Movies

Sequel Bits: 'Kick-Ass 2', 'The Hobbit', 'Thor: The Dark World', 'Sherlock Gnomes'

By Angie Han

Get a nice long look at some behind-the-scenes goings-on in today's Sequel Bits. After the jump:

  • Kung Fu Panda's John Stevenson will direct Sherlock Gnomes
  • Is this our first look at the Hobbit trilogy's Bolg the Goblin-king?
  • See pics of Mother Russia and Hit-Girl's bike from the Kick-Ass 2 set
  • Check out more photos from Thor: The Dark World's Bourne Wood set

    • Sherlock Gnomes, the unfortunately titled sequel to 2011's Gnomeo and Juliet, has just picked up a director from another well-loved animated franchise. John Stevenson, who directed DreamWorks' Kung Fu Panda, has just signed on to helm the 3D picture.

    The new movie will see characters from the first film hiring a world-famous gnome-detective to uncover the truth behind a recent rash of gnome disappearances from gardens throughout suburban England. Elton John's Rocket Pictures is once again producing, while original writers Andy Riley and Kevin Cecil are back to pen the script. [Deadline]

    Could these handsome beasts below be Bolg the Goblin-king and his minion Grinnah from Peter Jackson's Hobbit trilogy? That's what Tolkiendrim, a French Tolkien site, is claiming.

    While we've known for a while now that Barry Humphries would play the Goblin-king character, this is potentially the first glimpse of what he'll actually look like onscreen. Take it with a grain of salt, though, as neither Jackson nor anyone officially involved with the film has given us any confirmation yet. Bolg is (supposedly) the one on the right.

    The first of Jackson's three Hobbit movies, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, will hit December 14. [via Blastr]

    With just a couple of days left until Kick-Ass 2: Balls to the Wall starts shooting, director Jeff Wadlow has been offering some early peeks behind the scenes. Recent photos show star Christopher Mintz-Plasse meeting the mysterious Mother Russia, Mother Russia's giant weapon, Hit-Girl's Ducati bike ("Guess what color we're gonna paint it?"), and more.

    While the identity of the actress playing Mother Russia hasn't been revealed, it seems safe to say from this photo that she looks the part. Head to Wadlow's Twitter account to see more. Also starring Chloë Grace Moretz and Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Kick-Ass 2 hits theaters June 28, 2013. [via Coming Soon]

    Over in London, construction on the Bourne Wood, England set of Thor: The Dark World is nearing completion. The Marvel Studios sequel is set to start shooting this week, although this particular location won't actually come into play until next week. The fictional village will be the site of a battle between the two kingdoms. Take a gander at the progress that has been made since we last saw photos:

    Directed by Alan Taylor and featuring Chris Hemsworth as the titular god, Thor: The Dark World will open November 8, 2013. Click over to Comic Book Movie to see more snaps from the set.

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