How did it work with the writing of the script? Presumably you’ve had as much input as Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens?
Many, many months ago we sat down to discuss the structure with 3in by 5in cards and we laid out the two movies.
We were meeting on a daily basis at 9am and we would go at it for hours, into the afternoon. Then in the afternoon I would go to check on design.
Then at one point we split into two teams: I did one pass at things and they did a pass at things; it’s pretty much the way I’m used to co-writing.
But I must say what was great and what made a big difference was the amount of great ideas that I felt were generated in a day – it was staggering.
We could have written three or four versions of The Hobbit [laughs].
You mentioned the structure. Will the book make up the first movie, with the second movie plucked from the appendices and maybe even your imagination? Or will parts of the book be saved for the second movie?
We are respecting the structure established by Professor Tolkien because the order of the adventures in The Hobbit is well known to generations and generations of kids. You don’t want to be moving stuff like that.
But we will be integrating Gandalf’s comings and goings because he does disappear in the book quite often.
So, as opposed to the book, we see where he goes and what happens to him
Next: Working with Jackson
Comments
Motley
Oct 29th 2009, 11:10
I AM SO EXCITED BY THIS - I JUST CAN'T WAIT! I love Mr Tolkien, Mr Del Toro and Mr Jackson and am really looking forward to seeing who has been cast as Bilbo, who is Smaug's voice, whether it has the warmth and humour of Tolkien and can effect like LOTR did. *squeeeee*
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Looseball
Nov 7th 2009, 16:35
Del Toro and Peter Jackson are two of the greatest filmmakers ever, I have tremendous faith they'll make an amazing film just like LOTR was and hold up to everything that he said in this interview. If I were going to cast Smaug, it would definitely have to be James Earl Jones.
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lonelymountain
Nov 7th 2009, 23:48
I do hope we get to see a bit of old Bombadil! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZbA6nMqV1g
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labrat
Nov 9th 2009, 4:04
I like the idea of a JEJones voice, but Smaug needs to be something no one has ever heard, and I hope it is not snake like (slitherin-like). But that JEJ quality. I don't know how the dragon will be able to talk without looking hooky. Same for Beorn and his animal talk, and his pets, I hope it doesn't turn into a child's cartoon. There are so many important things that need to be in the movie. Examples: Thorin's father, GFather and Dain, were involved in the goblin wars in Moria, and Thrain and Thror were bearers of the one of the Seven. Bolg was killed by them, but one of his relatives (son, brother?) was the Great Goblin. I also think that the One Ring left Gollum, not so much because of Bilbo, but because Thorin a ring heir, and Gandalf who bore one the Three, were nearby in the caves. How did the Trolls get Glamdring and Orcrist-were they in Moria or some goblin hoard for millenia? Also, I think that when Gandalf encountered friends from Rivendell during the Troll episode that these friend could have been Elrond's sons and maybe a very young Aragorn. And surely the Dwarves stayed at Bree during their trip to Rivendell and passed by Weathertop. Thorin's father was kidnapped in Mirkwood (Gloin was his companion, but was not kidnapped, luckily) and taken to Dol Guldur where he was tortured and his ring taken from him. Gandalf found him there, but was unable to save him, but Gandalf did learn about Sauron. And during Bilbo's travel year, the White Council drove Sauron out of the Dol Guldur, the same year the Ring was found by Bilbo. More as it occurs to me
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