Tag Archives: The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

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! →

Peter Jackson calls on Ed Sheeran to create “Hobbit” closing track

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Peter Jackson handpicked English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran to compose and produce “I See Fire,” the softly bold track that will close out the second Hobbit film when the credits roll. Jackson posted this video on his Facebook page and here’s an excerpt from his accompanying message to fans:

We have a tradition in our Tolkien films of having a song over the closing credits. It’s very important that the song feels right for the world of the movie – and also carries the emotional resonance of the end of that particular film. The Desolation of Smaug is no different. The ending of this film requires a voice and sensibility that will allow a viewer to process what they have just experienced. It’s always tricky to think of the right person to create and perform these songs. Someone who shares our passion for Tolkien, and somebody who is prepared to respect the film. This year we are thrilled to have Ed Sheeran write and perform our closing song, “I See Fire”.

It was a great experience, and what you will see in this video are moments captured by our behind the scenes team during the creation of the song. But the images are only supporting Ed’s wonderful song. This is his direct emotional response to seeing The Desolation of Smaug, written and performed on the same day he saw the movie.

And his “direct emotional response” turned out to be a thing of beauty. The song balances strength and grace and it’s easy to imagine it play as the second chapter of Jackson’s three-part journey comes to an close.

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug hits theatres December 13. Download “I See Fire” at iTunes today.

Movie trailer round-up: ‘X-Men: Days of Future Past,’ ‘The Hobbit 2,’ ‘The Wolf of Wall Street,’ ‘Robocop,’ ‘The LEGO Movie’ & ‘Anchorman 2’

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Bryan Singer returns to the X-Men franchise to direct X-Men: Days of Future Past, a time travel story that pits together nearly all of the X-Men heroes and villains from the movies made thus far.

The ultimate X-Men ensemble fights a war for the survival of the species across two time periods in X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST. The beloved characters from the original “X-Men” film trilogy join forces with their younger selves from the past, “X-Men: First Class,” in order to change a major historical event and fight in an epic battle that could save our future.

The trailer is pretty damn incredible; it sits above and you’ll likely feel inclined to watch it more than once.

Days of Future Past, with Hugh Jackman, James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Halle Berry, Anna Paquin, Ellen Page, Peter Dinklage, Patrick Stewart, and Ian McKellen, opens May 23.

Jump after the break to view more trailers. Continue reading Movie trailer round-up: ‘X-Men: Days of Future Past,’ ‘The Hobbit 2,’ ‘The Wolf of Wall Street,’ ‘Robocop,’ ‘The LEGO Movie’ & ‘Anchorman 2’ →

New ‘Hobbit’ trailer intros Benedict Cumberbatch’s dragon Smaug

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Here we have the “official main trailer” for the next movie in Peter Jackson’s Hobbit trilogy, The Desolation of Smaug. It builds upon the teaser that was released in June quite well, with more action, more of Evangeline Lilly’s elf warrior Tauriel, and most importantly our anticipated introduction to the voice behind the mighty dragon Smaug played by the one and only Benedict Cumberbatch.

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug opens December 13.

Movie trailer round-up: ‘The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug’, ‘300: Rise of an Empire’, ‘Don Jon’, ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’, ‘Elysium’ & ‘The Wolverine’

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Six months after The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey hit theatres we are getting our first look at Peter Jackson’s sequel The Desolation of Smaug in this 2-minute teaser. Martin Freeman returns as young Bilbo Baggins and here we get a sneak at Evangeline Lilly’s elf warrior Tauriel as well as Benedict Cumberbatch’s mighty dragon. The next Hobbit movie in the trilogy hits theatres December 13. A new poster is inside.

Jump after the break to view more trailers. Continue reading Movie trailer round-up: ‘The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug’, ‘300: Rise of an Empire’, ‘Don Jon’, ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’, ‘Elysium’ & ‘The Wolverine’ →

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.

New ‘Hobbit’ movie in the trilogy gets titled and dated

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Last month Peter Jackson announced that his adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit would be a three part epic instead of an originally planned two part journey. Since that news settled, Warner Bros. and MGM stepped out again to reveal the name of the new movie in the trilogy. So here it goes.

Part one, An Unexpected Journey, is still due out December 14 of this year. Part two, (drum roll please) The Desolation of Smaug, occupies the vacated space left by the originally planned sequel There And Back Again releasing almost exactly one year later on December 13, 2013. There And Back Again is now the name of the third film which will hit theatres in the summer on July 18, 2014. All three films will incorporate footage shot during principal photography which completed on July 5. Additional scenes will be shot for part three, which plans to incorporate expanded stories told in Tolkien’s appendices.

[Via Deadline]