A recap of this past week's events
The big news this week concerns The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug Home Video release on DVD and Blu-ray, so you can expect a lot on that. Also, both Asmus Toys and the Gentle Giant have new The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings figurines. Aside from these, there are still interviews, videos, and more!
Another week has come and gone
without a single post from yours truly. Sorry about that. There has not really been much activity from my end at all for the past few weeks. I'll try to work up something interesting soon, but for now, you will have to content yourself with an overview of this past week's events.
The highlights and things I didn't have time to post from this past week!
Following the tradition started at the end of November, here are the latest interviews, videos, news bits, and everything else from the world of Tolkien fandom!
So... A lot of stuff has happened this week
Most importantly the world-wide opening of The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug! (A review is coming soon, so don't worry.) But that is certainly not all. Go beyond the break to check out the latest reviews, interviews, spoilers, and much, much more!
What has been happening in the world of Tolkien fandom!
I have decided to make this type of post a weekly series, in order to cover all the little things that do not justify a post of their own or that I simply do not have time to write about. Only five more days until we get to see The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug! And lost has been happening in anticipation of this event.
After the world-wide The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug fan event,
there has been an increased flurry of interviews and spoilers circulating throughout the web, with a large focus on two elves who are not actually in the book The Hobbit: Legolas and Tauriel, played by Orlando Bloom and Evangeline Lilly respectively. They talk about a huge stumbling block for many fans: their presence in the movie. Beyond the break are a list of links to such interviews and articles.
"Of course, the extreme fans are going to have their very strong and strict principles and thoughts on the truth of this world, but you can’t please all the people. Does Legolas fit in this world? Absolutely. Should he be in this world? Why not?"
Warner Bros. has finally given free reign to interviews, set visits, and plot spoilers!
This news is a few days old, I know, but life is busy. Anyways, if you have not heard, seen, or read any of the following, here is a list of interviews and set tours that contain many, many spoilers, yet, believe me, they are worth seeing.
Here are a few short videos that introduce the newest trailer for The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.
Martin Freeman and Stephen Fry both make an appearance, and, if you missed it, here is clip from NBC's Today Show featuring Ian McKellen and Orlando Bloom as guests.
Peter Jackson discusses all things directing with the Director's Guild of America
Here is a link to a fascinating, very in-depth interview with Peter Jackson for the Director's Guild of America's print magazine. He talks about his career and the many movies he has directed over the years, along with his techniques and experimenting with ground-breaking technology that has made his movies so memorable. The complete interview can be found at the DGA website.
The complete article on The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug from Empire Magazine!
Full of spoilers, behind the scenes, and interviews with Peter Jackson. Here are scans of the article on The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug from the August issue of Empire Magazine, which I found on Heirs of Durin. I hope you enjoy!
Peter Jackson tells us what to expect in the Extended Edition of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
In an interview with Empire Magazine, Peter Jackson lets on as to which deleted scenes make it to the extended cut. One involves the dwarves and the elves, where the dwarves are very rude to the elves. (I wonder if this is that scene.) We will also get to see more of Barry Humphries, a.k.a. the Great Goblin.
An exclusive first look by Entertainment Weekly
Along with an in-depth article about Tauriel, EW has also got its hands on a new photo of this fearsome elf, which you can see beyond the break. In the interview, Evangeline Lilly discusses Tauriel's social status and relationships with other characters. Many are skeptical because she is a non-canon character, so it will be interesting to see how things work out.
We finally have our answer to the question whether Aragorn would appear in The Hobbit movies - No!
Viggo Mortensen recently told The Guardian that he turned down an offer to reprise his role in The Hobbit movies. Instead, he is looking into possible directing, moving on, as he is 54 years old. It would have been awesome if he returned to Middle-earth, but, oh well, he did not.
Correction: Viggo Mortensen was never asked specifically to reprise the role of Aragorn. Instead, he was asked if he was interested, to which he answered no. It is a small distinction, but I will admit it is an important one. I apologize for posting inaccurate information.
Evangeline Lilly talks about her character
In the latest issue of Total Film, Evangeline Lilly told us that Tauriel is an "absolutely ruthless, deadly killer," quite different from any other character that has been in The Lord of the Rings or The Hobbit, aside from one or two of the meaner orcs. She is a new addition by Peter Jackson, so many fans are skeptical about this "spontaneous, passionate" elf. It will be interesting to see how she plays out in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.
The Dwarves, the White Council, Wizards, Trolls, and more!
The other day I came across a slough of new videos on a Japanese website. They are the most interesting videos I have seen since the last official trailer, so be sure to watch at least a few of them. These videos contain exclusive behind-the-scenes info and interviews, so they are well worth the watch, even though they do have Japanese subtitles.
An interview with Joe Letteri, who reveals the secrets behind the visual effects of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Stuff recently posted on their website an interview with Joe Letteri, the VFX supervisor of Middle-earth. He tells us about the benefits of the new technology that has developed since The Lord of the Rings, and the challenges of filming in 3D and 48fps. We also get some interesting info on Smaug. To read the full article, go here.
Richard Armitage, James Nesbitt, and Andy Serkis. . . again!
These three actors have been very busy. This is the fifth video I've posted that has concerned them. In this particular interview, they discuss how The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug will be much darker in tone and story line than The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. This is actually another part of the interview done by Yahoo! Movies UK & Ireland, hence the topic overlap with the previous post.
Richard Armitage, James Nesbitt, and Andy Serkis
Once again, these three actors are interviewed, this time by HeyUGuys.co.uk. This time, they all three tell us the The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug will be darker and less lighthearted than An Unexpected Journey. There will be more character development from Thorin Oakenshield, who has not yet made his last err in judgement, and there will also be quite more horrific creatures than the trolls or even the goblin king, not the least of whom is Smaug, and the terrors within Dol Guldur. . .
CraveOnlineVideo interviews Martin Freeman!
CraveOnline, an Australian DVD and Blu-ray retailer, and Martin Freeman, the star of The Hobbit, Sherlock, and The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, discuss Freeman's personal history with the works of J.R.R. Tolkien how the ending of the first movie changed after the third film was announced, Benedict Cumberbatch and his role as Smaug, and Andy Serkis as 2nd Unit Director, all in five minutes.
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