Exclusive: Could Spider-Man possibly be rocking Hobbit Feet?
|
|
By El Mayimbe on
December 14, 2009
|
|
|
El Mayimbe here…
With the announcement this weekend that casting of "THE HOBBIT" film is about to start, what’s up with the role of Bilbo Baggins?
Fan speculation has been running rampant for the past year. First it was rumored that James McAvoy was a contender until Peter Jackson debunked that rumor.
Then Daniel Radcliffe was making the rumor mill until he personally said, “Thanks. But no thanks.”
I recently got a tip that during promoting the film BROTHERS at the Four Seasons in New York last month, Tobey Maguire was having a conversation and was asked which director he would like to work with next?
Tobey’s answer?
“Guillermo del Toro”
Know what else Tobey said?
"We may have something here in the near future.”
Really?
Could Peter Parker be playing Bilbo Baggins?
I checked with agency sources and yep, it’s true!
Apparently, we’re in the early stages of talks between CAA and the producers of the Hobbit film for Tobey to topline the film as Bilbo Baggins!
Again, right now it’s that – just dialogue taking place between the respective parties.
Tobey hasn’t been cast and an offer hasn’t been made. It’s just talks.
It’s no surprise to me because that is what mega agencies like CAA do. They hunt for the biggest roles for their biggest clients. Tobey’s agent at is the president of CAA.
Even I was skeptical because wait a minute, wasn’t Spider-man 4 and 5 supposed to shoot back to back?
I did my due diligence and according to a source inside Sony, Spiderman-4 and 5 IS NOT SHOOTING back to back.
So technically speaking, Tobey is available after shooting Spiderman 4 which is slated to begin shooting Winter 2010. The first Hobbit film is slated to start shooting mid-summer 2010.
If you think about it, a star like Tobey Maguire would make sense and provide a comfort zone for the WB because both The Hobbit films are going to be very expensive.
I just don’t see the WB greenlighting a mega tentpole like The Hobbit films with a complete unknown toplining.
As it stands, The Hobbit hasn’t been greenlit by the studio. Jackson and Del Toro have been personally footing the bill for the development and the pre viz of The Hobbit.
Here is the wildcard: next month’s auction of MGM assets. MGM owns half The Hobbit rights.
In just a few weeks we will know who will retain those rights.
For this story, I tried to find out who might get those rights come next month, but I was stonewalled at every juncture.
Even trusted sources at studios were paranoid at violating the iron clad non-disclosure agreements sent out by MGM to prospective bidders.
So it’s wait and see.
From a marketing standpoint, think about how cool it would be to get a Hobbit teaser trailer in front of Spider-man 4! Slam dunk if you ask me.
So stay tuned as more develops.
|
|
|
|
|
Tags: Casting, The Hobbit, Tobey Maguire, Guillermo del Toro, Fantasy, The Hobbit, News |
|
|
|
|
