News

Who knew Middle-earth’s biggest plot twist had happened off-camera? Richard Armitage, the brooding dwarf king Thorin Oakenshield himself, spilled the beans on The Hobbit’s ever-evolving script. By the time filming wrapped, the script had been rewritten so many times, it was a wonder the cast didn’t get whiplash trying to keep up.

Richard Armitage as Thorin Oakenshield in The Hobbits | Credits: New Line Cinema

From plot twists to character arcs, nothing had been safe from last-minute changes.

Richard Armitage’s Hobbit journey: Rewrites, heavy armor, and on-set surprises Richard Armitage as Thorin Oakenshield in The Hobbits | Credits: New Line Cinema

The Hobbit wasn’t just an adventure on screen; it was a full-blown rewrite marathon behind the scenes. Richard Armitage revealed that the script changes were relentless.

The rewrites weren’t random, though. As filming progressed, the characters’ voices evolved, and the writers – Philippa Boyens, Fran Walsh,...

Your browser does not support the video tag. Quick Links The Hobbits Rescued Bill the Pony From a Neglectful Owner Sam Said a Heartbreaking Goodbye to Bill the Pony Bill the Pony Braved the Wilderness to Find His Way Home What Bill's Storyline Tells Us About Tolkien Other Notable Horses in Middle-earth

In J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings and Peter Jackson's The Fellowship of the Ring film adaptation, there were nine official members of the Fellowship: Frodo, Sam, Merry, Pippin, Aragorn, Boromir, Legolas, Gimli and Gandalf. In the novel, Elrond thought it was fitting that they had assembled nine heroes to combat the nine Nazgl. But in both versions of the story, these companions were not the only characters who departed from Rivendell on the quest to destroy the One Ring. In fact, Bill the Pony accompanied the members of the Fellowship in the early stages of their journey.

Your browser does not support the video tag. Quick Links The Hobbits Rescued Bill the Pony From a Neglectful Owner Sam Said a Heartbreaking Goodbye to Bill the Pony Bill the Pony Braved the Wilderness to Find His Way Home What Bill's Storyline Tells Us About Tolkien Bill the pony was Sam's pony in J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings. Though he was not officially a member of the Fellowship, he accompanied the others all the way to Moria. Peter Jackson's film adaptations did not include Bill's tragic backstory or uplifting epilogue from the novel.

In J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings and Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring film adaptation, there were nine official members of the Fellowship: Frodo, Sam, Merry, Pippin, Aragorn, Boromir, Legolas, Gimli and Gandalf. In the novel, Elrond thought it was...

Sir Ian McKellen’s cinematic tenure has been filled with astounding accolades complementing his illustrious career spanning more than seven decades. The English actor has experienced it all, from how the theaters have evolved to the rapid changes in cinema, it’s magical.

Sir Ian McKellen as Gandalf

In his profound and glorious career, especially in cinema, his debut in Peter Jackson’s ambitious The Lord of The Rings franchise as Gandalf and Erik Lehnsherr a.k.a. Magneto in MCU has lived the glory of immense fandom. Still, playing Gandalf was not what he expected.

Gandalf Tested The Patience of Sir Ian McKellen

Sir Ian McKellen as Gandalf in The Hobbit

Be it The Lord of the Rings or The Hobbit Trilogy, Peter Jackson’s movie series have taken the world by storm. The franchises have been the marvel of cinema comprising grand narratives and epic storytelling. However, Sir...

Warning: Contains Spoilers for I'm A Virgo

In I’m A Virgo, Jharrel Jerome plays the giant Cootie leading viewers to wonder how tall the character and his actor are in reality. It took Boots Riley five years to produce the follow-up to his deservedly acclaimed 2018 satire Sorry To Bother You. Fortunately, Prime’s I’m A Virgo is worth the wait. Another trippy satirical thrill ride from Riley, I’m A Virgo tells the story of Cootie. A giant who was raised in seclusion, Cootie becomes an unlikely folk hero when he escapes into the colorful environs of his Oakland neighborhood. Cootie’s tragicomic coming-of-age forms the bulwark of I’m A Virgo’s story.

By I’m A Virgo’s bizarre ending, viewers are rooting for Cootie to triumph against a fascist superman simply named The Hero. However, before this finale, Cootie experiences friendship, romance, and heartbreak for the first time. Cootie becomes friends with Scat,...

The Lord of the Rings star Sean Astin says that he and his fellow Hobbit actors from the film trilogy have an active group text that they've been communicating in daily for the last few months. Astin played Samwise Gamgee in Peter Jackson's adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's classic fantasy trilogy. Best friend of protagonist Frodo Baggins, Sam accompanies Frodo all the way to the top of Mount Doom in order to destroy the One Ring.

Speaking with Collider about what he remembers most fondly about filming The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Astin revealed that he has been part of a group text with his fellow Hobbit actors for the last few months. He goes on to talk about how honored he was to be part of a film series that has stood the test of time. Check out Astin's full statement below:

I think what I treasure...

For those of you who just can't wait for Peter Jackson to get started on his Hobbit film, here's a really interesting 1993 Finnish version of J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle Earth adventure called Hobitit. 

Hobitit was a nine-episode miniseries that covered The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings trilogy. This series is laughably bad. It's got some out of place contemporary music, terrible special effects, and a green painted man playing Gollum. This all makes for a good time. Hope you enjoy the show!

The entire series is online, but it's all in Finnish. You can watch the rest of the first episodes here and here. ...