The Hobbit is less than a month a way, so be prepared for an onslaught of promotion. Last week we shared the latest production blog from The Hobbit, and now we have an interview with Peter Jackson and Martin Freeman thanks to Total Film.
Here is what Jackson had to say about Bilbo Baggins' (Freeman) character in the film:
"He really wants to be left alone, to put his feet up in front of a fire. And then suddenly he’s dragged off on an adventure. So there’s a lot of comedic opportunities. But you want to feel the truth of those moments. You don’t want them to be played just for laughs. When he’s holding the sword and faced with a troll, you want the sense of danger, and Martin’s brilliant at juggling the tone, that ability to have one foot in the dramatic world and one in the comedic world."
As you may recall, the films were initially planned as only two films instead of three. In an earlier interview Freeman said that he didn't feel a lot of pressure playing the hero in such a highly anticipated film series. Here is what he had to say now:
"It’s not really daunting. It is unexpected compared to where we were, but it’s the same thing of telling the story and doing your bit, whether it’s one or two or three films. There’s just, you know, more of it! But there are so many of us involved, it doesn’t really hang on anyone’s shoulders."
Synopsis:
"The Hobbit" follows the journey of title character Bilbo Baggins, who is swept into an epic quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor, which was long ago conquered by the dragon Smaug. Approached out of the blue by the wizard Gandalf the Grey, Bilbo finds himself joining a company of thirteen dwarves led by the legendary warrior, Thorin Oakensheild. Their journey will take them into the Wild; through treacherous lands swarming with Goblins and Orcs, deadly Wargs and Giant Spiders, Shapeshifters and Sorcerers. Although their goal lies to the East and the wastelands of the Lonely Mountain first they must escape the goblin tunnels, where Bilbo meets the creature that will change his life forever... Gollum. Here, alone with Gollum, on the shores of an underground lake, the unassuming Bilbo Baggins not only discovers depths of guile and courage that surprise even him, he also gains possession of Gollum's "precious" ring that holds unexpected and useful qualities... A simple, gold ring that is tied to the fate of all Middle-earth in ways Bilbo cannot begin to know.
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey arrives on December 14th; The Desolation Of Smaug will arrive December 13th, 2013; There And Back Again is scheduled to be released July 18th, 2014.
Follow Jim on Twitter and Tumblr