A JRR Tolkien biopic is being developed by Fox Searchlight.
Fox Searchlight was behind last year’s Hitchcock film.
The Lord of the Rings author’s biopic will chronicle how the key moments in the novelist’s life led him to write The Hobbit, and his acclaimed Rings trilogy.
Written by David Gleeson, the biopic film will focus on JRR Tolkien’s time at Oxford University and as a soldier during WW1.
Films based on JRR Tolkien’s books have grossed nearly $4 billion worldwide.
JRR Tolkien biopic will chronicle how the key moments in the novelist’s life led him to write The Hobbit
Peter Jackson, who directed the Oscar-winning Lord of the Rings trilogy, will release the second chapter in the Hobbit trilogy, The Desolation of Smaug, next month.
Aside from his active role in WW1, JRR Tolkien also acted as a code breaker during WW2.
The film will also cover his friendship with fellow author CS Lewis, with whom he studied at university and formed the writing group known as The Inklings.
It will be produced by Chernin Entertainment, behind films such as cop-comedy The Heat and Rise of the Planet of the Apes.
However, previous projects have been scuppered by the Tolkien estate, which is known to be protective of the author’s output.
Last year, the estate sued Warner Bros for at least $80 million in damages from unauthorized merchandising of the Tolkien books. Fox Searchlight, which was behind last year’s Hitchcock film
In July this year, Warner Bros launched its own counterclaim, alleging the Tolkien suit has caused the studio to miss out on millions of dollars in licensing opportunities.
The Hobbit trilogy has reportedly cost $561 million so far, double the amount spent on the three movies in the The Lord of the Rings series.
The figure includes the major 266 days of filming with actors that was completed last year, although it doesn’t include an additional two months or so of “pick-up” shoots done this year. There will likely also be additional post-production costs as the next two movies are completed.
Through March 31, production had cost 676 million New Zealand dollars, or $561 million at current exchange rates, according to financial documents filed Friday in New Zealand, where the movies are being made.
Distributor Warner Bros. and director Peter Jackson may consider it money well spent. To date, only the first movie in the latest trilogy has been released.
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey took in just over $1 billion at the box office.
The Hobbit trilogy has cost $561 million so far, double the amount spent on the three movies in the The Lord of the Rings series
The documents, filed online by New Zealand’s Companies Office, provide a rare insight into the exact costs of a blockbuster Hollywood production. Often studios release only rough estimates, if anything.
When making the trilogy, Warner Bros. created a wholly-owned New Zealand company it named 3 Foot 7 Ltd., in reference to the diminutive stature of the movie’s hobbits and dwarves. Company documents show that New Zealand taxpayers have so far contributed NZ$98 million to the trilogy through an incentive scheme designed to attract big budget movies to the country. Such schemes are common among U.S. states and foreign countries that compete for movies.
The trilogy also appears to be one of the most expensive movie productions in which two or more movies are shot at the same time.
Both Box Office Mojo and Guinness World Records estimate the most expensive single movie ever made was Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End with an estimated $300 million production tag. That movie, in conjunction with Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest – which was shot at the same time – held the previous record for the most expensive total production, costing an estimated $450 million to $525 million.
According to Box Office Mojo, Peter Jackson’s previous trilogy, The Lord of the Rings, cost a total $281 million to make. The Star Wars prequel trilogy, meanwhile, cost $343 million, according to Box Office Mojo, which tracks movie costs and box office receipts.
In making The Hobbit, New Zealand director Peter Jackson chose to shoot both in 3D and at 48 frames per second, rather than the standard 24, in the hopes of giving audiences greater picture clarity and a more immersive experience. Both techniques added significant expense. The higher frames per second received mixed reviews, as did the movie itself, which starred Martin Freeman as the title character.
The trilogy is based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s novel of the same name and traces the adventures of hobbit Bilbo Baggins as he attempts to help a group of dwarves regain their wealth and stature from the dragon Smaug. The Hobbit is the precursor to J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, which was made into a movie trilogy that was also directed by Peter Jackson.
The second movie in the latest series, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug is due out in December 2013 while the final movie, The Hobbit: There and Back Again, is due out in December 2014.
[youtube fnaojlfdUbs]
American Express celebrates Abbey Road Studios 80th anniversary with “Symphony at The Park” this weekend.
[googlead tip=”patrat_mic” aliniat=”dreapta”]
Chiswick Orange Tree Garden will host the Symphony at the Park for Abbey Road Studios anniversary
Two singularly themed symphonic concerts will honour and will emphasize the chronicle of the famous Abbey Road Studios. West London’s Chiswick House and Gardens with its idyllic surroundings hosts these majestic performances. New and classic rock, pop and epic film scores will be performed.
[googlead tip=”lista_mica” aliniat=”stanga”]Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (eighty-six pieces), Crouch End Festival Chorus (forty singers) and guest instrumentalists will play modern songs and film scores. The Beatles, Oasis, Pink Floyd’s songs will be performed along with scores from Star Wars, Harry Potter. The concert premiere of Disney’s Peter Pan sequel “Return to Neverland” will be also interpreted. All of these are the Abbey Road Studios outstanding eighty years legacy.
On Saturday, August 20, The Beatles, Elbow, Elgar, The Hollies, Kate Bush, Oasis, Pink Floyd, Queen, Radiohead’s anthems symphonic versions will be played.
On Sunday August 21 programme consists in film orchestral arrangements recorded at Abbey Road. Richard Strauss’ symphonic poem Also sprach Zarathustra used in “2001: A Space Odyssey”, John Williams’ compositions for “Star Wars”, “Raiders of the Lost Ark” and for “Harry Potter”, Danny Elfman’s musical creation for “Batman” will charme the attendees.
[googlead tip=”patrat_mic” aliniat=”dreapta”]
Also another iconic film scores will be played for the audience: Howard Shore’s music for “The Lord of the Rings”, James Horner’s “Braveheart”, Jerry Goldsmith score for “Star Trek: The Motion Picture”.
The visitors who will come to see these concerts at the historic Chiswick House and Gardens are invited to bring their own picnic and rug. Also they can upgrade to a VIP Package.
Abbey Road Studios, 3 Abbey Road, St John's Wood, City of Westminster, London
Gramophone Company founded Abbey Road Studios in November 1931, later on British music company EMI Records Limited became its owner.
In the 1960s Badfinger,The Beatles, Pink Floyd’s innovative recording techniques has been hosted by these famous studios.
In 2010 the studios received historic site status from the British government.
