johobbit, I totally love that picture.

I think I'll read the Hobbit outloud to my little brother. He loves Narnia, so I hope he will like the Hobbit as well.

Do we have confirmation that Smaug will at least have a voice? I hope he does.

^^ If they're looking for people to voice him, I'm sure he probably will have a voice, whether it's Bill Nighy or not.

I was thinking, it might be hard to figure out where the cutoff point will be since the filmmakers might change the order of events. So even if we know the stopping point, things we think will happen in the first could be in the second, and vice versa, if event orders are changed -- a thing filmmakers often do.

~Riella

True enough about scene orders, Eustace+Jill, mmhmm. Except that it's mostly a linear story, so I can't see how there can be too much switching going on.

Another photoshopped idea for a teaser. Click to make larger.

Prior to the crucial and determining meeting of next week for where the films will be shot, there is to be a strong rally for keeping The Hobbit in New Zealand. Well done! It gives me the goosebumps, hearing the movie track playing and applying it to the current situation.

^^ haha, that picture is funny
it looks nice though!
I hope they don't look skinny.....Dwarves are supposed to be kinda round......

Yeah, Liberty.

And now we are able to better imagine what a group of 13 dwarves (and one hobbit) will look like. What fun!

Radagast the Brown has been confirmed. As suspected, this nature-and animal-loving wizard is, indeed, being played by Sylvester McCoy, who some of us thought might have been cast as Bilbo, himself. He does look rather hobbit-ish, does he not? But, instead, he will play a mild-mannered Istari/wizard.

I've often wondered how Christopher Lee will reprise his role as Saruman at the age of 88!! Mind you, he could handle the sitting and discussing at the White Council. He's had quite the career as an actor, and one thing that especially means a lot (and is very unusual for Hollywood folk) is he has been married to the same woman all his life. I love hearing that! Scandals just don't seem to be associated with his name, as they are with so many of that vocation.

But, back on topic. Who else are you curious who needs yet to be cast?
*Beorn
*the three trolls—Tom, William, and Bert
*the Elvenking (and will Legolas be standing at his side in a cameo?)
*the Master of Lake-town
*Bard (really like the man, who displays so much inner strength)
*and the rest of the dwarves!

Very exciting days for Tolkien fans, these.

^^ so cool! I really like what he looks like! he's going to be perfect for Radagast the Brown! cool!

True enough about scene orders, Eustace+Jill, mmhmm. Except that it's mostly a linear story, so I can't see how there can be too much switching going on.

Another photoshopped idea for a teaser. Click to make larger.

Prior to the crucial and determining meeting of next week for where the films will be shot, there is to be a strong rally for keeping The Hobbit in New Zealand. Well done! It gives me the goosebumps, hearing the movie track playing and applying it to the current situation.

Where are the Dwarves' multicoloured Beards? Tolkien wrote the Dwarves with colourful Beards.

A Beard has to have some principles you know.

GB

Correct me if I'm wrong but Radagast was not in the Hobbit, was he?

Where are the Dwarves' multicoloured Beards? Tolkien wrote the Dwarves with colourful Beards.

*envisions Fili, Kili, Ori, Dori, Nori, Bifur, Bofur, Bombur, Oin, and Gloin with red and blue and green highlights in their beards, possibly matching their hoods* I... need to read the book again? Because now that I have settled down to think about it, I'm pretty sure that's not what you meant.

a strong rally for keeping The Hobbit in New Zealand.

Awesome video! Makes me wish I lived in New Zealand so I could attend.

*the Elvenking (and will Legolas be standing at his side in a cameo?)

Indeed. Will they try to get someone who looks like Orlando Bloom to play the Elvenking? Will Legolas just be standing there, or will he be in the Battle of Five Armies?

Correct me if I'm wrong but Radagast was not in the Hobbit, was he?

Correct, Radagast was not in TH. However, since Gandalf's storyline is being included it makes sense that Radagast would be in the movie.

I obviously need a re-read too since I don't remember anything about the Dwarves' beards other than their length.

Gandalf's Beard is right. I just read the first chapter of The Hobbit last night. They did have bright, odd-colored beards. I remember Dwalin's beard was bright blue...

I wonder if Peter Jackson will keep that or change it? Probably change it. It's fine for a children's fantasy storybook, but a little odd for a huge movie blockbuster.

~Riella

The book really said Dwalin had a bright blue beard?
I hope they change that.

A blue beard might look weird on screen, but if they can pull it off well then I'll be ok with that. Do they really have different coloured beards like that? I don't really remember. I'll have to read the Hobbit again.

As an Aussie, I'm all for supporting the Australian film industry etc. but I really don't think our landscapes are very much like Middle Earth. We're a very dry country, much dryer than New Zealand. If Australia is suitable for anything, it's not a Tolkien movie but Lewis' The Horse and His Boy.

It's true, the first few dwarves to arrive in TH have their beard colours mentioned. After that it's only the colour of the hoods they hang up in Bilbo's hall that is mentioned.