The Hobbit Adds Evangeline Lilly…and Dame Edna?

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Things are getting interesting with The Hobbit films. In a Facebook post published over the weekend, filmmaker Peter Jackson announced that his two-movie version of the J. R. R. Tolkien fantasy novel had added three new castmembers.
First, Evangeline Lilly of LOST fame. Perhaps ironic, given that her beau and other LOST alumna Dominic Monaghan played Meriadoc ‘Merry’ Brandybuck in The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Lilly will play a newly created elf character named Tauriel.
Meanwhile, Barry Humphries, the comedian best known for alter ego Dame Edna Everage, has also joined the production. He’s set to play the Goblin King.
Finally, Benedict Cumberbatch, who plays the title character on the television series Sherlock is aboard and will provide the voice of the dragon Smaug.
Here’s what Jackson had to say in its entirety:
Yikes! I can finally get back to some postings! We’ve finished our first block of shooting and moved straight into location scouting. More on that soon… But today, I’m thrilled to announce two new cast members who will be joining us for our second block of shooting.
Evangeline Lilly will be playing a new character—the Woodland Elf, Tauriel. Her name means ‘daughter of Mirkwood’ and, beyond that, we must leave you guessing! (No, there is no romantic connection to Legolas.) What is not a secret is how talented and compelling an actress Evangeline is; we are thrilled and excited she will be the one to bring our first true Sylvan Elf to life.
I’m also highly excited that Barry Humphries will be portraying the Goblin King, in much the way Andy Serkis created Gollum. Barry is perhaps best known for his business and social connections as the long-time manager of Dame Edna Everage. He has also been an ardent supporter of the rather misunderstood and unfairly maligned Australian politician, Sir Les Patterson. However, in his spare time, Barry is also a fine actor, and we’re looking forward to seeing him invest the Goblin King with the delicate sensitivity and emotional depth this character deserves.
Evangeline and Barry, along with Welsh actor Luke Evans as Bard and Benedict Cumberbatch as Smaug, just about rounds out the major casting. I cannot wait to get stuck into these new scenes!
More soon, including a flurry of answers to your questions. Sorry for the delay!
Cheers,
Peter J

According to Deadline

According to Deadline, actress Julia Ormond (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) is in talks to star as Superman’s birth mother, Lara, in director Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel. If cast, she will share the screen with Russell Crowe, who has taken the role of Superman’s father, Jor-El.
With Henry Cavill cast as Supes, Amy Adams as Lois Lane, Kevin Costner, as Pa Kent, Diane Lane as Ma Kent, and Michael Shannon as Zod, this is turning out to be quite a cast indeed.
Lara was last seen played by Susannah York in Richard Donner’s 1978 film and in its sequel.

Christopher Meloni Will Not Play Lex Luthor in Man of Steel

Yesterday, after a report over at Deadlinestated that actor Christopher Meloni was up for a “major role in Man of Steel”, the Internet began buzzing that the Law & Order: SVU actor was up for the role Lex Luthor. While he certainly has a look that would work for Superman’s arch nemesis, it seemed unlikely that Warner Bros and Zack Snyder would cast a television actor in such a prominent part…in a major blockbuster.
Today some light has been shed on the whole affair. Meloni told Vulture that he will not be playing Luthor, but rather a general in the Zack Snyder-helmed reboot. Meloni wouldn’t reveal any more about the character, merely quipping, “I can’t tell you, or I’d have to kill you.”
However, he did say that he will begin filming at the end of August over the course of five months in locations that include Chicago, Vancouver, and Edwards Air Force Base.
If you haven’t been keeping up, so far Superman: Man of Steel (working title) has cast the following actors:
Henry Cavill as Clark Kent/Superman
Amy Adams as Lois Lane
Russell Crowe as Jor-El
Kevin Costner as Jonathan Kent
Diane Lane as Martha Kent
Michael Shannon as Zod
Antje Traue as Faora
Julia Ormond as Lara Lor-Van

Ahoy! Aardman’s The Pirates! Band of Misfits Trailer Off the Port Bow!

Arrrggghhh… nothing gets our timbers shivered and jollies rogered like a good pirate movie (no, we’re not countingPirates of the Caribbean 4). And the good folks at Aardman Animation (the geniuses behind Wallace & Gromit) have one ready to set sail. Just lay your eyes on the trailer below.
Like most of their animated productions,The Pirates! is being produced using Aardman’s signature claymation technique. In addition, it will be their first foray into 3D. The last film to combine stop-motion in 3D was Henry Selick’sCoraline.
The plot follows the adventures of The Pirate Captain (Hugh Grant) and his crew of swashbuckling pirates as they attempt to beat his rivals Black Bellamy (Jeremy Piven) and Cutlass Liz (Salma Hayek) in the Pirate of the Year Award. On their quest they battle Queen Victoria (Imelda Staunton) and meet a young Charles Darwin (David Tennant).
For more information, check out their Official Website.
The Pirates! Band of Misfits is set to plunder and pillage audiences March 30, 2012.

The Amazing Spider-Man Trailer Swings Into Action

Columbia Pictures’ reboot of the very popular franchise has been shrouded in much secrecy since it began and there has been much fan speculation regarding how director Marc Webb (500 Days of Summer) will make his version different than Sam Raimi’s previous incarnation. Well, wonder no more, true-believers. Here, then, is your first look at ol’ Webhead in action. Take a look below, and let us know your thoughts…
The Amazing Spider-Man stars Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Rhys Ifans, Denis Leary, Martin Sheen, and Sally Field and will hit theaters on July 3, 2012.