEEE777 - 4/3/2010, 1:08 PM
ATOMbomb @ Very true also i just can't see the HOBBIT matching up to the LOTR movies... ever!
Layperson
Layperson - 4/3/2010, 1:55 PM
Aw, come on Leee...They're not the same. No, the Hobbit will just feel different, but to say that it won't live up to LotR is kinda a falsification. The Hobbit is a VERY different book than LotR was. It's significantly less developed in terms of the richness of Middle Earth, it has a lot more childlike fantasy elements, it's just a different over all book. Remember that the Hobbit was written to be a children's book version of his larger Middle Earth mythology.

What you're going to find with the Hobbit is that kids will love it. HARD CORE Tolkien junkies will like it, and all the people who enjoyed the LotR movies but know little of the actual Tolkien universe will think it sucks.

Mark my words.
Scorpioxfactor
Scorpioxfactor - 4/3/2010, 3:15 PM
I want "THE SILMARILLION"!!!!!
ATOMbomb
ATOMbomb - 4/3/2010, 5:15 PM
Was just thinking..how funny it would be if a Count Chocula movie was made. Starring Dave Chappelle, he could be going through manic depression because his cereal can't discontinued and he now has to look for real work. He could wear the costume through the whole movie. LOL..I know it sounds lame but hell hollywood has done a lot of lame shit and I swear it would be funny as hell. Damn I love that cereal!!
superdog
superdog - 4/3/2010, 5:50 PM
This movie will never happen
screams
screams - 4/3/2010, 9:09 PM
I know there is a lot of doubt about this movie happening because nothing has changed.. but really, nothing can change until MGM being bought out happens. The next Bond movie isn't going to be greenlit until after they buy out either.
48and2
48and2 - 4/3/2010, 11:40 PM
This is an interesting discussion going on here.

Del Toro seems to be capable of anything, but his strength really comes out in rich earthy, organic, dirty, naturalistic fantasy (Hellboy, and Pan). He has this obvious fascination with Black Forest period "fairytale creatures" (dwarves, elves, goblins, fairies, trolls, etc.), and fairytales themselves - which makes him ESPECIALLY suited for these films.

As far as The Avengers goes, he would be completely capable of it, but I think certain strengths he has would be held back - it could be confining. Dr. Strange is more his style, imo.

@Layperson - I think you hit the nail right on the head

although they may take great liberties with the supposed second movie "filling in the gaps".


As far as Wedon goes, I'm not sure. What I've seen from him is that 1. he's good with story AND character development, 2. doing alot with a little, and 3. WOMEN. - either he or Bigelow should do Wonder Woman, imo.

Finally, Ed Norton

The guy has a hell of a mind on him. I suggest you listen to the commentary on Fight Club, if you haven't - and that's in his early twenties. He's a significant part of why that movie and pretty much every other one he's done have turned out so well. So he's definitely a major consideration. I'm surprised he hasn't done more directing than he has actually - I predict he'll go on to be a Clint Eastwood type.

This might sound weird, but it's an observation I just had - Norton's always been good at going back and fourth between two different mindsets (Primal Fear, Fight Club, Hulk, Red Dragon is tenuously dualistic, etc.). I think he gets off on that stuff. And that is EXACTLY the quality Clint Eastwood claims has lead to his own tremendous success. Essentially, you have to be really REALLY good at "walking and chewing bubble gum at the same time". Norton seems to be just that.
48and2
48and2 - 4/3/2010, 11:51 PM
Really believe Del Toro is perfectly suited for Dr. Strange. As the character is often in a highly earthy, and organic environment - lots of strange tendril curling design elements, and he's "magic". There are "dragons" - seems what he did with Blade 2, there were some Asian themed design elements also. Dr. Strange is a bit Hellboy like, and as far as comic books go, let alone cbms, there are not THAT many places he would have complete freedom. Plus he's in such high demand, and is of such high quality, he will have to be used and choose sparingly.
Layperson
Layperson - 4/4/2010, 1:44 AM
@48and2, nice name btw, anyway...

Yeah I agree with you, I think that if and when they decide to do a Dr. Strange movie (hugh lorie for Doc Strange btw) Deltoro would be a phenominal choice for direction on that one. He doesn't belong directing the avengers though. He wouldn't be in his fantasy element doing the avengers, that's not to say he couldn't do it, I just thing someone like Letierre or J.J Abrams would be better.

I think it's strange that Tolkien books/movies end up on this website, seeing as though they aren't CBMs at all but I'm happy to talk about them.

@scorpioxfactor- Just out of curiousity, which Silmarillion story would you do? The fall of Numanor, Beren and Luthien, Feanor and the fall of Gondolin? there are so many stories in the Silmarillion that it'd be impossible to do just one. But don't get me wrong, i'd like to see them done in some sort of form, perhaps an indy collection of shorts. That would be the only way I could see them being done...but how could an indy flick make the money to produce such a film. I don't know, I just don't see it happening.


Btw, i'm a Tolkien geek too, it's nice to see that someone else out there has actually made it through the Silmarillion too.
Layperson
Layperson - 4/4/2010, 3:12 AM
It's crazy some of the names people have thrown around to play bilbo...I mean I know that people were talking the harry potter kid, and now Jermey Renner? C'mon people we need an older actor...I mean the whole point of the ring is that it stops Bilbo from aging! Remember the whole introduction to Bilbo in LotR?

Gandalf: "Bilbo Baggins, Elevnty one years, who'd have believed it...you haven't aged a day."

We can't have a twenty something year old play Bilbo...that goes against the whole premise of the ring.
48and2
48and2 - 4/4/2010, 1:12 PM
@Layperson - thank you sir. I remember quite a bit of debate on the subject (LOTR news on this site). You're more knowledgeable on the subject than I, but I believe everybody eventually came to the conclusion that there HAVE actually been some LOTR graphic novels?? Personally, I think it has merit to the site because of the innovation the trilogy has made - it basically opened the whole industry up for alot of eventual cbms.
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