Well, that was fun!

[ourdramaqueen]

I must say, I really liked what I read - it seems PJ and GDT are very much on the same page about what they want to do with The Hobbit and Film 2, as it's being called right now. :D

I saved most of if not all of the chat, but since there will be a transcript on http://www.wetanz.com in a couple of hours anyway I won't post it here. I want to share some info that was revealed though - no story spoilers:

- According to PJ, they will write for the rest of this year (PJ, Fran, Philippa, and Guillermo) and start early conceptual designs (yes, John Howe and Alan Lee will be back; Guillermo had lunch with them in London "a few days ago"! :D) 2009 is for pre-production on both movies and they'll shoot them back-to-back in 2010, with The Hobbit being released December 2011 and Film 2 in December 2012. That's about as much detail as they have themselves right now.

- They do intend to rebuild Hobbiton, depending on agreement of the land owner, obviously.

- If they can make it work within either film (more likely Film 2, obviously), yes they would love to bring back any of the LotR actors! That, by the way, was the question most people sent in. :D

Comments

[garfeimao.livejournal.com]

Yes, it was fun, to be sure. GDT seems to have quite a crasp of what he wants from Smaug, which is awesome.

TORn already has the chat up, with commentary. I was tracking it as well, and did put it up, cause I'm a geek that way. ;-)

[ourdramaqueen.livejournal.com]

I'm very curious to find out what Smaug looks like and who GDT has in mind for the voice!

[mole-caz.livejournal.com]

I missed all this but the question I would have asked about using original cast, has been asked and answered any way. 2011 seems a long way off but then so did 2004 in 2001!

Wonder whether Elijah really would still be young enough looking to reprise Frodo should he be asked to do so? He's changed a lot during the past five years and I think the makeup artists might be struggling especially as he would have to be younger looking than in the trilogy. Soft focus might be the order of the day!

I wouldn't have thought the Alexanders would object to the rebuilding of Hobbiton seeing how much money they've made out of milking LOTR with tours! Heck they've had my money! The site is basically still intact so wouldn't take too much to rebuild I would have thought.

[foxykc.livejournal.com]

Personally I think Billy Boyd would be a terrific Bilbo. Wonder if Hugo Weaving will do Elrond. It makes sense that we'd see Legolas, although in the Hobbit, the King of the Mirkwood Elves is never named, and his family is never mentioned.

I could see, I suppose, Arwen putting in an appearance, but really, Aragon would have only been 20 at the time, and none of the other hobbits had been born. Obviously Andy Serkis has to do gollum, though

Since the characters consist largely of dwarves, one hobbit, three trolls, goblins, Gollum, Beorn, the wood elves and the folks at Dale, plus whoever else they run into between Hobbiton and Rivendel.

Plus loads of spiders, and of course, Smaug.