MGM’s Mary Parent has just thrown a massive boulder into the lake of conversation about Guillermo Del Toro’s The Hobbit.
The ripples may well be tidal waves.
Parent said:
“For MGM, among those is a continuation of Bond and Pink Panther sequels, an announced remake of “Fame” and a not-yet-announced remake of “RoboCop,” possibly in 3-D. “‘RoboCop” would be great in 3-D, as would something we’re hoping to announce soon,” said Parent. This also includes “The Hobbit,” which will be filmed in two parts released in 2011 and 2012, and maybe more after. “There’s 80 years between the end of ‘The Hobbit’ and the beginning of ‘The Lord of the Rings,’” said Sloan. “Think of the franchise.” One other idea MGM was toying with was more “Rocky” films. Parent asked for a show of hands from the audience who might be in to that. Though there were a few very enthusiastic responses, many kept quiet.”
Thanks to Randy Scott for the tip.
So… what do you think?
When rumors started that The Hobbit would be followed by another “bridge” film that would span the time between The Hobbit and The Fellowship of the Ring, there were cries of dismay throughout the world of Tolkien fandom.
Do you want The Hobbit to launch a continuing franchise of films about Middle Earth?
Would you prefer that films be made from the “Lost Tales” and The Silmarillion? Is there enough good material there?
Or should they be original stories?
I forgot how to breathe the first time Beren saw Luthien, but I don’t know if that could translated to film. There’s lots of story there, but in order to work it would have to be greatly edited, and I doubt they’d do much good.
Me? I want Jackson to go back and cut the last 20 minutes off the last film, throw it out, and make an entire movie about the scouring of the Shire. That’s what the entire series is about. It’s absence is a blight and no I am not opinionated. It wouldn’t have the big battles of the other movies. And it probably would be a fairly short movie, but so what. I want to see them win back the Shire.
I was SO SAD that the Scouring of the Shire was left out! I waited and waited and waited. The end was so long that I just KNEW it was coming any moment. Then nothing.
That was a big disappointment for me too.
I think a franchise of the Hobbit would be horrible.
I hope this doesn’t happen. This is a special series — I think it can only dilute it to do too many films.
Hollywood, keep your grubby hands off of Wellywood!
“There’s 80 years between the end of ‘The Hobbit’ and the beginning of ‘The Lord of the Rings,’” said Sloan. “Think of the franchise.”
Rather, Ms Sloan, think of the Tolkien fan base who will turn their backs on what has far more potential to be junk than not due to the fact that not many in H’wood (including, I’ll wager, Sloan herself) understand the fantasy genre.
I’m aprehensive of this so-called Hobbit sequel enough as it is, wondering what they’ll foist upon us (or us upon it); but a Tolkien-esque franchise of Middle Earth-inspired movies sounds more like fanfic than quality storytelling to me.
Reminds me of this commercial: