January 10th, 2011
10:50 AM ET
Elijah Wood to appear in 'The Hobbit'Editor's Note: Look out below the jump: There's a spoiler alert as to how Elijah Wood's character will fit into 'The Hobbit.' After much speculation, it's finally official: Elijah Wood has joined the cast of Peter Jackson's two-part "The Hobbit" saga. While that may be fantastic news for "Lord of the Rings" fans, it also has followers of the J.R.R. Tolkien book series scratching their heads, since Wood's character, Frodo, doesn't appear in "The Hobbit" novel and wasn't even born when the action takes place. The explanation is simple:
SPOILER ALERT According to Entertainment Weekly, Frodo will appear at the beginning of both "Hobbit" films, narrating his uncle Bilbo Baggins's story from a memoir that Bilbo left behind. That memoir is contained in a book that Frodo was seen writing in at the end of 2003's "Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King." "The Hobbit," which stars Martin Freeman as Bilbo, Cate Blanchett as Galadriel, and Ian McKellen as Gandalf, is scheduled to begin shooting in New Zealand in February. The films are currently slated to arrive in theaters in December 2012 and 2013. |
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Spoiler alert! we all read the book.
I think itll be a great film! And mite i add, its rude for people to comment negatively just to be heard! We may be Hobbit nerds, but they have hate in thier hearts, sad
Smaug! Smaug! Smaug!
To everyone crying about ruining the original storylines: At least it's not "The Crystal Skull"
Frodo' past was altered for the LOTR films, therefore I do not know how they are going to work him into The Hobbit.
I loved the movies, and I am a purist thank you very much...
If you can't even spell Silmarillion right, then you, dear Kristi, are no Tolkein purist.
lol, someone got owned 😛
Meanwhile, you can't even spell Tolkien's name right...
If you really wanted to make a movie and follow the books... He should do the simarillion... I love love love Tolkien!
The Silmarillion (this is the correct spelling, by the way) takes place in the First Age of Middle Earth. It describes the creation of Middle Earth. The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings take place in the Thrid Age. There is no way to tie them together. In the first place, to try to put the Silmarillion on the big screen would be an undertaking the likes of which would compare to the six part Star Wars saga, only it would probably take a lot more than six parts. It's that massive.
True that, Frankie. And as far as I know, Tolkein didn't write any books that took place in the Second Age.
I know movie directors take license in putting books to the big screen, but us purists don't like whats going on. The Hobbit is a master work in it's own right. We don't need to see a "hook" to get LOTR movie fans to see The Hobbit.
Correct, Frankie. Anyone who saw LOTR will know what to expect from The Hobbit without needing a "hook". Anyone who read both The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings ARE purists, as I am. Most of us have re-read all four books several times. Those of us who are purist are most assuredly annoyed at what will be done to The Hobbit.
Guess what...the general public DOES need a "hook" to tie the movies together and if you were a "purist" you wouldnt have seen the movies in the first place...so i guess that makes you a "sellout."
Great – so the world's gonna end before they release this thing! Just our luck!!!
hardly a "spoiler"...
Yes! Thank you – can hardly wait. Been hoping for some of the old faces to show up in the new movie and my prayers have been answered. Luckily for us fans, Peter Jackson will be directing this one as well. And now for the icing on the cake: please bring back The King (Viggo Mortensen) – sometimes dreams do come true!
The Hobbit takes place in a different time; many years before the fellowship, and in a completely different part of Middle Earth than does LOTR. To put charactors from LOTR in the Hobbit dilutes the whole timeline and reduces Middle Earth, a whole continent, into a small territory. This whole thing is a shame
Quite right. And if you want a King to be in the Hobbit, there already is one. Thoren Oakenshield is the King Under the Mountain. No need for Aragon.
This will be awesome
He was actually pretty good in Green Street Hooligans, if you haven't seen the movie it is worth the rental!
Loved that movie. Changed the way I look at soccer. Made it much more interesting!
I love how the other hobbit said his name... "fedodo"
It will be a great two movies. They know they have a blockbuster on their hands and Peter Jackon will only make the Hobbit better.
And I'm still really annoyed Jackson left out Tom Bombadil and the Barrow-Downs from The Fellowship of the Ring.
That's a good idea. And certainly Arwen and Aragorn were at Rivendell when Bilbo and Company visited there. I hope they include them. Hugo Weaving is a no-brainer but I haven't heard anything.
Frodo Baggins stole my Precious...
Wow. How Awesome is this! The Hobbit was one of my favorite novels in high school. I graduated in 1972..The Lord of The Rings saga was fantastic. 2012 a whole year b4 the movie is released into theaters? Its something worth the wait!
If we're going to be inserting characters that aren't actually in the book, why not give Glorfindel some face time in "The Hobbit" to make up for the producers replacing him with that awful transparent marketing ploy named Liv Tyler in LotR?
Careful, they might find a way to put her in The Hobbit, too!
Since the first book is being shown last in movie form
its only Natural to set up the "time line" with Frodo's narration
If it's just narration, it's far from an "appearance". The term by definition is visual, not aural...
Very Cool!!!! Can't wait!!!!
As previously mentioned, the memoir seen at the end of the Return of the King was written by Bilbo, not Frodo (he is finishing it at the beginning of Fellowship of the Ring, if I am not mistaken) – Frodo, mimicking his uncle, records his own story after it.
Worst spoiler ever? Why is that even a spoiler?
SPOILER ALERT!
The Hobbit will have hobbits in it.
dam you
Frodo will appear at the beginning of both "Hobbit" films, narrating his uncle Bilbo Baggins's story from a memoir that Bilbo left behind.
Oopsies!
I hope I didn't spoil anything for all you Hobbit nerds! ; )
Idiot
Where's my movie!!!
it was quite a pity you were omitted before you merry fellow...
Sorry, Tom. but there wasn't room for you and Fatty Lumpkin. Now had PJ been working for HBO, you might not have gotten cut,
The hobbit dies in the last part.
Considering the reality that three signifiant volumes became three movies... one far smaller volume becoming two movies doubtless could benefit from some artistic.. license? That said, so far I've relished Jackson's license!
Folks give Peter Jackson some respect!
The LOTR movies are great!! No they are not exactly what was in the books but every book is changed when it's turned into a movie. He kept the spirit of the books in the movies.
Once again Peter Jackson is displaying his supreme arrogance by changing Tolkien's masterworks.
If that's how you feel – then don't go see it – simple.
Ted, get over yourself. It's called an "adaptation." And dead man Tolkien would be the first to give Jackson a hug for what he's done to (and for) his novels.
was'nt the hobbit supposed to be first?
I guess you didn't have to explain to a 65 year old over the holiday that Star Wars 4 is really Star Wars 1, and that little kid is Darth Vader...
Ah, so the ruination of this work is already keeping pace with the disaster that came before it. Why is Galadriel in this movie?
Have you read the book??
Um, have you read the book, crisy? Galadriel isn't in it. Neither is Frodo. But I'm glad that being able to have Elijah Wood's face on the McDonald's official "The Hobbit" juice glass is more important than the source material.
Tricksy hobbitses....
🙂
While I'm accepting of the fact that PJ is adding work for Frodo, and that it fits the confines of the book, I can't see any way he could add too many others from LOTR. The elves are really the only ones alive during 'The Hobbit' and Legolas isn't even mentioned, although Thranduil, his father, is. Gimli possibly as he would have been a young dwarf (150-ish) at the time. Aragorn was about 7 during Bilbo's adventures, and the others would have not been
Actually I was 27 years old at the time of the Hobbit, which was 60 years before the FOTR.
Orlando Bloom could easily have a cameo.
Aragorn was born in 2931, while Bilbo's adventure took place in 2941 (check LOTR III Appx B) – so he would be 10 years old. I think it's great the PJ will be bringing in all aspects of the story. Galadriel was part of the White Council, and others like Legolas and maybe even Gimli could be fit in somehow.
they should of started with this movie first the book was great cant wait to see the finished product
Its about time they started this movie, with the delays and all i thought it'd never come out.
I agree. To bad they lost an awesome director over the delays. I would of loved to see Guillermo Del Toro's adaptation of the Hobbit story. Visually if it would of been anything like Pan's Labyrinth it would of been mind blowing to see. I guess we will never know. I'm still excited to see the movies but a little disappointed in loosing Guillermo.
Nick A, I agree with your sentiment. However, it's "would HAVE," not "would OF." And it's LOSE, not LOOSE. Come ON, man.
Did you understand what I was trying to say? Sorry for the misspellings. I'm just not as perfect as you.
This movie and the second part are going to great! The fact that frodos in them even makes them better!
Ever since his role in Sin City he kind of creeps me out! Great actor though.
He was super-creepy in "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" too.
IIn Sin City, he plays someone who loves women a little too much, yet never seems able to maintain a relationship. It's rather beautiful in a sad, longing way.
@todd: And here I was thinking the twisted religious ideas, murder and cannibalism were the most notable aspects of his character. Go figure.
Todd, you are one sick pup.
Sin CIty is the ONLY movie role I ever liked him in... including as a hobbit. I typically can't stand looking at the guy.
Funny, I thought his best performance was in Spy Kids.
I dont mind this little addition. Its completely unnecessary, but I dont mind.
The suits just want them to be tied together as closely as possible, not realizing the fan base doesnt need little gimmicks like this.
Not all that shocking...The Hobbit will try and tie in as many LOTR characters as they can. I don't mind necessarily, plenty of characters have back stories that can be interwoven into the Hobbit lore – so long as they do it well and pay mind to the source material...
He looks like a young Eminem
Lol, now that you mention it...
He does make a cute hobbit. I couldn't imagine him not playing in it. I can't wait to see it.