The sketchy details are on Cinescape. In short, Ian McKellan is interested in adapting The Hobbit as a yearlong TV series, and he’s asked Peter Jackson to produce it. That’s a far cry from being completed, but you know if Jackson signs on every network with half a budget will throw money at them to cash in on the success of Lord of the Rings.
Coolness… but…
The only thing is as with all good TV series it will get cancelled. As such I have developed the following theory:
– get a good idea for TV series
– manage to start production of said TV series
– network puts it in a dumb slot
– doesn’t make the network enough cash
– gets canned during a series
– outrage bursts out on net
But one can hope that the “power of the One Ring” in this instance is used for good and does mean that we get a cool series which runs and actually finishes.
Re: Coolness… but…
I Can See The Networks Fucking With It In Another Way:
– Makes Networks Gobs Of Cash
– Network Doesn’t End It After Bilbo Gets Home. Tries For A Second Season
– Network Ruins Beloved Characters By trying To Extend The New Cash Cow For 5 More Seasons, Based Off Of Rating Driven By People Who Actually Utter The Phrase ‘Tolkien Who?’
– In Season Three, The Add Lesbians.
– Geeks Mourn The Original Hobbit.
Re: Coolness… but…
Oh dear god…Hot Lesbian Hobit Action!
scary…Lets just hope FOX doesn’t buy that show!
Yeah….
I can’t imagine any network stopping a successful series after one season. They don’t care about the story, they only care about the money. In fact, I could see Jackson saying ‘no way, I’m not doing another season’. in which case, he leaves and some idiot takes over (see Star trek). That idiot then proceeds to run the story into the ground and forever alienate the true fans.
I think the Hobbit would be much better represented as a movie done by Peter Jackson.
Networks could still cash in by starting a hobbit series based on another hobbit (e.g. Not Bilbo). I wouldn’t mind that, since it is effectively virgin territory and there is no individual character to screw up.
Re: Yeah….
Actually, I’d Love To See Derivitive Works. Tolkien Made The World To Create A Folklore World For The English, Seems A waste If No One Uses It.
Re: Yeah….
And Yes, I Do Know That Everything From D&D On Down Is Effectively A Derivitive Work, but I’m Talking About Something That Uses Tolkiens Exact World, With The Languages And Established Locations And Such.
(Attempting To Head Of Flames)
Re: Yeah….
Yeah, they could do “Gandalf the Balrog Slayer” or “Elves Illustrated – The Swimsuit Edition”… don’t knock it someone’s thought up worse ideas I am sure… oh wait, D&D.
;-)
Re: Yeah….
If I had to guess I’d say a Hobbit movie is pretty much a foregone conclusion at this point, considering the success of LOTR. This is the same Hollywood that gave us 4 Lethal Weapons: I’m quite certain that every producer in Hollywood is intimately familiar with the works of Tolkien at this point. The only real question is whether Jackson will sign on to the project.
It’s too bad…
…we’ll never see a Silmarillion movie or tv series. For my money, that was Tolkien’s best stuff.
(Although, to be fair, I doubt it could be done as a movie or that any non-fan would want to sit through a series of movies based on it.)
Boys club
The absence of any female characters could be a problem in making a Hobbit series.
Re: Boys club
Tack on a sexy vulc…er…elf that will often loose her shirt and smear goo all over herself. Simple enough ;- )
Re: Boys club
A sexy lesbian elf vying for the attention of a millionaire troll…. Damn! We could write for TV.
Re: Boys club
Gods, I Wish That Were Sarcasm.
Spin-off?
Maybe someone will finally realise that Tom Bombadil deserves his 15 episodes of fame? Skipped by the cartoon, skipped by the radio series, and then even PJ dropped him! C’mon everyone, let’s have a hey ho for Tom!