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News just in that the 23rd Bond has finally got the go ahead to proceed and will be released for November 2012. It will commence production later this year. Daniel Craig will make his third outing as Bond and Same Mendes will direct. Now that the restructuring deal for MGM is complete it means that Spyglass Entertainment will be behind the film as they have control of the studio. Barbara Brocolli and EON Productions will continue to oversee the project. No doubt more news will trickle through.
After buying Miramax from the Weinstein brothers in 1993, Disney has decided to sell the company. It has actually been trying to offload for some time and investment group Filmyard have now bought the company. Disney explains that it wants to concentrate on movies such as Toy Story franchise and more family orientated films than the more typical Miramax offering. It makes sense as Disney is very adept at utilising merchandising as an offshoot of its money-making family films. Remember the scramble for the folls when Toy Story first came out? After all they have to keep the Disney store supplied with product!
Peter Jackson now confirmed as director has announced the cast. Sir Ian McKellan of course returns as Gandalf, with Andy Sirkis also likely to return as Gollum. Martin Freeman (left) from the English original version of The Office will play the lead of Bilbo Baggins and fellow Brit Richard Armitage will be the leader of the Dwarves, Thorin Oakensfield plus they are joined by Irishman Aiden Turner from Being Human and Rod Kazinsky from Eastenders as the two dwarves Kili and Fili. The rumors of a move to the UK for filming is not necessarily confirmed by the Brits involved in the cast. It follows a similar pattern from LOTR where many of the cast were Brits. Graham McTavish (24), John Callen (Power Rangers) and Stephen Hunter are also named. The film is being funded by two studios Warner Bros and MGM and the tale will be split into two films with huge budgets. They will also be filmed in 3D. The fact that the "studio" used for the Harry Potter films is now vacant (an old Rolls Royce factory has led to the possibility that Warner Bros would make the film move over the uncertainty of having a stable production work flow in New Zealand but talks are still going on. To find out who may be missing from duo of films - click here
Warner Brothers has announced the acquisition of Leavesden Studios where the Harry Potter films were shot. A former Rolls Royce factory in North London will have additions and will be open to the public for behind-the-scenes tours around 2012. This is probably where the Hobbit films would have been made had there not been a compromise in New Zealand. However Warners have now committed to the facility long term. It has used British crew for a long time and is just following decades of tradition in making some of its films in the UK whether wholly or partially.. It will also be able to use the British tax credits which can amount to 25% of production spending. This is good news for the 1,500 people whose jobs may have gone following the end of the Harry Potter franchise. Warners may well create a further 300 following the upgrades.
First run movies may be coming to your home (well if you can afford it!). Studios are planning on launching near simultaneous service of theatrical releases straight to a box in your home for a hefty price. Find out more - click here
It looks like actor George Clooney is in the frame to be the Man From U.N.C.L.E. Director Steven Sonderbergh who Clooney has collaborated with many times will helm the film but given their busy schedules there is no news on when this project might commence. Clooney is set to play Napoleon Solo and it is said to remain in the 60s as the original.
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Despite all the problems that have stalked The Hobbit film of late, including unions threatening to strike, studios moving the production from New Zealand and director Peter Jackson falling ill soon after it was announced he would take over the film from friend Guillermo del Toro after he left due to all the delays, it has finally commenced production. With a two year schedule for both films, the first part coming out in late 2012 it has been a tough road. Will it keep to the new schedule? That will have to be seen. Martin Freeman who plays Bilbo Baggins is due to leave in the summer for a break to film the next season of Sherlock Holmes so we will see what happens. For more cast information please see bellow. Adding to those is Elijah Wood as Frodo and Cate Blanchett as Galadriel. Both of course not actually in the book but this is very much seen as a prequel to The Lord of the Rings trilogy and there will be more integration between the two. The story of the Hobbit is very much a children's tale as Tolkein wrote it with the dwarves engaging Bilbo to help them slay the dragon and on the way he gets diverted and finds the Ring. This book very much lays the groundwork for LOTR.
There is so much news coming out of Middle Earth (okay New Zealand) these days on the set of The Hobbit that we have dedicated a page to all that is going on so please - click here - to find out more.