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THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY Peter Jackson’s Production Diaries 7

By Michelle McCue | June 6, 2012

Peter Jackson gives us a look at his studio in the latest production video for THE HOBBIT. I really like the peek into the fascinating world of the set and production designers. Even Legolas makes an appearance. Part one of the film will have its world premiere November 28th in New Zealand. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey will be released beginning December 14, 2012 while the second film, The Hobbit: There and Back Again, is slated for release the following year, beginning December 13, 2013.

Under Jackson’s direction, both movies are being shot consecutively in digital 3D using the latest camera and stereo technology. Filming is taking place at Stone Street Studios, Wellington, and on location around New Zealand.

Among the creative behind-the-scenes team returning to Jackson’s crew are director of photography Andrew Lesnie, production designer Dan Hennah, conceptual designers Alan Lee and John Howe, composer Howard Shore and make-up and hair designer Peter King. The costumes are designed by Ann Maskrey and Richard Taylor. The score is being composed by Howard Shore.

Taylor is also overseeing the design and production of weaponry, armour and prosthetics which are once again being made by the award winning Weta Workshop. Weta Digital take on the visual effects for both films, led by the film’s visual effects supervisor, Joe Letteri. Post production will take place at Park Road Post Production in Wellington.

Warner Bros. Consumer Products and Weta Workshop have announced a partnership under which the innovative design company will develop and market a wide range of authentic prop replicas, collectibles and merchandise based on the upcoming films, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and The Hobbit: There and Back Again, productions of New Line Cinema and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM). The licensing agreement grants Weta access to the library of characters, settings, and stories for the two films. The first products in the collection will be unveiled at San Diego Comic-Con at the Weta booth (#3513B) in July 2012, along with a limited number of exclusive pieces that will be available for purchase.

“Weta’s role behind-the-scenes of these two films makes them uniquely qualified to recreate the richly imaginative world of Middle-earth that their workshop helped brought to life,” said Kelly Gilmore, senior vice president, Global Toys and Themed Entertainment, Warner Bros. Consumer Products. “This story will transport audiences to extraordinary new places and we are thrilled to bring fans products that capture the artistry and spirit of these beloved properties.”

The Weta Workshop collection will be inspired by the scenery, characters and adventures Bilbo Baggins encounters on his remarkable journey in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey from Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson, slated for release December 14, 2012. Fans and collectors will appreciate the remarkable craftsmanship behind each element of the collection, which will include collectible statues, dioramas, high-end jewelry and art prints.

“We are excited to be returning to Middle-earth,” said Weta Workshop’s Academy Award-winning Creative Director, Richard Taylor. “We have been working with Peter Jackson and the product team on the design and production of the movies for the last four years, and we now get the chance to share our passion with fans and collectors. Our authentic prop replicas and collectibles are created by the very same artists who have worked on the two films, so effectively they come straight from Middle-earth.”

Weta Workshop will also continue their incredibly popular range of collectibles for The Lord of the Rings, which began more than 10 years ago. They are now featured in the gorgeous art book Weta, The Collector’s Guide. The full collection from Weta Workshop based on The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and The Hobbit: There and Back Again will be available for purchase in October at specialty retailers and on Weta Workshop’s website at www.wetanz.com/shop.

From Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson comes The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, the first of two films adapting the enduringly popular masterpiece The Hobbit. The second film will be The Hobbit: There and Back Again. Both films are set in Middle-earth 60 years before The Lord of the Rings, which Jackson and his filmmaking team brought to the big screen in the blockbuster trilogy that culminated with the Oscar®-winning The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.

Ian McKellen returns as Gandalf the Grey, the character he played in “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy, and Martin Freeman in the central role of Bilbo Baggins. Also reprising their roles from “The Lord of the Rings” movies are: Cate Blanchett as Galadriel; Ian Holm as the elder Bilbo; Christopher Lee as Saruman; Hugo Weaving as Elrond; Elijah Wood as Frodo; Orlando Bloom as Legolas; and Andy Serkis as Gollum. The ensemble cast also includes (in alphabetical order) Richard Armitage, John Bell, Jed Brophy, Adam Brown, John Callen, Luke Evans, Stephen Fry, Ryan Gage, Mark Hadlow, Peter Hambleton, Barry Humphries, Stephen Hunter, William Kircher, Evangeline Lilly, Sylvester McCoy, Bret McKenzie, Graham McTavish, Mike Mizrahi, James Nesbitt, Dean O’Gorman, Lee Pace, Mikael Persbrandt, Conan Stevens, Ken Stott, Jeffrey Thomas, and Aidan Turner.

The screenplays for both The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and The Hobbit: There and Back Againare by Fran Walsh & Philippa Boyens & Peter Jackson & Guillermo del Toro. Jackson is also producing the film, together with Carolynne Cunningham, Zane Weiner and Fran Walsh. The executive producers are Alan Horn, Toby Emmerich, Ken Kamins and Carolyn Blackwood, with Boyens and Eileen Moran serving as co-producers.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and The Hobbit: There and Back Again are productions of New Line Cinema and MGM, with New Line managing production. Warner Bros Pictures is handling worldwide theatrical distribution, with select international territories as well as all international television licensing, being handled by MGM.