Look at this: The Hobbit Begins Principal Photography In NZ 2005
The Hobbit will begin principal photography in Wellington, New Zealand, in 2005, under the direction sci-fi/fantasy director Paul Andersson, it was jointly announced today by Robert Shay, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of New Line Cinema; Michael Lyne, President and Chief Operating Officer of New Line Cinema; Mark Ordesky, President of Fine Line Features; and Andersson, who is also a writer and producer of the production.
Having abandoned any hope of covering up what a geek I am, I can now feel free to appear cautiously excited about this new development. Surprise and disappointment were the two most immediately expressed emotions in this household on learning that Peter Jackson would not be involved – and I assume that means that Fran Walsh and Phillippa Boyens will also not be in attendance.
However – same production house, same film company, same actors – and a director who has a suitably dark past in film-making. Resident Evil, Event Horizon and Mortal Kombat were hardly masterpieces (though the second of those was the first film that really scared me since the first Elm Street flick), and we’ll reserve judgement on the forthcoming Alien vs Predator – but you know what encourages me? Andersson is both a young director, and has a template to work from.
I’m not too concerned… just as long as Smaug’s voice is NOT Sean Connery.
UPDATE: Just learned that this was, in fact, a hoax. An April Fools Day prank. Read the comments below for more info on that. I guess if I’d heard about it on April Fools Day, I might have been more suspicious. Still, it’s all geared to lead you to look at this.
