Tag Archives: Peter Jackson

Peter Jackson’s ‘Hobbit’ threequel gets a new title

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There And Back Again is no more. In a Facebook post director Peter Jackson announced that the third and final movie in The Hobbit trilogy will now be named The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies. The change makes sense, according to Jackson.

Our journey to make The Hobbit Trilogy has been in some ways like Bilbo’s own, with hidden paths revealing their secrets to us as we’ve gone along. “There and Back Again” felt like the right name for the second of a two film telling of the quest to reclaim Erebor, when Bilbo’s arrival there, and departure, were both contained within the second film. But with three movies, it suddenly felt misplaced—after all, Bilbo has already arrived “there” in the “Desolation of Smaug”…And so: “The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies” it is.

The old title may not completely bite the dust, however. “As Professor Tolkien intended, “There and Back Again” encompasses Bilbo’s entire adventure, so don’t be surprised if you see it used on a future box-set of all three movies.”

And speaking of home releases, Jackson says he and his team are tirelessly working on the Extended Cut of The Desolation of Smaug coming later this year which includes 25 minutes of new scenes all scored with original music by composer Howard Shore.

Read Jackson’s post in full after the break, and look forward to The Battle of Five Armies set for release into theatres on December 17, 2014.

Continue reading Peter Jackson’s ‘Hobbit’ threequel gets a new title →

More ‘Hobbit 2’ production vlogs!

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Peter Jackson’s Hobbit sequel The Desolation of Smaug finally arrived in theatres on Friday and the behind-the-scenes production video blogs are still rolling in. Hanging above you’ll find vlog #13 featuring footage from scene pickups, a look into the dragon Smaug’s design, last-minute sound mixing, an introduction to Stephen Fry’s character, and you’ll get to witness Martin Freeman’s mad ping pong skills. After the break resides vlog #12 which came out last month and that one provides an inside look at post-production, more pickups, and it introduces fans to Jackson’s long-time collaborator Christian Rivers who took over as second-unit director when Andy Serkis was away shooting the next Planet of the Apes movie.

Jackson teases one more vlog on the way that will take place inside Wellington Town Hall where the movie’s grand score was recorded. Before you head out to see The Desolation of Smaug take a walk down memory lane and revisit the illuminating behind-the-scenes Hobbit vlogs dropped over the course of the last couple years. Continue reading More ‘Hobbit 2’ production vlogs! →

‘The Hobbit’ production vlog #11: Peter Jackson confirms no ‘Smaug’ at Comic Con

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It’s been a long while since we last heard from director Peter Jackson in a Hobbit production diary vlog; but just like he promised he returned to preview the next movie in The Hobbit trilogy. To start things off, Jackson delivered rather unfortunate news that The Desolation of Smaug will not make an appearance at Comic Con later this month. His crew and the stars will all be busy as the next two films are still in production and Jackson admits that he simply doesn’t have time to shift focus on preparing a sizzle reel for fans at the moment. With that said, our guide takes us back to Middle Earth for pickups. Though prinicipal photography wrapped in July of last year, the director explains that the gang was required to get back together to re-shoot certain scenes and additional footage that previously couldn’t be done due to factors like bad weather and other unforeseen circumstances. “It’s a reunion of people, props, and sets,” he says. He goes on to mention the upcoming Battle of Five Armies featuring the dwarves coming in the third pic There And Back Again, and we also get to hear from the luminous Evangeline Lilly who plays the elf Tauriel.

Like the rest before, this production vlog is jam-packed with all sorts of Hobbit goodness for fans to scan and devour. Witness locations, sets, costumes, and characters come back to life in this vlog all about pickups. And stay tuned; Jackson hints at another diary coming soon when pickup shooting concludes. The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug hits theatres December 13.

Editor’s Note: The tenth and final Hobbit production diary that covers the days and hours leading up to and including the world premiere of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is posted after the break in case you missed it, like me. Continue reading ‘The Hobbit’ production vlog #11: Peter Jackson confirms no ‘Smaug’ at Comic Con →

Peter Jackson takes fan questions in excerpt from ‘Hobbit’ live event

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Last month Peter Jackson hosted a live event from New Zealand previewing his next Hobbit film The Desolation of Smaug and Warner Bros. was kind enough to allow him to upload an edited six-minute excerpt from it. In the clip embedded above Jackson takes questions from fans regarding his new Hobbit trilogy with two surprise guests. Though the excerpt doesn’t reveal all that much, Jackson gets to show off his humorous side and viewers are privy to concept art and some behind-the-scenes footage.

The journey continues in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug on December 13, 2013.

‘The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey’ is out this Friday, go behind-the-scenes one more time

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Though the first movie in the Hobbit trilogy hasn’t even come out yet, it already feels like we’ve been on one unexpected and wild journey. Since April 2011, director Peter Jackson periodically dropped production video blogs that brought Lord of the Rings fans behind-the-scenes on the making of his next foray into Middle Earth. Each one explores a different aspect of filmmaking–from the logistics of location shooting to lessons in shooting in 3D–that culminates in an inside look at the grueling yet rewarding post-production process. Taken as a whole, the nine vlogs show just how much effort and sheer amount of hard work went into the making of the Hobbit movies.

And with just a few days until The Hobbit lands in theatres in the States, Mr. Jackson was able to slip one more massive video into our hands. A new 13-minute featurette, embedded above, takes us behind the scenes one more time before the adventure begins. In addition to Jackson you’ll hear from many of the actors, producers, and other creatives behind the making of the film. You’ll also be introduced to new characters, get a better sense of the story, and witness colorful concept art and new footage.

Return to Middle Earth this Friday, December 14 when The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey makes its grand debut.

‘The Hobbit’ production vlog #9

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Believe it or not but Peter Jackson is back with yet another Hobbit production vlog as the movie premiere is only four days away. Number nine focuses on the post-production process, specifically shining light on the work that goes into the special effects and sound design. Jackson leads a tour through the Park Road Post Production house in Wellington, New Zealand and we even get to travel 18,331 miles to the UK where the Hobbit soundtrack is perfected with a full orchestra in tow at Abbey Road Studios.

Jackson says that post is “due to be completed two days before the premiere, hopefully.” Though this rolls off his tongue playfully, I don’t think he is joking. It’s full speed ahead for Jackson and his talented team of animators and composers; An Unexpected Journey premieres this Wednesday, November 28 in New Zealand and then it comes to the States December 14. A tenth vlog is teased at the end, one that will take fans to the movie’s big Wellington premiere.

Editor’s note: In the craze known as Comic Con I must have missed vlog #8 and never posted it. I made sure to embed it after the break in case you missed it, too. In it Jackson takes us to San Diego and presents the Hobbit footage he screened in front of a packed panel. Continue reading ‘The Hobbit’ production vlog #9 →

‘Hobbit’ inspired in-flight safety video is a must-see for fans

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So you know those typically boring in-flight safety videos airlines make you watch before the plane takes off? Well I think I found one that you’ll want to sit through. If you’re a Lord of the Rings fan, that is. Air New Zealand has partnered with WETA Workshop to produce a Lord of the Rings / Hobbit inspired in-flight safety video featuring characters from J.R.R. Tolkien’s expansive Middle Earth, as well as cameos by director Peter Jackson and Andy Serkis CGI’d as Gollum. If you can overlook the basic seatbelt instructions, I bet you’ll enjoy watching this wonderfully crafted clip called “An Unexpected Briefing” made by Air NZ who’s now calling themselves the “The Official Airline of Middle-Earth.” From the bare, furry feet to the Elvish ears to Jackson’s disappearing act, it’s an instruction video I wouldn’t mind watching before lift off.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is out December 14.

Peter Jackson opens up ‘The Hobbit’, now a trilogy

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Peter Jackson is making it a point that his upcoming Hobbit story is indeed an unexpected journey. On Monday via Facebook he announced that his film adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s book The Hobbit is expanding from two movies to three. Here’s an excerpt from his statement:

It is only at the end of a shoot that you finally get the chance to sit down and have a look at the film you have made. Recently Fran, Phil and I did just this when we watched for the first time an early cut of the first movie – and a large chunk of the second. We were really pleased with the way the story was coming together, in particular, the strength of the characters and the cast who have brought them to life.  All of which gave rise to a simple question: do we take this chance to tell more of the tale? And the answer from our perspective as the filmmakers, and as fans, was an unreserved ‘yes.’

Jackson will expand the Hobbit universe by using stories gathered in Tolkien’s additional appendices, a total of 125 pages the author inserted into a later publication of The Return of the King.

Part one, An Unexpected Journey, comes out December 14, 2012. Part two, There And Back Again, comes out one year later on December 13, 2013. Part three, still un-subtitled, will follow in Summer 2014. Jump after the break to read Jackson’s three-film statement in full.

[Via Facebook; Deadline] Continue reading Peter Jackson opens up ‘The Hobbit’, now a trilogy →

‘The Hobbit’ movies wrap principal shooting, ready for Comic Con (new poster inside!)

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On the fifth of July Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson hopped on Facebook to post the image you see above and tagged it with this: “We made it! Shoot day 266 and the end of principal photography on The Hobbit. Thanks to our fantastic cast and crew for getting us this far, and to all of you for your support! Next stop, the cutting room. Oh, and Comic Con!” Having followed all of Jackson’s production video blogs this a giant sigh of relief for the production team and fans alike. Part one An Unexpected Journey is on track to release December 14, 2012; one year later part two There and Back Again comes out.

Also posted to Facebook is a beautiful image you can see after the break: a brand new poster designed specifically for Comic Con fans to collect at the con later this week. It features Gandolf standing high above The Shire where the unexpected journey begins with our friend Bilbo Baggins. Check back here for the latest on The Hobbit movies as more details surrounding the highly anticipated prequels come out of the con. Continue reading ‘The Hobbit’ movies wrap principal shooting, ready for Comic Con (new poster inside!) →

‘The Hobbit’ production vlog #7

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The seventh video blog that takes us behind-the-scenes of Peter Jackson’s upcoming Hobbit films has arrived! While the last two vlogs took us on a location shooting adventure, this one gives us a grand tour of Stonestreet Studios in Wellington, New Zealand. In fourteen minutes you’ll travel the length of the studio that includes the production offices, a giant trailer park that many of the actors call home, major departments such as hair and make-up, costume, art and the Weta workshop that creates the film’s props. Just like the vlogs that came before it, this one features insight from Jackson along with many members of the hardworking cast and crew. With The Hobbit parts 1 and 2 wrapping in just “a few weeks time” Jackson says that he will output one final vlog shortly thereafter, so we can all look forward to that!

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey hits theatres December 14, 2012.

‘The Hobbit’ production vlog #6

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While this new production video from The Hobbit isn’t as revealing as those in the past, this one is certainly the most beautiful. In this sixth installment, you’ll travel all around the stunning landscapes New Zealand has to offer and you’ll hear from director Peter Jackson, 2nd unit director Andy Serkis (who also plays Gollum), star Martin Freeman (Bilbo Baggins), and many other members of the hardworking cast and crew. Jackson shares that production on the two films has passed the halfway point (day 127).

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey hits theatres December 14, 2012.

‘The Hobbit’ production vlog #5

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Shortly after releasing the very first trailer for The Hobbit, director Peter Jackson uploaded a fifth production video. This one focuses on “the logistics of location shooting.” It shows how the massive production team establishes the beautiful landscapes of Middle Earth in New Zealand. After 110 days of shooting indoors, the team finally ventured outside to recreate Hobbiton, the tranquil neighborhood of hobbits such as Bilbo and Frodo Baggins. “It’s weird when you come back to a place that you literally thought you’d never see again,” says Jackson. Elijah Wood also feels nostalgic stepping back into the town of Bag End. “I’ll never forget that feeling of coming to Hobbiton for the first time.”

When the Hobbit huts were originally built in 1999 for the Lord of the Rings films, they were constructed with polystyrene and later torn down when filming completed. This time around, the construction crew rebuilt all the Hobbit holes using real wood, stone, and brick. Now they won’t deteriorate as fast and fans of the books and movies can schedule tours and visit the set. In the video you’ll even see that the Prime Minister of New Zealand approves!

At the end of the clip Jackson teases that there’s more to this location shooting-themed video diary; part two is coming in 2012. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey hits theatres December 14, 2012.