Middle-earth Journeys

TOR.n has confirmed that Elijah Wood will be playing Frodo in 'The Hobbit', introducing the story by reading The Red Book in the beginning. I like the idea!

I like the idea too, I think the use of the book is a very natural way to show the continuity between the two stories. It will also create some nostalgia for those that love the LotR films! PJ started the extended version of FotR with Bilbo writing the book, didn't he?

The full TORn artticle is here.

Oh, I like this very much as well! Frodo reading from the book to Sam, Merry, and Pippin, perhaps as he is in the process of dealing with the aftermath of The Long Expected Party and Bilbo's sudden "vanishing" would be a lovely beginning, and it wouldn't require any of the actors to try to play "younger" versions of the characters we meet in LOTR. It will be enough of a challenge to still look contemporary with their appearances 10 years ago! I STILL can't believe it's been that long!

This is a fabulous idea - so pleased they are doing it this way. Ten years? gosh

Oops! It occurs to me that Frodo really can't read the book to Sam, Merry, and Pippin until AFTER his own adventure. Bilbo TAKES the book with him to Rivendell and even mentions wanting to "finish" his book to Gandalf when he talks about leaving the Shire.

Hmmm . . . having Frodo read from the book then kind of gives away that he does survive his own adventure in LOTR . . .

Lindariel wrote: Hmmm . . . having Frodo read from the book then kind of gives away that he does survive his own adventure in LOTR . . .

What if he read Bilbo's book out loud to those in the Shire after he returns from destroying the ring before he leaves Me? A flash back sequence will do nicely.

Or he could be reading the start of the unfinished book, before Bilbo leaves with it? Or reading it in Rivendell?

Don't you love a good mystery?

To add to the speculation, in all the hoopla over Gandalf being signed, TOR.n is also reporting that Christopher Lee AND Ian Holm are in negotiations. Hmmm . . .

Wouldn't it be delicious if PJ & Co. decided to END the second movie with Sir Ian Holm as the elderly Bilbo joining Elijah Wood's Frodo as he finishes reading from the book -- and we discover that the two of them are reading it in a library in the Undying Lands? Who says Frodo didn't take a copy of it with him, or that a copy wasn't sent to them with elves arriving on a later ship?

I see there are new rumours about David Tennant playing Thranduil. His name keeps coming up in connection with the film and I really hope this is the part they are considering him for. I can't imagine him as anything but an Elf and he can do scary when required.

I don't know David Tennant's work at all, not being a Dr. Who afficianado. I'm glad to hear that he can play "scary," because my vision of Thranduil is a bigger-than-life, more . . . I guess the right word is FERAL . . . version of Orlando Bloom's Legolas. Thranduil should be an incredibly imposing warrior, enigmatic, extremely tenacious, highly protective of his people, suspicious of outsiders, insular, very close to his forest/land -- WEDDED to the forest/land, you might say -- with a very tangible and powerful presence. This elven monarch, after all, has maintained his kingdom while under siege from Dol Guldur for an entire Age, and has done so WITHOUT the power of one of the great Elven Rings. He should come across as an extraordinary force to be reckoned with, but not rash and not without tremendous wisdom. His actions during the stand-off with Thorin and the Dwarves after the death of Smaug speak strongly of an incredibly wise and cagey ruler.

Can David Tennant do all of that? If so, then I'm fine with him as Thranduil. What I lament is that David Bowie is too old to get away with playing an immortal and perpetually beautiful Elf. The younger David Bowie would have been a PERFECT choice for this role. Think of him in The Hunger and even the Muppet-inspired Labyrinth.

I agree, the younger Bowie could have done it. But I think Tennant can too. He has a magnetic forcefulness about him and a considerable acting range. His Hamlet was terrific, alternately distrubing, pathetic (as in inspiring pathos) and terriffying.

I watched a couple videos at TOR.n of the Mikael guy who is going to play Beorn. He has a terrific voice! and beautiful eyes. It will be interesting to see how they amplify these natural assets.

I've been taking note of him too, Merry, and I think he'll be perfect!