The fourth Peter Jackson video blog from the set of The Hobbit focuses on the 3D, specifically the way they use the RED cameras, shooting in 5k, how much of a difference the 48 frames per second will make for the viewers and probably for the first time in the making of a movie, 3D artwork. So grab your red-cyan glasses and watch this awesome video blog right after the break.

This 10 minutes and 46 second video blog goes very in depth on the 3D and shows probably the most we’ve seen from The Hobbit yet. Peter Jackson talks about the original Lord of the Rings and how he would have filmed it in 3D if he had the possibility back then. Instead he made a lot of 3D pictures on the set of the trilogy so look forward to those in some fancy The Hobbit: The Unexpected Journey 3D Blu-ray.

Because they use such big lens, getting the right separation with the RED cameras was definitely a challenge and we see how they solved that with special rigs that can actually adjust the convergence point of the 3D on the fly. We also see how challenging working in 3D is for the makeup and wardrobe team and how the sets had to be painted in very bright colors so that it looks right when shown in the darkening 3D.

48 RED cameras and 17 3D rigs are used to shoot The Hobbit and instead of giving the cameras numbers, they named them after family members or friends. At the end of the video they show how they made 3D artwork by having two artists, one working in red, the other in blue, side by side. To really appreciate their work you need a pair of red-cyan glasses.

The Hobbit: The Unexpected Journey is directed by Peter Jackson and stars Martin Freeman, Luke Evans, Hugo Weaving, Evangeline Lily, Orlando Bloom, Elijah Wood, Cate Blanchett, Andy Serkis, Christopher Lee, Ian McKellen, Stephen Fry and Ian Holm among others. The film follows the story of Bilbo Baggins and his journey to the Lonely Mountain accompanied by 13 dwarfs, to reclaim a treasure stolen from them by the dragon Smaug. It is set to open December 14th 2012 and will be followed a year later by The Hobbit: There and Back Again on December 13th 2013.

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The first trailer for Sherlock Holmes: A Game Of Shadows is expected to hit any day now, and in preparation USA Today posted our first official look at Jared Harris as villain Professor Moriarty. Warner Bros. have also released plot details for the sequel.

Here’s the full synopsis:

Robert Downey Jr. reprises his role as the world’s most famous detective, Sherlock Holmes, and Jude Law returns as his formidable colleague, Dr. Watson, in “Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows.”

Sherlock Holmes has always been the smartest man in the room…until now. There is a new criminal mastermind at large—Professor Moriarty (Jared Harris)—and not only is he Holmes’ intellectual equal, but his capacity for evil, coupled with a complete lack of conscience, may actually give him an advantage over the renowned detective.

When the Crown Prince of Austria is found dead, the evidence, as construed by Inspector Lestrade (Eddie Marsan), points to suicide. But Sherlock Holmes deduces that the prince has been the victim of murder—a murder that is only one piece of a larger and much more portentous puzzle, designed by one Professor Moriarty.

Mixing business with pleasure, Holmes tracks the clues to an underground gentlemen’s club, where he and his brother, Mycroft Holmes (Stephen Fry) are toasting Dr. Watson on his last night of bachelorhood. It is there that Holmes encounters Sim (Noomi Rapace), a Gypsy fortune teller, who sees more than she is telling and whose unwitting involvement in the prince’s murder makes her the killer’s next target. Holmes barely manages to save her life and, in return, she reluctantly agrees to help him.

The investigation becomes ever more dangerous as it leads Holmes, Watson and Sim across the continent, from England to France to Germany and finally to Switzerland. But the cunning Moriarty is always one step ahead as he spins a web of death and destruction—all part of a greater plan that, if he succeeds, will change the course of history.

Filmmaker Guy Ritchie returns to direct “Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows,” the follow-up to the smash hit “Sherlock Holmes.” The sequel also reunites producers Joel Silver, Lionel Wigram, Susan Downey and Dan Lin. Bruce Berman serves as executive producer, with Steve Clark-Hall co-producing.

Jared Harris (TV’s “Mad Men,” “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”) joins the cast as the notorious Professor Moriarty. Also joining the cast, in her first English-speaking role, is Swedish actress Noomi Rapace, who gained international attention in the Swedish film “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.” Stephen Fry (“Alice in Wonderland,” “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire”) plays Mycroft Holmes, Sherlock’s older brother.

Additional cast members returning from the first film include Eddie Marsan as Inspector Lestrade; Kelly Reilly as Watson’s bride, Mary Morstan; and Geraldine James as Holmes’s long-suffering landlady, Mrs. Hudson. “Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows” is written by Michele Mulroney & Kieran Mulroney. Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson were created by the late Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and appear in stories and novels by him.

Warner Bros. Pictures presents, in association with Village Roadshow Pictures, a Silver Pictures Production, in association with Wigram Productions, a Guy Ritchie Film, “Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows.”

The film will be distributed worldwide beginning December 16, 2011, by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, and in select territories by Village Roadshow Pictures.

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Just when we thought casting on The Hobbit was pretty much complete and Peter Jackson was now focued on filming, the director updated his Facebook page with more casting news.

According to Jackson British actor, writer, journalist, comedian, and Twitterist Stephen Fry will be playing The Master of Laketown who is described as “being greedy, but not undeserving of his position in terms of intelligence and charisma.”

You can read Jackson’s full update below:

Some more Hobbit casting news today. As we near the end of our first shooting block (we have a break in less than three weeks to get some editing and visual effects work done, plus prepare for very big scenes coming up), we are looking at characters featuring in sequences that take place a little later in the story.

We are thrilled to confirm that Stephen Fry will be playing The Master of Laketown. I’ve known Stephen for several years, and we’re developing a Dambusters movie together. In addition to his writing skills, he’s a terrific actor and will create a very memorable “Master” for us.

The Master’s conniving civil servant, Alfrid will be played by Ryan Gage. Ryan is a great young actor who we originally cast in a small hobbit role, but we liked him so much, we promoted him to the much larger Alfrid part.

Last, and certainly not least, is Conan Stevens, who will be playing an Orc called Azog (orcs are never called Roger or Dennis for some strange reason). And yes that’s his name – Conan! Isn’t that cool? Azog is played by Conan! Here’s a photo of Conan and I together … I’m pretty tall … probably at least 6’5″ or 6’6″ I would guess, so that gives you some clue how tall Conan is! You can learn all about him at www.conanstevens.com.

Got a busy day’s shooting ahead, so I’m about to jump in the car – but look out for the beginning of the 20 questions answers very soon. Thanks for the questions – many are very insightful. I’ve been through all of them and have a list ready to go.

Cheers,

Peter J

Stephen Fry, who will be seen later this year as Mycroft in Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, is a great addition to the already stellar cast. It’s a shame we’ll have to wait until December 2013 to see him in action.

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Robert Downey Jr. will have an older brother in Sherlock Holmes 2, in the form of actor, writer, journalist, comedian, and Twitterist Stephen Fry.

According to Wikipedia Mycroft is Sherlock Holmes’ older brother by seven years. Possessing deductive powers exceeding even those Sherlock, Mycroft is nonetheless incapable of performing similar detective work as he is unwilling to put in the physical effort necessary to bring cases to their conclusions. It’s unclear what his position is in the British government.

Fry revealed the news on The Danny Baker Show on BBC Radio 5 Live earlier today (via Bleeding Cool)

“I’m playing Mycroft in the sequel to the Sherlock Holmes film Guy Ritchie directed with Robert Downey Jr., and that sort of part is fun, but just once in a while to play a genuine all round sort of lead figure with complexity and tragedy and wit and all the sort of things that Oscar [Wilde] had was a once in a lifeftime thrill.”

I’m sure Fry will be a great Mycroft. He previously starred in V for Vendetta and was recently the voice of The Cheshire Cat in Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland.

Earlier this month Noomi Rapace signed up to play the female lead opposite Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law, with Rachel McAdams returning as Irene Adler, but in a smaller capacity to the first film. Guy Ritchie will once again direct and filming is set to begin before the end of the year.

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The first teaser trailer for Alice in Wonderland was great in it’s own way, however now Disney has released a brand new trailer and it is a whole lot better. We see a lot more of Wonderland (which is visual stunning thanks to Mr. Tim Burton) and we finally hear The Cheshire Cat, voiced by Stephen Fry.

Alice in Wonderland stars Johnny Depp, Mia Wasikowska, Helena Bonham Carter, Anne Hathaway, Alan Rickman, Matt Lucas, Stephen Fry and Sir Christopher Lee, and will be released next March.

Update: A new UK trailer has arrived and it is around 30 seconds longer than the trailer above!

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The very same day Michael Sheen revealed that he would not be voicing the Cheshire Cat in Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland, Stephen Fry revealed that he would! Commenter Michael pointed us to a BBC interview called “Five Minutes With: Stephen Fry” and Fry ‘lets the cat out of the bag’ at around the 2 minute mark.

Click here to watch!

It looks like we will be getting a rather intelligent Cheshire Cat, unless Fry alters his voice somewhat.

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