Sir Ian sheds some light on the status of “The Hobbit.”
Is there still chivalry in this world? Can you trust a knight? Can you trust an actor who’s been knighted? Can you trust an actor who’s been knighted who’s famous for (amongst other things) playing a good wizard? If so, then you’ll be happy to hear the news from Sir Ian McKellen that “The Hobbit” films are ready to begin shooting in June. Here’s what he said on his website:
THE HOBBIT’s, two films, start shooting in New Zealand in June. Filming will take over a year. Casting in Los Angeles, New York City and London has started. The script too proceeds. The first draft is crammed with old and new friends, again on a quest in Middle Earth.
The director Guillermo del Toro is now living in Wellington, close to the Jacksons’ and the studio in Miramar.
So…if you’re a Tolkien obsessive (or a McKellen, del Toro, or Jackson obsessive), you might want to get down to Wellington soon.
Here’s hoping it’s true and that the films will be good. Plenty of questions remain: casting, of course; where the book is split (and again, it’s not a long book–how are they dragging two movies out of it?); and 3D or not 3D? I’ll have to trust the Jackson-del Toro team, I guess.
