Narnia Fans » MGM

J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis, as most of us know, were great friends and colleagues. Now Tolkien’s “The Hobbit” is coming to the Big Screen!

Press Release:

ACADEMY AWARD-WINNER PETER JACKSON AND NEW LINE CINEMA JOIN WITH MGM TO PRODUCE “THE HOBBIT,” EAGERLY-ANTICIPATED FANTASY ADVENTURE EPIC

NEW LINE AND MGM TO CO-PRODUCE AND SHARE WORLDWIDE DISTRIBUTION RIGHTS

PETER JACKSON AND FRAN WALSH TO EXECUTIVE PRODUCE TWO FILMS BASED ON “THE HOBBIT”

Los Angeles, CA (Tuesday, December 18, 2007) Academy Award-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson; Harry Sloan, Chairman and CEO, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (MGM); Bob Shaye and Michael Lynne, Co-Chairmen and Co-CEOs of New Line Cinema have jointly announced today that they have entered into the following series of agreements:

* MGM and New Line will co-finance and co-distribute two films, “The Hobbit” and a sequel to “The Hobbit.” New Line will distribute in North America and MGM will distribute internationally.

* Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh will serve as Executive Producers of two films based on “The Hobbit.” New Line will manage the production of the films, which will be shot simultaneously.

* Peter Jackson and New Line have settled all litigation relating to the “Lord of the Rings” (LOTR) Trilogy.

Said Peter Jackson, “I’m very pleased that we’ve been able to put our differences behind us, so that we may begin a new chapter with our old friends at New Line. ‘The Lord of the Rings’ is a legacy we proudly share with Bob and Michael, and together, we share that legacy with millions of loyal fans all over the world. We are delighted to continue our journey through Middle Earth. I also want to thank Harry Sloan and our new friends at MGM for helping us find the common ground necessary to continue that journey.”

“Peter Jackson has proven himself as the filmmaker who can bring the extraordinary imagination of Tolkien to life and we full heartedly agree with the fans worldwide who know he should be making ‘The Hobbit,’” said Sloan, MGM’s Chairman and CEO. “Now that we are all in agreement on ‘The Hobbit,’ we can focus on assembling the production team that will capture this phenomenal tale on film.”

Bob Shaye, New Line Co-Chairman and Co-CEO comments, “We are very pleased we have been able to resolve our differences, and that Peter and Fran will be actively and creatively involved with ‘The Hobbit’ movies. We know they will bring the same passion, care and talent to these films that they so ably accomplished with ‘The Lord of the Rings’ Trilogy.”

“Peter is a visionary filmmaker, and he broke new ground with ‘The Lord of the Rings,’” notes Michael Lynne, New Line Co-Chairman and Co-CEO. “We’re delighted he’s back for ‘The Hobbit’ films and that the Tolkien saga will continue with his imprint. We greatly appreciate the efforts of Harry Sloan, who has been instrumental in helping us reach our new accord.”

The two “Hobbit” films – “The Hobbit” and its sequel – are scheduled to be shot simultaneously, with pre-production beginning as soon as possible. Principal photography is tentatively set for a 2009 start, with the intention of “The Hobbit” release slated for 2010 and its sequel the following year, in 2011.

The Oscar-winning, critically-acclaimed LOTR Trilogy grossed nearly $3 billion worldwide at the box-office. In 2003, “Return of the King” swept the Academy Awards, winning all of the eleven categories in which it was nominated, including Best Picture – the first ever Best Picture win for a fantasy film. The Trilogy’s production was also unprecedented at the time.

For more information about “The Hobbit” films, please visit www.TheHobbitBlog.com.

About New Line Cinema Corporation:

Celebrating its 40th anniversary year, New Line Cinema is the most successful independent film company in the world. Its mission is to produce innovative, popular and profitable entertainment in the best creative environment. In addition to the production, marketing and distribution of theatrical motion pictures, the fully-integrated studio has divisions devoted to home entertainment, television, music, theater, merchandising and an international unit. In 2005, New Line partnered with HBO to form Picturehouse, a new theatrical distribution company to release independent films. A pioneer in franchise filmmaking, New Line’s Oscar-winning The Lord of the Rings trilogy is one of the most successful film franchises in history. New Line is a division of Time Warner, Inc. (TWX).

About Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc.:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc., through its operating subsidiaries, is actively engaged in the worldwide production and distribution of motion pictures, television programming, home video, interactive media, music and licensed merchandise. The company owns the world’s largest library of modern films, comprising around 4,100 titles. Operating units include Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc., Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc., United Artists Films Inc., Ventanazul, MGM Television Entertainment Inc., MGM Networks Inc., MGM Domestic Networks LLC, MGM Distribution Co, MGM International Television Distribution In, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Home Entertainment LLC, MGM ON STAGE, MGM Music, MGM Worldwide Digital Media, MGM Consumer Products and MGM Interactive. In addition, MGM has ownership interests in international TV channels reaching nearly 120 countries. MGM ownership is as follows: Providence Equity Partners (29%), TPG (21%), Sony Corporation of America (20%), Comcast (20%), DLJ Merchant Banking Partners (7%) and Quadrangle Group (3%). For more information, visit www.mgm.com.

About Peter Jackson/Wingnut Films:

Peter Jackson is one of the world’s most successful filmmakers. His monumental achievement co-writing, co-producing and directing The Lord of the Rings trilogy (with fellow Academy Award winners and frequent collaborators Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens) earned a total of 30 Academy Award nominations and 17 Academy Awards. Jackson and Walsh received their first Oscar nomination for Best Original Screenplay for their acclaimed film Heavenly Creatures. Jackson, through his New Zealand-based Wingnut Films banner, also was responsible for the globally successful 2005 remake of King Kong which earned over $500 million worldwide and 3 Academy Awards. Currently, Jackson is directing an adaptation of The Lovely Bones, from the acclaimed best-selling novel by Alice Sebold. He is also developing a trilogy of films with Steven Spielberg based on Tintin, the world renowned comic book series by Herge.

For a few weekends every year, Disney/MGM Studios Theme Park becomes an outpost of a galaxy far, far away — unearthly characters in getups beautiful and bizarre roam the streets, browsers congregate at an exotic bazaar to choose among limited-edition treasures found in few places throughout the galaxy, and everywhere can be heard the immortal words “May the Force be with you.”

This year, “Star Wars” Weekends will take Disney World Guests out of this world on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, between June 1 and 24. And, as he has been almost every year since the event began, actor Warwick Davis will be on hand to sign autographs, ride in the Legends of the Force Celebrity Motorcade, and meet the fans who make these weekends so special. Warwick found his acting career launched when he played Wicket the Ewok in “Return of the Jedi,” and he still has a special place in his heart for the “Star Wars” films and the fans who love them.

Last year was a special one for Warwick — he not only participated in “Star Wars” Weekends, but got to host. “It was really the most wonderful event for me,” he says. “I would have loved to have hosted again, but I’m so busy working on the film at the moment, and the schedule wouldn’t allow me the four weeks I would have needed to work on the event. I’m a bit disappointed, because I had such a good time last year,” he laments.

The film in questions is “Prince Caspian,” the second in Disney’s “The Chronicles of Narnia” series, and Warwick has a plum role as the wicked dwarf Nikabrik. “I do like playing baddies!” he admits. “As an actor, they’re always the most memorable roles. It’s a part you can get your teeth into — sometimes literally!” He says the cast has been sworn to secrecy — but that fans of the first film, “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,” will not be disappointed.

Warwick will be back and forth working on the film until the middle of June, but he was determined not to miss “Star Wars” Weekends altogether. Especially this year, when Lucasfilm Ltd. is celebrating the 30th anniversary of the “Star Wars” Saga. It’s a dilemma, but one for which Warwick has proposed an answer: “I wish there were three or four of me — I need to talk to George Lucas about a bit of cloning!” he laughs.

We’re still waiting for that day. In the meantime, you can meet the one and only Warwick in person on June 1 through 3 at this year’s “Star Wars” Weekends.

Read the rest at Disney Insider!

We know this is a Narnia website, but seeing as how J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis were friends, this is a very related article (and very exciting): In a Variety article talking about MGM’s move back into the tentpole business, the trade mentions a few highly-anticipated projects that are in the works:

‘Over the next few years, MGM is planning to release half a dozen films, some in the $150 million to $200 million-plus range. Studio is ready to unveil such high-profile projects as “Terminator 4″; one or two installments of “The Hobbit,” which Sloan hopes will be directed by Peter Jackson; and a sequel to “The Thomas Crown Affair” with Pierce Brosnan.

It has already announced a “Pink Panther” sequel and the next 007 pic “Bond 22,” due out in November 2008. “Rocky Balboa” unspools in February.

The pics are all franchises that MGM owns the rights to through its 4,000-title library. The goal is to release two or three tentpoles a year, all of which will be made with financial partners, including Wall Street money or other studios.’

[via Coming Soon]

The Hobbit would be made in partnership with New Line, and the Variety article mentions the possibility of the book being adapted in two installments. Just don’t look for it next summer.

[via Chud]

In the final installment of his two part photo essay, Jeff Lange shares the rest of the shots that he took while visiting Disney-MGM’s “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” walk-through attraction.

by Jeff Lange – 02-09-06

Picking up where we left off on Tuesday: After a brief stop outside Mr. Tumnus’ house …

It was time to visit the prop & costume gallery portion of Disney-MGM’s “Journey into Narnia: Creating the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” walk-through exhibit. Which seemed to mostly focus on the White Witch. For here on display was Jadis’ sleigh …

Her magic wand …

… as well as a costume that Tilda Swinton wore while playing this villainous role.

Jadis’ evil minions were also represented. Here you see a clay sculpt of a minotaur, which was used in preparation for “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” ’s big CG-laden battle scenes.

[See the images and read the rest at JimHillMedia.com]

In the first installment of a two part photo essay, Jeff Lange shares some shots that he recently took of Disney-MGM’s “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” walk-through attraction.

by Jeff Lange – 02-07-06

Last week, the Walt Disney Company and Walden Media officially announced that they had begun pre-production on “Prince Caspian,” the highly anticipated follow-up to the hugely popular motion picture, “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.”

Which wasn’t really a surprise. Given that — to date — this Andrew Adamson movie has earned $636 million at the box office (I.E. $282 million during “Narnia” ’s domestic release, plus an additional $356 million from the motion picture’s overseas release).

And — given that “Narnia” looks to be the film franchise that Disney Studios has been desperately seeking for years now — there’s already been a lot of talk on the Web about what the Imagineers can now do to capitalize on this success. What WDI can do to bring C.S. Lewis’ characters to life in a theme park setting.

To date, Disney’s in-park “Narnia” -related efforts have been rather modest. Disneyland has a White Witch meet-n-greet, while Disney-MGM Studio theme park has its “Journey into Narnia: Creating the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” walk-through exhibit.

“So what’s this exhibit like?,” you ask. Well, WDW guests who line up outside of Soundstage 4 are first treated to a short making-of film. Which explains how state-of-the-art visual effects and scenes that were shot all around the globe were combined to create the magical world of Narnia.

[Read the rest at JimHillMedia.com]

Disney-MGM Studios in Orlando will open a new attraction in December called Journey Into Narnia: Creating The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.

The walk-through attraction will offer visitors a peek at the props and some of the story line from the Walt Disney Pictures and Walden Media’s film The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.

The movie, based on the C.S. Lewis book, premieres nationwide in theaters on Dec. 9 and the attraction will open the same day, Disney spokesman Charles Stovall said.

Paul Martin, 24, who runs [NarniaFans.com] from his home in Grand Rapids, Mich., said he’s going to see the attraction as well as the movie, and will gladly make a special trip.

“It sounds really cool,” said Martin, a lifelong fan of the Chronicles of Narnia.

Journey Into Narnia is the first new attraction at Disney-MGM Studios since the Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show debuted in May as part of the Happiest Celebration on Earth marketing campaign at Disney parks worldwide.

In the new attraction, which will take 10 to 15 minutes to walk through, guests will enter the frozen world of Narnia, Stovall said, and see behind-the-scenes moviemaking magic in the epic film.

Visitors will enter through a giant wardrobe, just as the children do in the movie version of Lewis’ classic, and will exit through a gallery of elaborate creatures, costumes and props from the movie.

The attraction is going into the former Haunted Mansion movie set on Soundstage 4 on Mickey Avenue. That attraction, based on the 2003 Eddie Murphy movie, closed in 2004 and was recently used for special events, including the Happiest Celebration media gathering this year.

Florida Education Commissioner John Winn is scheduled to be at Disney-MGM Studios today, along with four young actors from the film and a group of elementary school students, to help announce plans for the attraction and to promote a statewide children’s literacy program.

Our previous story on the attraction

Coming in 2006, Disney-MGM Studios Guests Can Step Behind the Scenes of ‘The Chronicles of Narnia’ Motion Picture.

For fans of C.S. Lewis’ timeless adventure The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, Disney-MGM Studios is transforming a soundstage into the frozen world of Narnia and taking guests behind-the-scenes of the movie-making magic in the film based on the book. Guests will enter the frozen world of Narnia through a giant wardrobe.

In addition to props and set pieces, guests will see elaborate creatures, costumes, and armor used in making the film.

The walk-through experience is located in Soundstage 4 on Mickey Avenue.