BAM's Blog » The Hobbit

Video: Willie Nelson turns 80 today, auditions for “The Hobbit 2″ and gets birthday wishes from Carrie Underwood

Brandy McDonnell — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 02:31:53 +0000

Country music legend Willie Nelson celebrated his 80th birthday today, and he did it in extremely Willie Nelson fashion.

The singer-songwriter made a trippy video for “Conan” in which he mischievously auditions for “Lord of the Rings” director Peter Jackson to cast him as Gandalf in the next “Hobbit” movie instead of Ian McKellen.

First-look photo: Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins in “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug”; “The Unexpected Journey” continues to rule the box office

Brandy McDonnell — Mon, 24 Dec 2012 15:15:11 +0000

Check out the first image of Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins atop a pile of dragon’s treasure in “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug,” the second film in the planned trilogy based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings” prequel.

“The Desolation of Smaug” is due in theaters Dec.

Box office report for Dec. 17, 2012: “Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” opens by setting a box office record

Brandy McDonnell — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 05:13:50 +0000

“The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” the first of three movies director Peter Jackson is making based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s novel of the same name, opened with a record-setting box office haul.

The prequel led the box office over the weekend with $84.6 million, which was better than the debut of Jackson’s three previous “Lord of the Rings” films, according to the Associated Press.

Holiday movie roundup 2012: Cinematic treats abound this festive season

Brandy McDonnell — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 14:19:36 +0000

This story, which appears in Friday’s Weekend Look section of The Oklahoman, was co-written with my excellent colleague George Lang of Staticblog notoriety. To read my review of “Silver Linings Playbook,” click here.

Cinematic treats abound this holiday season Prestige pictures, big-budget blockbusters and even a few comedies are included on the studios’ end-of-year slate.

Advanced tickets to “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” go on sale Wednesday

Brandy McDonnell — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 23:07:51 +0000

Moviegoers who are eagerly anticipating the Dec. 14 release of the epic fantasy adventure “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” will be able to secure their seats more than a month in advance when tickets go on sale – online and in theaters across North America – at 11 a.m.

Wednesday Video Spotlight: New trailer for “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey”

Brandy McDonnell — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 17:43:20 +0000

As part of the worldwide celebration of Tolkien Week, Warner Bros. Pictures, New Line Cinema and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer debuted today the new highly anticipated theatrical trailer for “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” and fellow fantasy fans, I’ve got goose bumps.

The first in a trilogy of films adapting the enduringly popular masterpiece “The Hobbit,” by J.R.R.

“The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” trailer debuting Wednesday during worldwide Tolkien Week

Brandy McDonnell — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 03:54:31 +0000

Warner Bros. Pictures, New Line Cinema and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) are joining the worldwide celebration of Tolkien Week with the debut of the highly anticipated theatrical trailer for “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” on Wednesday.

The first in a trilogy of films adapting the enduringly popular masterpiece “The Hobbit,” by J.R.R.

Peter Jackson confirms that he will make a third “Hobbit” film

Brandy McDonnell — Mon, 30 Jul 2012 19:14:05 +0000

Oscar-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson confirmed on Facebook today that he will indeed make a third “Hobbit” movie, drawing not only from J.R.R. Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings” prequel, which had been planned as a two-movie adaptation, but also from the 125 pages of appendices the author included at the end of his LOTR trilogy capper “Return of the King.”

Here is the message, titled “An unexpected journey,” that Jackson posted on Facebook today:

It is only at the end of a shoot that you finally get the chance to sit down and have a look at the film you have made.

Billy Connolly joins “The Hobbit” cast

Brandy McDonnell — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 01:38:04 +0000

Scottish actor Billy Connolly (“The Last Samurai,” “Boondock Saints”) is rounding out the cast of Peter Jackson’s two-part adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Hobbit.”

In the films, Connolly will play Dain Ironfoot, a great dwarf warrior and cousin of dwarf leader Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage), according to The Hollywood Reporter.

“The Hobbit” films get names and release dates

Brandy McDonnell — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 13:02:29 +0000

Oscar-winning “Lord of the Rings” filmmaker Peter Jackson’s long-awaited two-film adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Hobbit” has a pair of names and release dates.

New Line Cinema, Warner Bros. and MGM announced this week that “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” will be released Dec.