Richard Armitage, Peter Jackson attend 'Hobbit' film premiere in Beijing

CTV
The Associated Press
Published Tuesday, January 20, 2015 7:34AM EST
Last Updated Tuesday, January 20, 2015 10:06AM EST



BEIJING -- Director Peter Jackson attended a red-carpet premiere of the final "Hobbit" film in Beijing on Tuesday, saying that he has been having a hard time getting used to the nickname "Peter the Great" affectionately given to him by Chinese fans.

Jackson was joined at the event by actor Richard Armitage, who said he would miss playing in the "Hobbit" trilogy and would now focus on his role in TV drama "Hannibal."

The New Zealand ambassador to China also gave a speech welcoming fans to visit his country, where the films were made.

"The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies" ends Jackson's massively successful six-film franchise that started with the 2001 release of "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring."


Read more: http://www.ctvnews.ca/entertainment/peter-jackson-richard-armitage-attend-hobbit-film-premiere-in-beijing-1.2196840#ixzz3PVQ10ck7

Richard Armitage finds his inner Thorin

LA TIMES
HERO COMPLEX
Dec. 22, 2014 | 12:51 p.m.

English actor Richard Armitage shares some interesting traits with his “Hobbit” alter ego, valiant dwarf Thorin Oakenshield.

“I had to be pretty honest with myself because you do get asked that question a lot, ‘Where are you like the character?'” Armitage said earlier this month. “I’m very stubborn and pigheaded like Thorin… I’m a little bit taller than him. And I can grow a beard at an astonishingly weird rate.”

Armitage’s confession was one of the highlights of the special Imax preview screening of “The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies,” which took place Dec. 11 at New York’s AMC 34th Street 14 & Imax.

Armitage was joined on stage for a Q&A following the movie by his “Five Armies” costar Lee Pace, who plays the Elven King Thrandruil.

The final installment in Jackson’s epic “Hobbit” trilogy, “Five Armies” handily won the box-office competition this weekend — the film has grossed upward of $90.6 million since its Wednesday release.

It picks up where last year’s “The Desolation of Smaug” ends, with Thorin and company, accompanied by Martin Freeman’s good-natured hobbit Bilbo Baggins, having reclaimed the treasure of their lost homeland Erebor from the evil dragon Smaug (Benedict Cumberbatch).

A vengeful Smaug heads to Lake-town to decimate the nearby village, and the destruction the dragon causes leaves the townspeople insisting upon recompense from the dwarfs who disturbed his resting place, setting into motion the conflict that will grow to include the armies of the title.


READ MORE HERE PLUS VIDEO: http://herocomplex.latimes.com/movies/hobbit-battle-of-five-armies-richard-armitage-finds-his-inner-thorin/#/0

Richard Armitage’s Journey From Musicals to Middle Earth

WALL STREET JOURNAL
Dec. 4, 2014 5:35 p.m. ET



RICHARD ARMITAGE IS known for his controlled and stoic performances, so it’s rather disconcerting—and funny—to get an excited and happy yelp out of the 43-year-old British actor.

“Ah, thank God, thank you, thank you,” he says with a deep laugh when told that his diverse roles over the years, from brooding John Thornton in “North & South,” the 2004 BBC dramatization of Elizabeth Gaskell ’s novel, to British spy Lucas North in the TV series “Spooks,” to Thorin Oakenshield, leader of the dwarves in Peter Jackson ’s “The Hobbit” trilogy, make it hard to typecast him—except, perhaps, as a heartthrob.

Born in Leicester, England, and an alum of the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, the New York-based actor has had a busy year. He received rave reviews in London over the summer for his spellbinding performance as the tormented John Proctor in the Old Vic’s production of Arthur Miller ’s “The Crucible.” The production was so well-received, in fact, that it’s being screened in cinemas in the U.K. and Ireland next week, and other locations world-wide in February.

Mr. Armitage says playing John Proctor in the Old Vic’s production of ‘The Crucible’ gave him resilience. TRISTRAM KENTON/THE GUARDIAN

The actor was also on the silver screen this summer, in Steven Quale ’s disaster movie “Into the Storm,” and he filmed “Urban Grimshaw and the Shed Crew,” which is currently in postproduction and co-stars Anna Friel. In October, he began work on “Sleepwalker” with director Elliott Lester —which Mr. Armitage says is a psychological thriller along the lines of “Memento” or the Italian film “La Doppia Ora”—and he will also be making a cameo appearance in a new film adaptation of Lewis Carroll ’s second “Alice” book, “Through the Looking Glass,” alongside Johnny Depp and Anne Hathaway .

In December, Mr. Armitage—who at the age of 17 joined a circus in Budapest to get his actor’s Equity card—will be busy promoting “The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies,” the last in the blockbuster trilogy, which premiered in London this week. “I know Peter has made an extraordinary film, because it is his last visit to Middle Earth—he will certainly do it justice,” says Mr. Armitage. “It will be a great way to end the year.”

We spoke to him about the bohemian life of an actor, joining Twitter and why he’s not cut out for musical theater.



READ MORE HERE; http://online.wsj.com/articles/richard-armitages-journey-from-musicals-to-middle-earth-1417732548

Richard Armitage Dresses Like James Bond For 'Da Man' Cover

JUST JARED
SUN, 30 NOVEMBER 2014 AT 6:20 AM

Richard Armitage is the perfect gentleman in a tuxedo on the cover of Da Man magazine’s December 2014/January 2015 issue, out on newsstands now!

Here’s what the 43-year-old English actor had to share with the mag:

On his upcoming film The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies: “It’s the last piece of Peter Jackson’s explorations of Tolkien’s works about Middle Earth, so expect the big finale before the curtain falls. There is a big clue in the title, but rest assured that a pretty spectacular battle is coming your way. As for my character Thorin, he is spiraling downwards but will rise again like all the best tragic heroes in literature.”

READ MORE HERE: http://www.justjared.com/2014/11/30/richard-armitage-dresses-like-james-bond-for-da-man-cover/

Richard Armitage: Thorin Oakenshield to ******* in The Battle of Five Armies? (possible spoiler)

YAHOO MOVIES
By Daniel Wood | Yahoo Contributor Network – 6 hours ago




A few weeks back I reported that an online petition has surfaced on the internet with the sole purpose of asking Peter Jackson to go against the Hobbit book and common sense narrative progression and let Richard Armitage's Thorin Oakenshield live.

I also wrote another article explaining who I thought should die in 'There and Back Again'. Sorry it's 'The Battle of Five Armies' now isn't it! Anyway, Thorin Oakenshield was one of those characters who should definitely die. Not just because it's what happens in the book but because his character arc means that dying is the only way of getting redemption for his actions.

Well, according to a report from Ecumencial News the people signing the petition will be incredibly happy as it looks like they're going to get what they want. That's because the website is reporting that Peter Jackson is going to largely follow J.R.R Tolkien's book to a tee, with the massive exception of Thorin Oakenshield's death.

Ecumencial News says ""It has been reported that the film will follow Tolkien's book, though one character who died in the book, Thorin Oakenshield, will remain alive, It is still not sure whether Oakenshield's presence in the movie will have any major effect on the plot."

This would seem to wholly go against the current plot-line for Thorin that we've seen in 'An Unexpected Journey' and 'Desolation of Smaug' as well as the subtle hints that Richard Armitage himself has been dropping in interviews.


READ MORE HERE: https://uk.movies.yahoo.com/thorin-oakenshield-survive-battle-five-armies-095800440.html

Astrological Profile: Richard Armitage by Mirjam Schneider

FEMALE FIRST
by Lucy Walton | 7 May 2014



Richard Armitage’s Sun sign is brave, hot-blooded Leo, meaning that he’s not to be messed with. The Leo energy in his chart is increased by Venus, making him a true (and seriously sexy!) leader who easily attracts attention to himself and captures hearts at his leisure. Thanks to this influence, the British star loves creativity and art in all its forms: In fact, he used to be very passionate about music and played several instruments before he turned his attention to acting. You can’t help but notice his stately, regal presence – but mind you, he can also come across as the haughty type. His portrayal of Thorin Oakenshield in The Hobbit is a great example of how his magnetic charisma and intimidating looks leave people with almost no choice but to become his admiring followers.

Sometimes he may even find himself a little overwhelming, due to his tendency to send himself into a frenzy whilst delivering proof of his heroic potential. But who cares if he goes over the top? The handsome actor is just spectacular to watch when he’s losing himself and giving it his all! Although he’s a generous soul and big romantic at heart, he still likes to make sure that his authority and dignity are undisputed. While playing the arrogant John Thornton in North and South, Richard showcased his dominant and commanding side. It’s a trait which may cause him difficulty tolerating those who do not quite match his strong, impressive personality. He does have a longing for personal glory, but his chart gives away that the actor is challenged to be unselfish and to overcome his ego.

Read more: http://www.femalefirst.co.uk/celebrity/astrological-profile-richard-armitage-mirjam-schneider-465311.html?utm_source=ff&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=siteFeed#ixzz312BrtY6p

Thorin Actor Richard Armitage Talks ‘The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies’

SCREEN RANT
Published 8 hours ago by Anthony Vieira



Director Peter Jackson’s epic prequel trilogy to his previous epic trilogy The Lord of the Rings culminates this December with the recently re-named The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies. It’s been a long journey for The Hobbit - before Jackson signed on to direct, Guillermo del Toro (Pacific Rim) was originally going to make the project in two parts.

Jackson took J.R.R. Tolkien’s single volume and expanded the story and scope well beyond the main narrative, which followed the simple hobbit Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) as he was drafted by wizard Gandalf the Grey (Ian McKellan) into assisting dwarf king Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage) and his brethren in re-taking the Lonely Mountain from the fearsome dragon Smaug (voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch).

The previous chapters in The Hobbit saga, An Unexpected Journey and The Desolation of Smaug, surpassed Peter Jackson’s LOTR trilogy in epic spectacle, and now star Richard Armitage has hinted that the final film will include some suitably memorable moments.

As Armitage told HitFix (via CBM):

“It’s going to be quite a nostalgic event I think. It’s going to be 15 years of seeing Middle Earth on the big screen, the culmination of Peter Jackson’s life’s work. I think the ‘Battle of the Five Armies’ is something that I cannot wait to see.”

Armitage echoed this sentiment to OTRC, adding: “There’s a couple of big surprises. [...] I think it will be probably quite a cinematic event.”

READ MORE HERE: http://screenrant.com/hobbit-battle-five-armies-richard-armitage-interview/