10 Things You Didn't Know About The Hobbit Trilogy
9. An Unexpected Reboot
Given the huge success and influence of Tolkiens fantasy novels, it comes as no surprise that numerous parties have engaged in attempts to make screen adaptations of either The Hobbit, The Lord Of The Rings or both. One of the more intriguing could-have-beens was the mooted adaptation of The Lord Of The Rings planned by The Beatles. John Lennon, who hoped to play Gollum, was the driving force behind the project, with Paul McCartney lined up for Frodo, Ringo Starr as Sam and George Harrison set to play Gandalf. Apparently Stanley Kubrick was even approached to direct, but Tolkien didnt warm to the idea and the project (and inevitable accompanying album) stalled. A 1978 animated version of The Lord Of The Rings was released to little fanfare, as was a cartoon version of The Hobbit the year before, but Peter Jackson wasnt the first director to bring a live-action version of The Hobbit to life on screen; that honour belongs to Vladimir Latyshev. Not that youd ever confuse Jacksons highly polished, exorbitantly expensive epics for the 1985 Soviet film adaptation. With puppets used to render Smaug and the Mirkwood spiders, several notable characters missing and dancing goblins pervading the teleplay set, the end product was more akin to a school play than a hefty blockbuster. Still, first is first.
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