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Marching for The Hobbit
Radio New Zealand report that up to 1500 people from New Zealand’s film industry have been marching in Wellington today. Chanting “save Middle Earth” the workers are concerned that filming will not take place in New Zealand due to a dispute between Peter Jackson’s company and the actor’s union Equity.
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Film technicians meet to discuss The Hobbit
Tvnz.co.nz report that an emergency meeting of film technicians in New Zealand has taken place to discuss the future of The Hobbit movies. The actors dispute may mean that filming will take place outside New Zealand and Sir Richard Taylor (head of Weta Workshop) has said that; “The mood is one of great concern…By the…
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Hobbit dispute meeting cancelled
The ongoing actor’s dispute regarding The Hobbit has yet to be settled and a meeting planned for today has been cancelled. The dispute is over pay and conditions and Actor’s Equity is asking members to boycott the movies. You can read the full story here.
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Casting Rumors Galore…
IGN.com is reporting that Martin Freeman may have been cast as Bilbo, and has a few other rumors (any guesses on what role David Tennant might play?). People.co.uk is also reporting that James Nesbitt may have signed on for a major role. As always, these are just rumors — if we hear anything concrete, we’ll…
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The Hobbit Films are Greenlighted
The Hobbit film has gotten the greenlight from MGM and Warner-Brothers, with PJ as the director. Filming is to begin in February. You can read more about it here, here, and here. It is important to note that the union difficulties mentioned in earlier news are still an issue, but hopefully this will be resolved…
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Where in the world will The Hobbit be made?
The New Zealand Herald report that there has been a “useful and productive discussion” between various groups in New Zealand about employment issues. However, the final decision as to where The Hobbit will be filmed will be decided by Warner Brothers. A decision is expected within the next two weeks.
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The most expensive film ever?
The Hobbit could become the world’s most expensive film ever made, with estimates of its cost at $500 million (£315 million), twice the cost of the LotR trilogy. The budget has increased due to delays including those caused by various legal disputes. You can read more at The Telegraph.
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Martin Freeman still hopeful about The Hobbit
Empire Online report that Martin Freeman is hopeful that he might still be in line for the part of Bilbo in The Hobbit. Martin has revealed that in the past scheduling problems meant that he had to turn the offer of the role down.
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MGM Settling Debt; New Zealand Union Issues Still in Play
Reports are coming in from Los Angeles of an imminent deal to rescue the financially troubled MGM studios, clearing the way for production to begin on The Hobbit. News from New Zealand are less promising, as attempts by the Council of Trade Unions (CTU) to settle a dispute between Hobbit producers and actors’ unions have…
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New Zealand government steps in over union problems
Concerns that union disputes may mean that the filming of The Hobbit may go out of New Zealand have led the government to step in to try to help resolve the dispute. You can read more here.
