GOLD! THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES Will Open $75M+, Already At $122M+ Overseas - Over 70% Of Total From 3D Screens!

This is it guys. The last trip we will have to Middle-earth for a long time. So go out and enjoy it! Peter Jackson's THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES opened last night to massive midnight screenings and is projected to hit north of $75 million for the weekend. Add on the $122 million it has already made overseas and we're well on our way to another gigantic release for Tolkien's imagination. Well mostly Tolkien and some kind liberty by a fella known as Peter Jackson.

After seeing the first two releases in this franchise series, it really makes me wonder what Guillermo del Toro's versions would have been like. More practical effects I'm sure, but what would be the big differences? I'm hoping that perhaps some of those concepts get included in the upcoming trilogy blu-ray set for THE HOBBIT next year. They've got my money already, but that would be the icing on the cake.

Back to the matter at hand - I won't be able to see the finale until the weekend, but Tim says he's seen it already so it will be great to see his review on the movie and the native 3D. Mine will be coming forthwith! Can't wait to see all that native 3D goodness, all from the amazing 3D rigs of 3ality Technica. Bring it on!

Here's the movie's storyline:
From Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson comes THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES, the third in a trilogy of films adapting the enduringly popular masterpiece The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien.

THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES brings to an epic conclusion the adventures of Bilbo Baggins, Thorin Oakenshield and the Company of Dwarves. Having reclaimed their homeland from the Dragon Smaug, the Company has unwittingly unleashed a deadly force into the world. Enraged, Smaug rains his fiery wrath down upon the defenseless men, women and children of Lake-town.

Obsessed above all else with his reclaimed treasure, Thorin sacrifices friendship and honor to hoard it as Bilbo’s frantic attempts to make him see reason drive the Hobbit towards a desperate and dangerous choice. But there are even greater dangers ahead. Unseen by any but the Wizard Gandalf, the great enemy Sauron has sent forth legions of Orcs in a stealth attack upon the Lonely Mountain. As darkness converges on their escalating conflict, the races of Dwarves, Elves and Men must decide – unite or be destroyed. Bilbo finds himself fighting for his life and the lives of his friends in the epic Battle of the Five Armies, as the future of Middle-earth hangs in the balance.

THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES is now playing in 3D, HFR 3D, IMAX 3D and flat.

Spoilers! Are These Action Figure Images The Goblin King From THE HOBBIT?

TORn has gotten their hands on what could be our first look at what the Goblin King in THE HOBBIT will look like AND a character description. While I can't hide the images from you (which also include an underling), I have made them super small - only click to enlarge the photo if you want to be spoiled! Also, you do have the option of not reading the description below too.

Barry Humphries is the actor behind the character.

Apparently the information and photos comes from a French site that also translated the German description to English. That description is as follows: 

The Goblin King is a huge, grotesquely bloated monster that in the years of his tyrannical rule over the miserable inhabitants of the Goblin town grew fat and flabby. The Goblin town is a collection of skew-whiff ramshackle huts deep in the caves of the Misty Mountains. He commands a bunch of foul, polluted, with scars and ulcers studded goblins.

Basically, they are bandits, they live by what they can pick up from passengers on the passes through the mountains. The Goblin King and his followers manage to capture Bilbo and the dwarves. The Goblin King is more wily and smarter than it seems. He takes pleasure in torturing his prisoners — he almost succeeds to finish off Thorin Oakenshield and his companions.

All of this seems to hold water as the Goblin King resembles the 'skeleton' of the practical animatronics creature that was being constructed during the first Production (last image).

Interesting or what!? I love this stuff. He looks positively evil does he not?

SPOILERS! Click to enlarge...

First Casting Call For THE HOBBIT This Weekend!!!

YES - we are finally here! The first official casting call for THE HOBBIT happens this weekend in Wellington, New Zealand. Yet still no "official" green light...

From stuff.co.nz: The Hobbit casting department advertised in The Dominion Post yesterday for "short and tall" people for a preliminary casting call to take place at the Te Whaea National Dance and Drama Centre in Newtown on Sunday.

They are on the lookout for men aged 16 and over who are 1.23 metres (4ft) to 1.58m (5ft 2in) tall or over 2.03m (6ft 8in). Women, aged 16 or over, must be between 1.2m and 1.53m.

The casting call is not for the many extras that are likely to be needed for the two-part film, but for people to play "scale doubles" for the speaking cast.

A Jackson spokesman said actors playing hobbits and dwarves would be normal adult size. "Scale doubles appear in some wide shots in place of our actors and with other adult actors when we need people to look smaller or taller."

The casting call was for people who fitted those heights. Those that did not would be turned away. There would be other casting calls at a later date for different roles.

More than 4000 extras were cast for The Lord of the Rings.

Despite the casting call, The Hobbit had yet to get the official green light to begin full pre-production and shooting.

"But we do need to be prepared in the event that we get one. That means having a little look around Wellington for scale doubles," the spokesman said.

Baby steps people. Or better said, Hobbit steps. We are getting there! More info when I get it...

Just When You Thought The Smaug Was Clearing...

Whoa. I had to read this news item twice - it clearly states that New Line has not paid ONE CENT of the Lord Of The Rings contractual agreement to the Tolkien Trust (the estate of the Tolkien family) for revenue earned from J.R.R. Tolkien's writings. So the Trust is suing New Line for:

1. $150 Million in unpaid earnings.
2. Punitive damages (not disclosed).
   

Further - and the one that hurts most - is that the rights to The Hobbit may now be revoked from New Line! The Trust is also suing for a court order to terminate any rights to "The Hobbit" that New Line may hold.

Again, I must reiterate that we feel Peter Jackson will still direct one, if not both Hobbit films no matter who holds the rights, but *sigh* this looks like it may delay the film even more.

Makes me wish the rights had gone to a major studio originally - although Peter Jackson was definitely the key to the success. Hang in there Peter!