Dungeons & Rabbits...

The Bunny has acquired the rights to another fantasy property...

Feeling bit by the sword and sorcery bug, Warner Bros. has added another franchise to their growing list of magical movies/shows.  So now "The Lord of the Rings", "Game of Thrones" and a possible "World of Warcraft" film will now have "Dungeons & Dragons" in the Warner stable as well.

Fantasy does good, and many geeks have always loved watching the genre, but it seems that only in the last decade+ that a good deal of Hollywood have taken note.  I feel that part of this is the direct result of several geeks/nerds being put in high level positions.  Unlike the suits of old, some of these execs actual have a taste for it, or know people with an understanding of it.

Now, I don't want anyone to think I'm praising the dreck that was that "Dungeons & Dragon" film from a decade ago.  It's a horrible stinker of a film.  But that doesn't mean the D&D property doesn't have tremendous potential and value.  After all, the 90's "Captain America" film is horrible, but the character isn't/wasn't.  "Captain America: The First Avenger" was a fun, great popcorn film to watch.  It's all in how it's approached.

Dungeons & Dragons has a wealth of material that can be drawn from.  From the books, gaming manuals and modules an entire universe could be put upon the silver screen.  Imagine an adventure in "The Vault of the Drow", or travelling through "The World of Greyhalk", or the dark and foreboding "Ravenloft" for example.  And they might even be able to go Disney's Star Wars route; where they have a main film one year (Episode VII) and another film the following year set in the same universe (Boba Fett, Seven Jedi, etc.).  That way they could have a main D&D film, and the next year have one in another land or realm outside the main adventure.

Yes, this is coming from someone that played/DM'd quite a few adventures with eight sided dice in his youth.  I'm sure it won't be one of these, but you can see that the game created by Gary Gygax's TSR, has many realms of possibilities.  It seams that Warner already has a plan/story anyway and that was why they were able to hammer out a deal with Wizards of the Coast, the current owner of the gaming system.

Producer Roy Lee (How to Train Your Dragon) and Courtney Soloman (sadly, directed the original film) have attached Frank Darabont (The Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile) to work with scibe David Leslie Johnson (Wrath of the Titans) on the script.  Strangely, this is based on a script that Johnson sold last year to Warner called "Chainmail" in a deal he already had with the studio (And another twist is that script is based on a game that Gygax created before D&D).  The writer also happens to have written the script for the aborted Doc Savage that Arnold was to start in with Darabont/Chuck Russell directing.

Close knit group, huh?  But they have their idea, and they have a script that is being retooled from one game to the one it inspired.  Apparently they already have a story to bang out.  Darabont is one of Tinseltown's best writers, and a great producer, so they're off to a much better start than the first try at this.

Here's to second chances...

Warner Riddles In The Dark...

One more ring to rule them all...










You've all seen the news about the expansion of "The Hobbit" from two to three films...

And now they've got names and dates, so we know what they'll be called and when exactly they'll come out. So when it's all said and done there will be six films, two trilogies, or a hexalogy if you count them all as one.

So the Middle-Earth series list would be:

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
The Hobbit: There And Back Again
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

After summer 2014 the series will be done, and the next question would be is this the end? Would Warner Bros. be satisfied with ending it there? No more films or anything else? Not hardly, in the words of John Wayne. In this world where international markets rule the box office and branding matters, this series is a known property and it doesn't take as much to sell it to audiences.

So what would be next? The most obvious choice would be "The Silmarillion." Now, I know that a fan asked Peter Jackson at this year's Comic-Con about that. He mentioned that Warner doesn't own the rights to that book and the Tolkien Estate isn't very happy with his adaptations of the late authors works (I really can't understand why this is). But obstacles can be overcome. Hopefully Warner can get the Estate to license the rights to the books, because the films actually help sales of the books and seeing the film. An agreement would be mutually beneficial for both parties.

But even if it happens, it doesn't mean the book would be an easy film. It is a large tome of epic tales telling the history of Middle-Earth in a sort of lyrical tale that's not set up in the same manner as the LOTR or the Hobbit. But it leaves room for more interpretation and layering of characters. But it would be an epic film if made. Most likely it wouldn't be contained in one film, so there is the possibility of another trilogy, or perhaps, a miniseries on cable? Or even an ongoing series? Something like HBO,A&E or even Netflix could be a venue to transmit/broadcast this new property.

And then there are the other products like video games, books, shirts, toys, etc. that would/could be exploited. If they can't get the rights, or even if they do get it and want to continue other avenues, then they can go other routes. After all, there have been several games that take place in the world of Tolkien that don't involve the characters from the film. Could they not produce a film series, or television series, or even an Internet series that is completely unrelated to events of the book? Something along the lines of "Tales of Middle-Earth" or "War of the Ring" type of thing? The possibilities are endless really. And do you really think that Warner's Suits would want to close the tap on this revenue stream? Think again.

There and back again, and again, and again...

A Tale That Grew In The Telling...

Them Baggin's is multiplying...






We all heard the possibility of Peter Jackson turning his Hobbit duology into a trilogy...

And now it's official. Via "The Hobbit" Facebook page the director made the announcement today:

"So, without further ado and on behalf of New Line Cinema, Warner Bros. Pictures, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Wingnut Films, and the entire cast and crew of “The Hobbit” films, I’d like to announce that two films will become three."

Go check out the entire post to see more of what Jackson had to say. Now we have to wonder what will the third film be called? Or will they just call it "There And Back Again Part 1 & Part 2" maybe? Now when it's all over, fans of "The Lord of the Rings" will have two trilogies to fire up on the Blu-Ray by 2015. But until then, it looks like Warner Bros. will own December for the next three years, which is their intent.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey - December 2012
The Hobbit: There And Back Again - December 2013
The Hobbit: TBD - December 2014

I know someone asked if Jackson would do The Silmarillion, but I think he'll be tapped out after these. And then he'd have to convince the Tolkien Estate to sell the rights. Which they might not do since they aren't happy with his adaptation of LOTR. Which I don't understand. It's as faithful as a film can be and still be a film, not a book. Each frame is filled with love of the source material, so I don't understand the disappointment. It sounds misplaced.

Perhaps if this is overcome, they can have Jackson/Wingnut Films produce the series and find other directors for that and other works that take place in Middle Earth. Possibly even a television series/mini-series?

The opportunities open up and become endless...

UPDATE:

The guys over at /Film have some info, via Fusible about what it could essentially be called. Warner registered several titles and a couple of them are: http://whois.domaintools.com/desolationofsmaug.com and http://whois.domaintools.com/riddlesindark.com.

So what it might turn out to look like is this:

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)

The Hobbit: Riddles In The Dark (2013)

The Hobbit: Desolation Of Smaug (2014)

Which means they could technically release the entire trilogy as "The Hobbit: There And Back Again" the following year. Just speculation, but not entirely incomprehensible. Is it?

San Diego And Back Again...

Precious film, it is...






When Peter Jackson took the stage he was filming it with his camera phone...

He mentioned that he was going to have another one of his video blogs out soon and wanted to show some of Comic-Con in it. Well, he has released that "The Hobbit" Production Video #8 for everyone to see. Take a look at it, there is a lot of emotion and care in what you see he's filming.

December we go back to the Shire...

There And Back Again, Back Again...

A game of riddles, it is...







Warner's panel was the one to be at this day, and this was a big reason why...

I just finished reading "The Hobbit" for the second time a couple weeks ago. So it's going to be interesting seeing this movie version of the book through Peter Jackson's eyes and not my own. After seeing this panel, I have to say that I can't wait for the Holidays. This looks like a gift left under my tree that I've waited a long, long time to open.

Peter Jackson is a man that understands this fanbase. He started doing those production blogs back in the 90's for "Lord of the Rings" way before other film makers/studios. Jackson understood he needed to get people, particularly fans, interested in this project. And people today do these kind of thing without thinking about it. So when Jackson walked out, he was holding his phone and recording the fan reaction for a new update blog on the film for people that didn't get to come to Comic-Com.

Jackson brought out the rest of the panel which included his co-writer and producer Phillipa Boyens, and then the rest of the cast joined them. He showed a large amount of footage from the film(s), including some scenes that take place in the second film. The bulk of scenes consisted of Bilbo and the Dwarfs arguing what they were going to do to get the treasure that Smaug guarded. Several other scenes/clips were shown, but the best of these was the meeting between Bilbo and Gollum. Sadly, the footage was all shown in 24fps, so we'll have to wait until the holidays to get a look at 48fps in all its glory.

There were the typical questions about things, but one asked about him possibly adapting "The Silmarillion" and Jackson honestly answering that the rights were owned by the Tolkein Estate (which I knew) and that they weren't too happy with his interpretation of the books (which I didn't know).

All in all, the film looks like a great continuation of the Middle Earth Universe, but it's not got the more dark, and somber tone of the LOTR trilogy. I can't wait to see this, but I also wonder in the back of my mind how different it is from the films that Guillermo del Toro had planned.

But really, we can never go there and back again...

UPDATE:

It appears that Peter Jackson is trying to get Warner Bros. to fund the filming of additional material which could wind up making the second film a two-parter. That would turn this in to a trilogy of films spread out over 2012, 2013 and 2014. If that doesn't happen, then it leaves a lot of footage that could be available for the Extended Editions of The Hobbit. Warner Suits will have to decide if they want to continue this series another year. I'm sure it's a tempting decision they have to make with all those dollar signs floating around in the air.

In A Hole, In The Ground, There Lived A Hobbit...

And in that hole he made a lot of money...











The first behind the scene video of the production of "The Hobbit" has been posted online...

Peter Jackson is an amazing film maker. He also seems to get what it is about selling a film and marketing it to a 21st century audience. He understands what Guillermo del Toro calls "Transmedia." This is one of four or five films that I eagerly await next year. I look forward to each new video that lets you inside this world of magical opportunities.

I hope you do as well...

There And Back Again Starts Today...

One Ring to rule them all and in Orlando bind them...










Today is supposed to be the start day for "The Hobbit" film(s)...

Warner Bros. production of the classic novel that gave birth to "The Lord of the Ring" should be lensing down in New Zealand as we speak. As someone that absolutely loved the books, the films and everything else about them, I can't wait to see Part One in December of 2012.

And now, if Disney would just license the films they can capitalize on mania that will happen over the new few years by putting a nice attraction in Disney's Hollywood Studios (just as the Second Part ends, what a coincidence that would be). It might even give them a reason to move that Sorcerer's Hat.

I know the Mouse has wanted their own LOTR, but Narnia sadly, wasn't it...

A Red Hobbit...

I haven't read this anywhere so I thought I'd mention a little technie-geek news that hasn't made it out across the wire/Net yet...

I'm a huge fan of "The Lord of the Rings" series; both book and films. Peter Jackson holds a great place in the heart of all geeks and Guillermo del Toro has a slightly smaller throne, but is firmly in the geeklove came. Not to mention he's a big Disney Geek/Fan and has a new label that will be producing films for the Mouse(and hopefully directing some as well).

If you know a bit about Peter Jackson, you know he's a big fan of the Red Camera. He made some really impressive World War I tests using the camera with the help of his Weta buddies. Well, it just so happens that "The Hobbit" will be shot with the new 5 K Red Cam. An interesting bit of news and I'm going to be excited to view a trailer for this to see out it looks. But that would be almost two years out. That may be a short time in Hobbit years, but for a human it's a good chunk of time.

So we'll have to wait and watch the casting, images and other surprises trickle out in the mean time...

There And Back Again And Again...

Soon, Empire Magazine will celebrate it's Twentieth Anniversary and they've turned the editorial reigns over to none other than Steven Spielberg, you remember him don't you? He's the brilliant director that made that mediocre Indiana Jones film last year...

Well anyway, he got some interesting things and juicy scoops for the issue. One of which is that Guillermo Del Toro and Peter Jackson have decided to turn "The Hobbit" into a two-parter. So that film will be broken in to two epic films so as to not have to strip away as much of J.R.R. Tolkien's brilliant prequel to "The Lord of the Rings."

No word on what will become of the other film that they were going to do back to back with this one. That "bridge" film is supposedly still a go, but nothing has been said about it lately.

I know Disney was hoping that "Narnia" would wind up being their LOTR, but that didn't pan out unfortunately(it was never that type of property, Suits...). I've got some thoughts about what and where they should turn next in an upcoming post next month.

Developing...

Hat Tip to /Film.

Frodo Never Lived...

Jeff Pepper over at the always great 2719 Hyperion has a detailed article on the history of the perceptions that Walt Disney once owned the rights to The Lord of the Rings...

It's a great read, give it a look.