SDCC: The Hobbit Panel

Comic Con is the coolest place on Earth today.

And Middle Earth, for that matter!

I just partook in the 2009 San Diego Comic Con The Hobbit panel. I arrived early, as last year I arrived with five minutes left and the room was already full. Even forty minutes early to the room and with the masses still trying to enter the convention, the room was almost full.

Anything related to the forthcoming The Hobbit movie is incredibly popular, even on this second day of the con.

So, who was there?

TheOneRing.net put the panel on. Most of the information they shared they termed “speculative,” although the twinkle in their eyes spoke volumes at times. Keith Stern, the webmaster for Sean Astin, Ian McKellen and Andy Serkis, was also present, bringing private messages from Ian and Andy to the room. And as a special guest, the fantastic Richard Taylor, who owns and runs the Weta Workshop responsible for Peter Jackson’s CGI and creature design needs, came to tease the crowd with creative news from their studio.

So, what did those illustrious panelist have to say?

What secret information did they have?

They were mostly hush-hush about The Hobbit. They are in the earliest stages of almost every creative aspect of the film and I'm sure the 2010 San Diego Comic Con will be filled with a great deal more. However, here is my what I gathered:

The Hobbit movie adaptation will be split into two movies. According to Guillermo del Toro, there is a perfect spot in the middle of The Hobbit that assures a clean break between movies. Guillermo said it was quite obvious where that break would be—which led to a great deal of discussion between the panelists about where that might be! Could the first movie end when Bilbo, having found the ring and defeated Gollum's riddle game, flees the cave only to have Gollum screaming after into the credits? Or could it be a character arc situation, where Bilbo becomes a "man," takes things into his own hands, and saves the dwarves to float down the river? No one knows. More to come.

Almost a dozen artists have visited Weta Workshop to bring their creative visions for The Hobbit to Guillermo and Richard Taylor. Alan Lee and John Howe have of course reprised their roles as expert Tolkien artists, but newcomers have been brought in as well, including the fantastic Mike Mignola. Mike is responsible for Hellboy and Guillermo loves his creature designs.

The first draft for both films is finished. Phillipa, Fran, Peter and Guillermo are starting the next edits. No word when they will have a finished screenplay. When they do have a finished screenplay, we will have a better idea of who they are casting in all of the various roles.

Ian McKellen, Andy Serkis and Hugo Weaving are "95% sure to be reprising their roles for The Hobbit."

Ian sent a message through his webmaster that reads, "I am waiting for the call from Middle Earth." Andy Serkis also sent a message that said he is in the midst of "very exciting talks" and "very likely will be returning" to play Gollum.

The Hobbit will not be shot in 3D.
As of this last week, Hobbiton is in the midst of being replanted and rebuilt in New Zealand for filming next year.

There is a high probability that Smaug, Mirkwood and the end battle will be in the second film.

Speculation about what extra stuff could be added into The Hobbit films from The Lord of the Rings appendices could be "The Orphaning of Aragorn," "The White Council," and a possible Legolas in Mirkwood.

Guillermo sent a message from New Zealand to the fans at Comic Con telling them hello from the Weta Weapons Room, which is right next door to the Hobbit Room that no one can see yet. He hoped that all comic con goers have a great convention.

Richard Taylor spoke at length about what Weta Workshop is up to, how much fun it has been for them to start work on The Hobbit, and how it is great that The Lord of the Rings movies—which to him had been slipping from the public conscious—is soon to be reinvigorated once more.