Raimi Open to Helming Hobbit
Spidey director muses on the possibility.
by Stax
April 16, 2007 - While doing press for the forthcoming release of Spider-Man 3, director Sam Raimi addressed the rumors that he is in the running to direct The Hobbit for New Line Cinema since studio chief Bob Shaye has banned Lord of the Rings helmer Peter Jackson from tackling the highly anticipated project.
"Peter Jackson might be the best filmmaker on the planet right now. But, um, I don't know what's going to happen next for me right now," Raimi told Entertainment Weekly.
He continued, "First and foremost, those are Peter Jackson and Bob Shaye's films. If Peter didn't want to do it, and Bob wanted me to do it -- and they were both okay with me picking up the reins -- that would be great. I love the book. It's maybe a more kid-friendly story than the others."
Of course, helming The Hobbit might preclude Raimi from returning to direct Spider-Man 4. Spidey studio Sony seems to understand that. "Listen, we're making Spider-Man 4. Our hope, dream, and intention is to do it with Sam. But I don't have a crystal ball," Sony President of Production Matt Tolmach advised the mag.
Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh out of "The Hobbit"
Minor, probably meaningless tidbit:
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I wanna throw my body in the river and drown
-The Decemberists
I wanna throw my body in the river and drown
-The Decemberists
- Primula Baggins
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Raimi has every right to consider this, and to take the job if it's offered to him. But how I hope it won't be.
I'm sure he'd make a perfectly decent Hobbit movie, but the one I want to see is PJ's.
I'm sure he'd make a perfectly decent Hobbit movie, but the one I want to see is PJ's.
“There, peeping among the cloud-wrack above a dark tor high up in the mountains, Sam saw a white star twinkle for a while. The beauty of it smote his heart, as he looked up out of the forsaken land, and hope returned to him. For like a shaft, clear and cold, the thought pierced him that in the end the Shadow was only a small and passing thing: there was light and high beauty for ever beyond its reach.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King
- Voronwë the Faithful
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It's interesting that he seems to be implying that he would only do it if PJ gave his permission. Of course, it is likely that he is just being polite.
"Spirits in the shape of hawks and eagles flew ever to and from his halls; and their eyes could see to the depths of the seas, and pierce the hidden caverns beneath the world."
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Too many tea leaves to read. Perhaps the rumors are being put around to gauge fan reaction to the idea. Or perhaps to put pressure on Jackson to cave in. Or perhaps Raimi is mentioning them so that he can turn down the job in a way that benefits PJ. Or so that he can accept the job and give people the impression, at least, that he sought and obtained PJ's blessing.
I should write soaps. :|
I should write soaps. :|
“There, peeping among the cloud-wrack above a dark tor high up in the mountains, Sam saw a white star twinkle for a while. The beauty of it smote his heart, as he looked up out of the forsaken land, and hope returned to him. For like a shaft, clear and cold, the thought pierced him that in the end the Shadow was only a small and passing thing: there was light and high beauty for ever beyond its reach.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King
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No . . . that can't possibly be it.
(I do think there's more going on than the article conveys. Any situation involving canny lawyers, publicists, and executives and the potential for billion-dollar profits is going to have more layers than that. As I tried to say in my post, though, there's no way to know. In fact, wasn't it the screenwriter William Goldman who said of Hollywood, "Nobody knows anything"?)
(I do think there's more going on than the article conveys. Any situation involving canny lawyers, publicists, and executives and the potential for billion-dollar profits is going to have more layers than that. As I tried to say in my post, though, there's no way to know. In fact, wasn't it the screenwriter William Goldman who said of Hollywood, "Nobody knows anything"?)
“There, peeping among the cloud-wrack above a dark tor high up in the mountains, Sam saw a white star twinkle for a while. The beauty of it smote his heart, as he looked up out of the forsaken land, and hope returned to him. For like a shaft, clear and cold, the thought pierced him that in the end the Shadow was only a small and passing thing: there was light and high beauty for ever beyond its reach.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King
- Primula Baggins
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That in fact sounds quite likely to me.
“There, peeping among the cloud-wrack above a dark tor high up in the mountains, Sam saw a white star twinkle for a while. The beauty of it smote his heart, as he looked up out of the forsaken land, and hope returned to him. For like a shaft, clear and cold, the thought pierced him that in the end the Shadow was only a small and passing thing: there was light and high beauty for ever beyond its reach.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King
- Voronwë the Faithful
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Mark my words (again). The Hobbit (and the other prequel movie) will be directed by Peter Jackson. No ifs, ands or buts about it.
(Although I do think that Peter Weir would do a darn good job.)
(Although I do think that Peter Weir would do a darn good job.)
"Spirits in the shape of hawks and eagles flew ever to and from his halls; and their eyes could see to the depths of the seas, and pierce the hidden caverns beneath the world."
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Yes, I was happy to see Peter Weir's name on that list—I think PJ would be, too. They seem to have similar ideas about Getting It Right, and Peter Weir is incredibly gifted.
But the whole thing was erased by the nausea that set in when I saw the name "Michael Bay."
I hope you're right, Voronwë. Bob Shaye is elderly and his time at New Line will not be forever.
But the whole thing was erased by the nausea that set in when I saw the name "Michael Bay."
I hope you're right, Voronwë. Bob Shaye is elderly and his time at New Line will not be forever.
“There, peeping among the cloud-wrack above a dark tor high up in the mountains, Sam saw a white star twinkle for a while. The beauty of it smote his heart, as he looked up out of the forsaken land, and hope returned to him. For like a shaft, clear and cold, the thought pierced him that in the end the Shadow was only a small and passing thing: there was light and high beauty for ever beyond its reach.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King
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Swami Voronwë has spoken.Voronwë_the_Faithful wrote:Mark my words (again). The Hobbit (and the other prequel movie) will be directed by Peter Jackson. No ifs, ands or buts about it.
I think the idea of two movies is silly, though. The Hobbit is a sliver of a book compared to LOTR, yet they only used 3 movies to tell the latter.
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Weir? Ooooo. Yes, please. (where's Di???)
ttbk
ttbk
Glowah, eee chop glowah.
Ya glowah pee chu nee foom
Ah toot dee awe goon daa.
Glory, we found glory.
The power showed us the light,
And now we all live free.
Celebrate the light; (Freedom!)
Celebrate the might; (Power!)
Celebrate the fight; (Glory!)
Celebrate the love.
Ya glowah pee chu nee foom
Ah toot dee awe goon daa.
Glory, we found glory.
The power showed us the light,
And now we all live free.
Celebrate the light; (Freedom!)
Celebrate the might; (Power!)
Celebrate the fight; (Glory!)
Celebrate the love.
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Only one movie would be the Hobbit, Tom. The other would (apparently) be a movie that bridges the Hobbit and LotR, using material from the appendices mostly.
I would be excited to see two such movies by PJ. And while I know Peter Weir would make good films, I'd be worried about how far he might have to go to reinvent what PJ's already invented. It would just be more fun to have five films that more or less matched.
I would be excited to see two such movies by PJ. And while I know Peter Weir would make good films, I'd be worried about how far he might have to go to reinvent what PJ's already invented. It would just be more fun to have five films that more or less matched.
“There, peeping among the cloud-wrack above a dark tor high up in the mountains, Sam saw a white star twinkle for a while. The beauty of it smote his heart, as he looked up out of the forsaken land, and hope returned to him. For like a shaft, clear and cold, the thought pierced him that in the end the Shadow was only a small and passing thing: there was light and high beauty for ever beyond its reach.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King
Someone has already brought up Harry Potter movies, which, while directed by several people, retain the same look and feel.
But the Mummy director? The only redeeming feature about the Mummy movies was the casting of Oded Fehr.
But the Mummy director? The only redeeming feature about the Mummy movies was the casting of Oded Fehr.
If there was anything that depressed him more than his own cynicism, it was that quite often it still wasn't as cynical as real life.
Terry Pratchett, Guards! Guards!
Terry Pratchett, Guards! Guards!
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That can happen, yes, but if PJ directed they could retain not just the "look and feel" but the services of a lot of people whose work helped make LotR what it was. I realize the new director would have access to all the costumes and sets that still exist, those being New Line property, but would he use them? Would he want to?
Would Ian McKellen return? That's important to me and probably to a lot of other fans of the original films.
New Line has to know that in bypassing PJ they would turn two expensive films that are as close to surefire hits as anyone ever gets into two expensive films that may or may not bring the fans back in—a much greater risk. The temptation would probably be to do them as cheaply as possible, which would only remove them even farther from what made the LotR films so popular.
No New Zealand locations, I would bet.
Would Ian McKellen return? That's important to me and probably to a lot of other fans of the original films.
New Line has to know that in bypassing PJ they would turn two expensive films that are as close to surefire hits as anyone ever gets into two expensive films that may or may not bring the fans back in—a much greater risk. The temptation would probably be to do them as cheaply as possible, which would only remove them even farther from what made the LotR films so popular.
No New Zealand locations, I would bet.
“There, peeping among the cloud-wrack above a dark tor high up in the mountains, Sam saw a white star twinkle for a while. The beauty of it smote his heart, as he looked up out of the forsaken land, and hope returned to him. For like a shaft, clear and cold, the thought pierced him that in the end the Shadow was only a small and passing thing: there was light and high beauty for ever beyond its reach.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King