[i forgot to compulsively check theonering.net all week so i missed all this until just now.  also good morning, new york.  i’m still up on the west-side so actually good night.]

the hobbit is green-lit, the actors guild boycotts are off, peter jackson is directing both parts, they’re filming in 3D, the production is staying in new zealand, martin freeman is bilbo, richard armitage is thorin, there’s going to be an awful lot of dwarves, sylvester ‘seventh doctor’ mccoy will be radagast, and BILL NIGHY WILL BE THE VOICE OF SMAUG.  and more casting is being announced on an almost daily basis.

technically they haven’t signed ian mckellan, andy serkis, or hugo weaving back as gandalf, gollum, and elrond, but jackson said on record in his first interview with del toro back in 2008 that anyone originating a role in lotr would be offered first shot to return for the hobbit, and mckellan and serkis at least have been vocal about intending to do so.  christopher lee has expressed doubts about flying down to new zealand at his age, but honestly i think team bilbo are more likely to fly up and film his scenes in england than recast saruman.  (this is presuming they flesh out the sideline where gandalf runs off to meet up with the wizards to do a little business, otherwise he’s not actually in the book).

during the runup to a very strange parliament bill passed to placate warner bros from moving production to ireland, there was a huge rally in auckland to support the production staying in nz. and jackson and philippa boyens have done interviews with local nz news in the rebuilt bag end set and gollum’s cave.  see also video of helicopter flyovers of the rebuilt and expanded hobbiton.