The second stretch of filming for the two-part Hobbit adaptation is set to begin later this month. Even though there has already been over one hundred days of shooting, the final roles are still being cast for parts in the later portions of movie two.

Deadline is reporting that the great Billy Connolly has been cast as Dain Ironfoot, the leader of a fierce band of Dwarf warriors and cousin to Thorin Oakenshield:

We could not think of a more fitting actor to play Dain Ironfoot, the staunchest and toughest of Dwarves, than Billy Connolly, the Big Yin himself. With Billy stepping into this role, the cast of The Hobbit is now complete. We can’t wait to see him on the Battlefield!

It is hard to call this perfect casting before we see Connolly in action, but if it is possible we here at The Flickcast are somehow now even more excited for the final Hobbit film. The next two years are going to be very big for Billy Connolly who has yet to really break out here in the states.

Aside from his role in 2013′s Hobbit finale he will also be providing a pivotal voice in the next Pixar film, Brave.

With the recent resurgence of fairy tale themed shows such as NBC’s Grimm and ABC’s own Once Upon a Time, the Disney-owned company is now prepared to launch their second fabled show in the form of a live-action retelling of the children’s classic Beauty and the Beast, originally written by Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve.

The pilot will be written by Jonathan E. Steinberg (Human Target, Jericho with Steinberg acting as executive producer with Gary Fleder and Mary Beth Basile. It is also speculated that the series, if picked up, will air after the networks already highly successful Once Upon A Time. This version of the tale is intended as a period piece and will feature a hardboiled princess who develops a connection with a wild beast. No word yet on casting.

As if one Beauty and the Beast show wasn’t enough, the CW has also ordered a reboot of the CBS-produced version which ran on the network from 1987-1989. It starred Ron Pearlman (Hellboy, Sons of Anarchy) as Vincent, a lion-faced creature who wanders the New York sewers and occasionally quotes Shakespeare.

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There have been a lot of Hobbit related stories in the last few days, including the debut of the first teaser for the film. Now in addition to that first footage we are also getting the first one-sheet for the film, just in time for the Christmas cinema rush.

The poster does a great job evoking the sense of starting a grand adventure, and the focus on just Bilbo in Bag End is appropriate. Compared to the first Lord of the Rings one-sheet that focused on Frodo and the ring, this poster feels right as the beginning of the whole saga. The dutch angle and harsh lighting might seem a rather odd choice at first, but then you realize how off putting an uncomfortable leaving the Shire is for Bilbo and it all makes sense.

Everything we have seen from this movie up to this point has been amazing, it is finally starting to feel like there is a new Peter Jackson directed Tolkien film coming in less than a year. This poster helps set the tone for a two year adventure that brings us back into the glorious world of Middle Earth.

You can see The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey next year and the full poster after the jump.

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There are a lot of big films coming out next year, but the granddaddy of them all has got to be The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. The last time Peter Jackson rolled out a Tolkien-based film he brought in over a billion dollars and the largest Oscar sweep in the history of the award. Suffice it to say it’s big news when the first footage hits the web.

The Hobbit is a prequel story to The Lord of the Rings and will be split into two films, each releasing over the next two years. In case you are unaware of what happens in the story, here is a synopsis:

“The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” follows title character Bilbo Baggins, who is swept into an epic quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor, which was long ago conquered by the dragon Smaug. Approached out of the blue by the wizard Gandalf the Grey, Bilbo finds himself joining a company of thirteen dwarves led by the legendary warrior, Thorin Oakensheild. Their journey will take them into the Wild; through treacherous lands swarming with Goblins and Orcs, deadly Wargs and Giant Spiders, Shapeshifters and Sorcerers.”

Check out the full teaser after the jump.

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2012 is a big year for Ringers, obviously the first part of The Hobbit hits screens, but now they have the arrival of Lord of the Rings LEGO sets and games to look forward to. LEGO has announced that starting the summer of 2012 they are going to be in the Lord of the Rings business.

“Only LEGO, with their expertise in the construction category, is capable of doing justice to the incredibly imaginative environments depicted in the world of THE LORD OF THE RINGS and the two films based on THE HOBBIT… These films give life to amazing worlds and characters and we are thrilled to bring fans these products that deliver an imaginative play experience befitting of these beloved properties.”

LEGO has been working with Warner Bros. properties for the last few years with the successful LEGO Harry potter and LEGO DC Universe lines, now one of the most respected film franchises of all time will get their LEGO due. The most exciting aspect of this news is the confirmation of LEGO Lord of the Rings video games. The first game announced is based on the upcoming Hobbit film due out next year.

Check out more details about what to expect from new partnership after the jump.

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I will admit something to you. When I first heard about HBO’s planned adaptation of George R.R. Martin’s Game of Thrones, I was skeptical.

Fortunately, that was put to rest almost immediately by the show’s awesomeness and since then it has become one of my favorites. Of course, if you’re a huge fan of the show like I am, you can’t wait for the new season to arrive. It’s coming early next year, but in the meantime, HBO has released a first-look trailer for it.

The trailer (or teaser if you prefer) includes footage from the fantasy series’ second season as well as comments by the series writers/executive producers David Benioff and D.B. Weiss.

Game Of Thrones returns with new episodes in April.

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There are few films upcoming as anticipated as The Hobbit. The predecessor of The Lord of the Rings represents a return to Middle Earth and everyones favorite race of furry feet halflings. Telling the tale of Frodo’s uncle Bilbo who… wait, does anyone really need a run down of what The Hobbit is? Didn’t think so.

So when co-star and 2nd unit director, Andy Serkis, lets loose that a teaser for this massive film is due out this Christmas, it is news.  Serkis told IGN in a recent interview that we should be seeing our first glimpse of the new film this holiday season. Best speculation points to either Tintin or the new Sherlock Holmes film.

Tintin would make a lot of sense because Peter Jackson is that film’s producer and the previously mentioned Serkis is also in the film. That said, Sherlock Holmes: A Gane of Shadows is a Warner Bros. production, and it might behoove WB to keep the excitement of this teaser in the family.

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The music from the Lord of the Rings films might very well be the best ever written for a film. Howard Shore often considered the entire project as his opera, structured in a sweeping and broad style that worked hand in hand with the epic story. So it is a natural that 10 years later the music is still exciting fans around the globe.

The music has been revisited again, this time being constructed as a symphony in six movements. The full twelve hours of music from the original films has been pared down into the six movements, each reflecting one of the six books of the original Lord of the Rings novel.

“Maestro Ludwig Wicki personally selected the musicians who comprise The 21st Century Symphony Orchestra and who perform on this recording,” said Shore. “Over the past four years he has perfected this music in Lucerne, Switzerland. His precision and supreme musicianship is evident throughout the recording. I congratulate him on his success and thank him for his masterful approach in bringing this score to life.”

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I have a horrible confession to make. It’s something that eats away at me everyday. I have yet to watch Game of Thrones. Now, this hurts for many reasons, but chief among them is the fact that I am such a fan of Fantasy and Sean Bean, yet here I sit writing a review instead of spending my precious time getting caught up with the show that seems tailor made for me.

Despite that I think I have been strangely fortunate, I have been eager to write a score review sight unseen. Usually I listen to the music, then see movie and let whole experience guide my opinion. For once I am able to judge a work based solely on how it works on the album. So lets see how that works.

Game of Thrones is actually not a film score, but rather the score from HBO’s hit new series based on the books by George R.R. Martin. It was written by up and coming film composer Ramin Djawadi, another in the line of talented composers who were shepherded into the film world by Hans Zimmer.

Unlike Klaus Badelt and Stephen Jablonsky, Djawadi has yet to have a break out hit score. He did write the music for Iron Man, but the sound lacked a tight, cohesive hook that tied the project together. If his work on Game of Thrones is any indication, this will be remedied very soon, Djawadi has crafted a moody, melodic master work that incites amazing imagery in the mind.

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When the TV series Game of Thrones was first announced it was, at least for me, regarded with a bit of skepticism. It looked sorta cool but I had to wonder how it one be once it got going. Fortunately, it turns out I had nothing to worry about.

The show, which is about to air its fourth episode this Sunday, started out a bit slow but over the last few weeks has gotten progressively better and now, I have to admit, I’m hooked.

Now, to get you readhy for this Sunday’s episode, we’ve got aclip from it to show you (after the break, of course). In this episode, called “Cripples, Bastards and Broken Things”, Ned (Sean Bean) looks to a book for clues to the death of his predecessor, and uncovers one of King Robert’s (Mark Addy) bastards.

Robert and his guests witness a tournament honoring Ned. Jon takes measures to protect Samwell (John Bradley) from further abuse at Castle Black; a frustrated Viserys clashes with Daenerys in Vaes Dothrak; Sansa (Sophie Turner) imagines her future as a queen, while Arya envisions a far different future. Catelyn rallies her husband’s allies to make a point, while Tyrion finds himself caught in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Yep, that’s a lot of story for one episode. Watch Game of Thrones Sunday at 9/8C on HBO to see if they pull it off. My guess is they do.

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We brought you info about this show before and now HBO has given us a second tease promo and a behind-the-scenes featurette for its upcoming fantasy series Game of Thrones. The network also released an image from the series of actress Emilia Clarke as Daenerys.

The series is based on George R. R. Martin’s bestselling A Song of Ice and Fire novels. It depicts a world where magic exists and the empire is on its last legs. It follows the machinations of various kings, lords and soldiers as they fight for control of the throne.

The show stars Sean Bean, Peter Dinklage, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Lena Headey and Jason Momoa.

Check out both of the videos after the jump. Game of Thrones airs next year on HBO.

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Being in the movie news game usually makes it easy for us to know about all the new and upcoming projects. It’s our job. Every so often, however, a film sneaks by and makes everyone in the office do a double take. The film in question this time is Sinbad: The Fifth Voyage.

There were a few posters for the film surfacing last week at Comic-Con, but nobody knew much about the project — until now. The first trailer has hit the net, and the film looks to be a tribute to classic Ray Harryhausen films with actual use of stop motion animation.

Sinbad: The Fifth Voyage comes from TV sci-fi director David Winning and from the plot synopsis, this project looks to be quite an adventure. “When the Sultan’s first born is taken by an evil sorcerer, Sinbad is tasked with traveling to a desert of magic and creatures to save her.”

Not enough for you? Did we mention Patrick Stewart is narrating the film as Sinbad? That alone should be reason enough to check out the trailer after the jump.

Sinbad: The Fifth Voyage is set to hit theaters on January 1, 2011. Until then, check out the trailer after the jump.

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