THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG Has Four New Banner Posters

Elves Of THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG Take Over Empire

First Teaser Poster For THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG

EW Gives Us Our First Official Look At Evangeline Lily As Tauriel In THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG

Peter Jackson Also In The Running For STAR WARS EPISODE VIII?

During a recent Hobbit video FirstShowing spotted a possible script or outline for Star Wars: Episode VIII in Peter Jackson's desk with his name scrolled across it. It could have been a bit of joke since the video was released yesterday on April Fools. Disney/LucasFilm might be actually looking at Peter to tackle the second film. Previously, Alfonso Cuaron (Children of Men, Gravity) had been rumored for talks to make Episode VIII. There is a bit of speculation LucasFilm could be aiming to have different directors handle the new trilogies. Similar to how the original three films worked as Lucas (Abrams now) directed the first one and godfathered the other two productions. Considering that Paramount is talking about Star Trek 3 possibly coming out in 2016, it's unlikely that Abrams will be able to make both Trek 3 and Ep. VIII.

Jackson is currently doing post-production on The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug with some added Battle of The Five Armies scenes to be shot for There And Back Again this Summer. It's possible that LucasFilm could be aiming for a 2017-2018 release date for Episode VIII which could allow Jackson to clear his other projects including the upcoming sequel to Tintin which begins production sometime this year. Peter has personal and work relationships with Steven Spielberg which might have led to at least talk of him considering the project. Jackson hasn't exactly made a straight up science fiction film yet but was at one point producing the Halo movie. Not to mention producing Neill Blompkamp's stunning sci-fi sociological thriller District 9. Jackson did briefly talk about the new Star Wars films with MTV back in December. You never know making a Star Wars film could be on Peter's bucket-list or just a clever April Fools joke. Considering Jackson has always worked with both Weta Workshop and Weta Digital for his films. While ILM has provided the special effects for basically all of the LucasFilm projects. I don't think Jackson would direct but could help write/produce the film.

"Obviously if he (Lucas) had interest in doing himself, then that's what we would all like to see," he said. "But it's better to have more 'Star Wars' films than no 'Star Wars' films."

"The one thing that Tolkien said is that the wonderful thing with mythology — and George Lucas has created a mythology of his own — is that it keeps getting handed from one person to the next, and each person embellishes it and expands it," Jackson added. "It actually keeps mythology alive, because it should be a living, breathing organic thing where it expands over time. It doesn't just stay stagnant. So I think what George is doing with 'Star Wars' is terrific."

First In Camera Look At Evangeline Lily As Tauriel, Plus Other Behind The Scenes Images From THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG

First Footage From THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG

First Scene From The Hobbit: The Desolation Of... by dm_514f5e7f66d4c

WHAT IF: ALIEN 4 Could Have Been A Very Different Film

Fox's mismanagement of the Alien saga has been legendary from the Alien Vs. Predator experiment almost killing both franchises to producers micro-managing/rushing sequels. The squandered potential of Alien 3 is the most well-known which James Cameron had wanted to make but ended up going on without him. Leading to the studio killing all the main characters even though they would pursue a fourth film. Joss Whedon was hired to script the film while the studio would hire French director Jean-Pierre Jeunet who at the time didn't speak of word of English. Fans believe the lost in translation between the cast, writer and director helped it's poor reception.

Some of the problems on the set of Alien Resurrection include Fox slashing the budget and studio space State-side was hard to find as well. Productions such as Titanic, Starship Troopers and Jurassic Park: The Lost World made it hard for Fox to build the sets needed, leading to sets being scaled back. Resurrection was the only Alien film to be shot outside of the UK. Weaver wanted the film shot in the States because she didn't want to travel. A bunch of producers acting as writers along with off-toned moments ended up giving us one of the worst films in the series. Jean-Pierre also made on the spot changes and removed the original tounge-and-cheek humor from Whedon's script. Apparently, the studio had some high caliber directors on their wish-list who could have been a saving grace for the messy production.

Before making Oscar caliber features such as Slumdog Millionaire and 127 Hours director Danny Boyle had been in the running to direct the follow up to David Fincher's Alien 3. The project would have been Boyle's next film after the hugely successful Trainspotting which put the director on the map.   Danny would instead make his alternative romantic comedy A Life Less Ordinary instead. He would later jump into the science fiction thriller arena with films such as 28 Days Later and Sunshine which were clearly influenced by the first two Alien films.

Boyle was the producer's top choice along with other contenders David Cronenberg, Peter Jackson and Bryan Singer (Usual Suspects). Peter declined involvement because of lack of enthusiasm for the film while it's unknown why Singer and Cronenberg passed. Jackson would go on to make The Frighteners/Lord of The Rings and Singer instead made Apt Pupil but came back to Fox to make X-Men.

The supporting cast would have had some comedy and action icons. Dr. Wren had been written by Joss Whedon with Bill Murray in mind and Christie had been a role written for Chow Yun Fat (Hard Boiled, The Killer) both actors declined the film.

CREATIVE CHOICES: 

Originally, the clone was going to be that of Newt which would allow the franchise to move along without Ripley. The reason being at the time Sigourney wasn't interested in another film. This was later changed when Sigourney Weaver signed on to the film for $11m. Weaver along with James Cameron would try to put the wheels in motion for the fifth film that ultimately never happened. Oddly enough, James Cameron's purposed Alien 3 would have had involved Newt and Hicks. Instead the studio decided to kill them off which still upsets Cameron. Along with killing Ripley at the end of Alien 3 the story choices ended up painting the studio in a corner when trying to come up how to make the fourth installment.

Another creative change was to the newborn which Whedon had written as a deadly four-legged, eyeless, bone-white creature with red veins running along the sides of its head. It had an inner jaw, similar to the all the other aliens. It also had a pair of pincers on the sides of his head. These pincers were used to hold its prey still as it drained the prey of blood with its inner jaw. The creature was also larger, nearly the size of the queen alien. In later script revisions, the creature was changed into a "more believable" hybrid of human and alien. The original newborn's pale apparence seemingly helped influence some of the creature designs on Prometheus.

I have to assume this creature also made it into David Twohy's version of the script and influenced his alien creatures in Pitch Black. Minus of course those aliens were also able to fly. There has been speculation that David Twohy's Riddick franchise was started from the rejected script.

The final act was originally going to be set on Earth but that was given the axe when Weaver disagreed with that direction. A few large scaled action scenes were going to be Earthbound. In the director's cut of Alien Resurrection we get to see Ripley finally on Earth looking over Paris.

The crew of the Betty would eventually give Joss Whedon the idea for his Firefly series which also focused on a group of space pirates.

James McAvoy Wants To Play Gandalf In THE SILMARILLION

First off, Peter Jackson and New Line/Warner Bros. haven't announced any plans to explore another trilogy based on the Silmarillion. The book is a prequel to both The Hobbit and Lord of The Rings, it's unknown at this point if they even own the rights to make films. However, this hasn't stopped James McAvoy from campaigning for a role in it. He tells TotalFilm that the next role he'd like to tackle would be Gandalf in The Silmarillion. I'm not too familiar with the book but I expect the studio would consider turning it into a third trilogy.

“I’d like to play Gandalf..It’s called The Silmarillion! It’s a collection of poems and songs that chart the ancient history of Middle-earth. My true geek is coming to the fore, but they’re really, really beautiful stories. In part of that is the genesis of Gandalf, or Mithrandir, or Stormcrow, or any of his many, many names. Anyway, maybe that’s the one!” 

The Hobbit's current success has proved audiences are still hungry for more Middle Earth adventures. An Unexpected Journey has almost made $800 million worldwide already and won't be exiting theaters anytime soon. Warner Bros. (New Line) originally budgeted for two Hobbit films ($500 million) but they added more to the budget. Including new Battle of The Five Armies scenes to be shot expanding the project into a trilogy. It's possible the studio could strike while the iron is hot and start development on the Silmarillion.

The catch seems to be Peter Jackson is exhausted making these films and likely won't be returning to direct any more installments. Originally, Guillermo del Toro was hired to direct the Hobbit only to exit over lengthy production delays. Jackson reluctantly took the director's chair but brought in Andy Serkis as his second unit director. Serkis has shot a ton of scenes for the trilogy and will be spearheading the Five Armies shoot for There And Back Again. I wouldn't be shocked if they do make these films Andy Serkis could end up being the one to direct them. As Jackson had been mentoring and grooming Serkis to direct future projects during the Hobbit production.

FIRST LOOK: Bilbo In THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG

FIRST LOOK: Bard And Legolas From HOBBIT 3

Beautiful Japanese Poster For THE HOBBIT

HOBBIT Concept Art Features Goblins And Wargs

Another Look At Orc Chieftain Bolg From THE HOBBIT

New Images Of Goblins From THE HOBBIT

FIRST LOOK: Luke Evans As Bard The Bowman In THE HOBBIT

FIRST LOOK: Hunter Orcs From THE HOBBIT

New Images From THE HOBBIT Includes Great Goblin And Radagast