MGM to Produce "The Hobbit"

pawnder writes, "According to two sources, MGM and New Line are partnering to produce 'The Hobbit' as part of MGM's new plans to create blockbuster movies again. From theonering.net: 'Over the next few years, MGM is planning to release half a dozen films, some in the $150 million to $200 million-plus range. Studio is ready to unveil such high-profile projects as "Terminator 4"; one or two installments of "The Hobbit," which Sloan hopes will be directed by Peter Jackson; and a sequel to "The Thomas Crown Affair" with Pierce Brosnan.'" With or without Tom singing, is what I want to know.

age

[Anonymous Coward]

Since all the actors are older, how are they going to portray them as younger looking? I'm mostly wondering about Gandolf and Gollum.

Who cares about the hobbit?

[Anonymous Coward]

A sequel to the thomas crown affair! I am so excited.

Re:Huh?!?!

[Kuj0317]

Yep.

One for there
One for back again

clean division.

I know, jokes aside i agree. However, this is hollywood, and epics=$$$.

Not on my watch!

[Scrameustache]

There were only 3 LoTR books. Not 6.

6, usually sold two by two in three volumes.

You're on notice, buster: One more show of geekish ignorance and I'll have your nerd badge!

Re:age

[gEvil (beta)]

I didn't know Stephen Colbert read slashdot...

Re:Tom Singing?

[Scrameustache]

Stop hatin' on Tom Bombadil, sucka.

I think you missed out a bit on the significance of Tom's friend Old Man Willow and the Ents the hobbits later meet...
Plus he smote a hundred orcs, he's hardcore, yo!

Silmarils

[toddhisattva]

Want some Silmarillion,

Directed by Mel Brooks:

History of the World, Part Zero

Re:The singing Tom Bombadil - for the confused

[TrappedByMyself]

Well, if I had my way, we'd see a singing Tom AND he would be played by Shatner.

Such a missed opportunity.

What have I got in my pocket?

[CrazyJim1]

Oh yeah money, loads and loads of money.

Who really understands wimminz?

[geoffrobinson]

Cut a computer a little slack.

The Octopussy Affair?

[PMuse]

Sure, a man who is no longer on Her Majesty's secret service needs a new gig, but some roles you can can't live twice.

What are they going to do? Have Russo take the spy who loved her to Russia to test his nimble fingers at lifting a golden gun or some diamonds. Yeah, that's just what the doctor ordered, no? If they keep on stealing stuff forever, soon they'll be trying to rake in the moon!

That may be fine for your eyes, but I predict a thunderous ball of poo. Just live and let it die already.

Re:age

[voice_of_all_reason]

5,000 hours in MS Paint?

Re:age

[Eccles]

It's like goldy or bronzy, only it's made out of iron.

Re:Not on my watch!

[CynicalTyler]

Actually, there was no LoTR! It was invented by Peter Jackson and the false memory of reading the books (even the idea of Tolkien himself!) was implanted in your mind by subliminal messages in the advertisements for the movies.

Search your feelings, you know it to be true.

Re:age

[theneb]

Tom curise as the hobbit. Sure opener, who's with me?

Re:The singing Tom Bombadil - for the confused

[AuMatar]

I'd prefer Nimoy. He could rerecord the Ballad of Bilbo Baggins.

Re:age

[gEvil (beta)]

And not just Tom Cruise either, but a singing Tom Cruise! I can hardly contain myself.

Hobbit casting

[tverbeek]

Director Joel Schumacher will be recasting the role of Gandalf with a younger actor. Val Kilmer and George Clooney are on the short list.

Amazing!

[killmenow]

Your knowledge of The Lord of the Rings is astounding. I could only have been impressed more had you responded in Klingon.

Re:Amazing!

[killmenow]

Ah, I ruined the joke by submitting before preview. So I'll just ask: would it have been better to say "Elvish" instead of "Klingon" there? It's more on topic, but less obviously a nerd joke.

As an aside, my first idea for a post was to just write: NEEEERRRRRDDDDDSSSSSSS!!!!!

Re:Gandalf might be tough..

[Khashishi]

If he died shortly after filming, I am absolutely floored by how well they animated his corpse in X3.

That was Ian the Grey. X3 starred Ian the White.

Re:Not on my watch!

[djeca]

Look, it's pretty simple. There were originally supposed to be nine books; Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers and Return of the King are books 4, 5 and 6 respectively.

Tolkein never got around to writing books 1, 2 and 3 (or 7, 8 and 9, for that matter) because he was too busy rewriting the middle 3 books to be truer to his original artistic vision. From what I've seen of the drafts, the changes principally consisted of having Saruman shoot first. Oh, and replacing swords with walkie-talkies.

SPOILERS! Evil one!

[jonskerr]

Bad man! Both off topic and putting a spoiler in a headline. May the fleas who crawl across shit bite your ass, then bury their eggs in your nostrils.

Re:Just like the animated movies

[thesymbolicfrog]

You wouldn't be able to tell. Didn't you pay attention to that entire speech by Gimli about dwarf women? :)