New releases for May 31, 2011: Kelli O’Hara releases “Always”
Kelli O'Hara
Oklahoma native and three-time Tony nominee Kelli O’Hara has released her sophomore album, “Always.”
The album, which features mostly classic show tunes and standards, is the follow-up to the Oklahoma City University graduate’s 2008 solo debut “Wonder in the World.”
According to the Associated Press, the Broadway star will play this year’s “A Capitol Fourth” concert, to air July 4 on PBS, along with Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers, Josh Groban, Little Richard, “Glee” star Matthew Morrison and “American Idol” winner Jordin Sparks.
Here is a list of new CDs, DVDs and books, from Amazon.com and VideoETA.com:
CDs
Kelli O’Hara, “Always.”
Death Cab for Cutie, “Codes And Keys.”
My Morning Jacket, “Circuital.”
Eddie Vedder, “Ukulele Songs.”
Kate Bush, “Director’s Cut.”
Jordan Knight, “Unfinished.”
Flogging Molly, “Speed Of Darkness.”
Black Stone Cherry, “Between the Devil & The Deep Blue Sea.”
Playing for Change, “PFC 2: Songs Around The World (CD/DVD combo).”
DVDs
Biutiful
Cross
Drive Angry
Kaboom
Passion Play
Psych: The Complete Fifth Season
Rookie Blue: The Complete First Season
Savage County
SG-U Stargate Universe: The Complete Final Season
True Blood: The Complete Third Season
The Waiting City
Books
Lady Blue Eyes: My Life with Frank by Barbara Sinatra
Through My Eyes by Tim Tebow, Nathan Whitaker
Dreams of Joy: A Novel by Lisa See
Incognito: The Secret Lives of the Brain by David Eagleman
Magic Slays (Kate Daniels, Book 5) by Ilona Andrews
-BAM
Peter Jackson confirms that Orlando Bloom will return as Legolas in “The Hobbit”
Oscar-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson has confirmed on Facebook that British heartthrob Orlando Bloom will reprise his breakthrough “Lord of the Rings” role in the prequel “The Hobbit”:
Ten years ago, Orlando Bloom created an iconic character with his portrayal of Legolas. I’m excited to announce today that we’ll be revisiting Middle Earth with him once more. I’m thrilled to be working with Orlando again. Funny thing is, I look older—and he doesn’t! I guess that’s why he makes such a wonderful elf.
Bloom is the latest “LOTR” alumnus to join “The Hobbit.” While Gandalf (Ian McKellen), Elrond (Hugo Weaving), and Gollum (Andy Serkis) actually appear in J.R.R. Tolkien’s novel, Jackson has stretched the story to bring back the characters Galadriel (Cate Blanchett), old Bilbo (Ian Holm) and Frodo (Elijah Wood) for the two-part film version.
But Jackson doesn’t have to do much adjusting to bring Legolas back to Middle Earth for “The Hobbit”: Bilbo and the dwarves have a run-in with the elves of Mirkwood in the novel. In “LOTR,” Legolas is called the son of Thranduil, King of the Woodland Realm of Northern Mirkwood. Thranduil is part of “The Hobbit” storyline and will be played by Chickasha-born actor Lee Pace.
Interestingly, Pace actually is younger than Bloom: Bloom is 34 and Pace is 32.
The two-part 3D adaptation of “The Hobbit” is set for December 2012 and December 2013 release.
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Lee Pace joins the cast of “The Hobbit”
Lee Pace (AP file)
Filmmaker Peter Jackson has announced on his official Facebook page that Chickasha-born actor Lee Pace has been tapped to play an Elven king in the two-film adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Hobbit.”
Here’s what the Oscar-winning filmmaker wrote on the casting news:
I’m also pleased to announce that Lee Pace will be playing the Elven King Thranduil. Casting these Tolkien stories is very difficult, especially the Elven characters, and Lee has always been our first choice for Thranduil. He’s going to be great. We loved his performance in a movie called “The Fall” a few years ago, and have been hoping to work with him since. When we were first discussing who would be right for Thranduil, Lee came into mind almost immediately.
Pace, who earned Emmy and Golden Globe nominations for his lead role in the late, great TV show “Pushing Daisies,” was born in Chickasa, raised in Texas and educated at Juilliard. “The Fall” was one of my top 10 movies of 2008, so I’m thrilled to see Pace added to the two-part “Lord of the Rings” prequel.
- BAM
Ian Holm confirmed for “The Hobbit”
Ian Holm appears as Bilbo Baggins in "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring."
“Lord of the Rings” star Ian Holm will reprise the role of Bilbo Baggins in the upcoming two-part prequel “The Hobbit,” director/producer Peter Jackson confirmed today on Facebook.
Holm will play the older version of Bilbo, the lead character in “The Hobbit,” while Martin Freeman (“The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy,” TV’s “Sherlock”) will play the younger Bilbo. So, Holm’s role will likely be relatively small, but he was so good in “LOTR,” it will be wonderful to see him back again.
Holm will join a host of fellow “LOTR” stars who are set to return to Middle Earth, including Ian McKellen, Orlando Bloom, Andy Serkis, Elijah Wood, Cate Blanchett and Christopher Lee.
Also, Jackson posted earlier this week on Facebook his first video from the set of “The Hobbit.”
“The Hobbit: Part 1″ is set to open in theaters Dec. 19, 2012.
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“The Hobbit” to begin filming March 21
After many delays, including fiscal issues related to once-great MGM and writer/director/producer Peter Jackson’s recent ulcer surgery, the two-film adaptation of “The Hobbit” finally has an official start date.
The film’s production company, 3Foot7 Ltd, announced today that shooting of the two-movie version of J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic children’s novel will begin on March 21 at Stone Street Studios in Miramar and on location around New Zealand,” reports EW.com. “The Hobbit” is the prequel to “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy, which Jackson adapted to great acclaim and blockbuster success.
“Despite some unavoidable delays we are fully back on track and very excited to get started,” Jackson said in a statement, according to EW.
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Peter Jackson undergoes ulcer surgery; “The Hobbit” delayed again
Peter Jackson (Associated Press file photo)
“Lord of the Rings” director/producer/writer Sir Peter Jackson has undergone surgery for a perforated ulcer in his native New Zealand, according to the Associated Press.
Publicist Melissa Booth tells the AP that Jackson was admitted to Wellington Hospital after suffering from severe stomach pains. She told the AP Thursday that Jackson was resting comfortably and is expected to make a full recovery.
Jackson’s illness will further delay the start of filming for “The Hobbit,” which was long stalled because of fiscal turmoil at MGM.
The Oscar winner is helming a two-movie adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s acclaimed children’s novel “The Hobbit,” the prequel to the British novelist’s “Lord of the Rings” trilogy.
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Ian McKellan, Andy Serkis, Elijah Wood on board for “The Hobbit” films
Ian McKellen, who played Gandalf in "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy, will reprise the magical role in Peter Jackson's big-screen adaptation of "The Hobbit."
Ian McKellen, Andy Serkis and, surprisingly, Elijah Wood will reprise their roles from “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy in filmmaker Peter Jackson’s two-film adaptation of “The Hobbit,” according to EW.com.
Elijah Wood, left, will again play Frodo Baggins and Andy Serkis will reprise his motion-capture duties as Gollum in "The Hobbit."
As anticipated, McKellen will again play Gandalf the Grey and Serkis the vile creature Gollum. Both characters are key to “The Hobbit,” J.R.R. Tolkien’s children’s fantasy novel that proceeds the LOTR’s trilogy. The wizard Gandalf tricks intrepid Hobbit Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) into joining the magic man and a group of dwarves on a quest to reclaim a treasure held by the dragon Smaug. On the journey, Bilbo encounters Gollum, who possesses the enchanted ring that is the focus of the later trilogy.
In addition, EW has confirmed that Elijah Wood, who played Bilbo’s nephew Frodo Baggins in the LOTR films will reprise the part in “The Hobbit” movies. While Frodo is the main character in the LOTR trilogy, Tolkien never mentions him in “The Hobbit.”
According to the official Tolkien fan site TheOneRing.net, Wood will appear as Frodo in the opening scenes of “The Hobbit” films, thus framing the story and presumably connecting it to the LOTR movies.
TheOneRing.net is keeping a handy-dandy “The Hobbit” casting page with the latest updates on confirmed casting news for the films; click here to visit it.
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