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New Zealand fights to save The Hobbit
Stuff.co.uk report that thousands of New Zealanders will rally today to try to keep filming of The Hobbit in their country. Executives from Warner Brothers are expected to arrive shortly to meet with Peter Jackson to make a final decision on where the movies will be filmed.
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Warner Bros admits possibility of moving The Hobbit from New Zealand
Warner Bros has confirmed that it is considering filming The Hobbit movies offshore due to the recent labor unrest. As of now it seems that the unions, PJ and the government are all now working towards convincing the studio to keep the movies in New Zealand You can read the full story at stuff.co.nz.
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Mark Hadlow talks about The Hobbit
In this interview at Radionz.co.nz, Mark Hadlow, the New Zealand actor who has been cast as Dori the dwarf, talks about the forthcoming movies and his views on the union disputes. He states that it will be a “real tragedy” if the movies are not shot in New Zealand.
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The Hobbit has its Bilbo – and some Dwarves!
It has been officially confirmed that British actor Martin Freeman will be playing Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit movies. In a statement Peter Jackson said; “Despite the various rumours and speculation surrounding this role, there has only ever been one Bilbo Baggins for us,” Jackson said in a statement. Other roles that have been cast…
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SAG boycott of The Hobbit now over
New Zealand Actors Equity has removed its blacklisting of the two Hobbit Movies and the Screen Actor’s Guild has confirmed that its members are now free to work on the project. Whether or not this action can keep the film production from being moved from New Zealand still remains to be seen. You can read…
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Peter Jackson speaks out
You can watch a video at Tvnz.co.nz in which Peter Jackson and Philippa Boyens speak out about the ongoing union problems surrounding The Hobbit. PJ reveals that Warner Brothers are visiting on Monday. There are also interviews with Helen Kelly, president of the Council of Trade Unions, who feels that it is a “simple union…
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New Zealand Prime Minister in fight to save The Hobbit
John Key, Prime Minister of New Zealand, thinks that they should not write off New Zealand’s chances of keeping The Hobbit movies. He has fears that if Warner Brothers pull out then other film companies will follow. “There’s work to be done and the Government hasn’t given up trying to do its best to secure…
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Could The Hobbit be coming to London?
Stuff.co.nz report that if The Hobbit is to be filmed outside New Zealand then the new home for the films may well be Leavesden Film Studios in London. Fran Walsh has said that there were “strong hints” that Warner wish to relocate to London. “They’ve got a huge studio that Harry Potter have vacated that…
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Further news on the union dispute
Helen Kelly, president of the Council of Trade Unions has stated that if The Hobbit is taken offshore; “…it’s not the actors’ fault, because the dispute could easily have been resolved” and she claims that the reason for moving the movie offshore is; “because it can make more money overseas, through different economic levers like…
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Filming of The Hobbit set to move from New Zealand
Nzherald.co.nz report that preparations are being made to move filing of The Hobbit away from New Zealand. In a statement Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh said; “Next week Warner’s are coming down to NZ to make arrangements to move the production off-shore. It appears we now cannot make films in our own country – even…
