To be filed under groundless speculation.

The Daily Record (a Scottish newspaper) believes that Scotland will feature big in the Tintin movies because The Black Island, which is set in Scotland, could be one of the films. There is no evidence that the Black Island is going to be one of the films, but it could be.
New Dr Who chief’s Tintin film in line for Scots setting

In other news:

• Cyclists and Tour-de-France leader Alejandro Valverde is a Tintin fan
• Scientists have discovered ice on the moon, just as Herge predicted
• A series of films at the Indian International Centre about Tibet will include the animated version of Tintin in Tibet.
• Peter Jackson is producing a new version of the classic film, Dambusters, with a script by Steven Fry.

Marketsaw is reporting that all three Tintin films will be shot back to back with Jackson & Spielberg directing the last one together.: Spielberg Reveals He And Jackson Will Probably Co-Direct Third “Tintin”: Shot Back To Back To Back !

Thomas Sangster who has been heavily rumoured to be playing Tintin in the movie still hasn’t been confirmed in that role. In the meantime he will be off to South Africa to film “Master Harold… and the Boys” with Danny Glover. Shooting will start in July and shooting for Tintin is scheduled to start in September.

This might all dovetail nicely for Thomas, allowing him to finish in South Africa and fly straight to New Zealand to start on the Tintin Movie. Or it may mean that Sangster will be unavailable for Tintin. Until Spielberg and Jackson confirm the cast, we can only speculate.

Source: Danny Glover returns to ‘Boys’

Back in March we said that Spielberg would start directing the first Tintin Movie in September. Now it appears that the mainstream press has caught up with us thanks to the great-one’s current media blitz for Indiana Jones.

Only one thing of interest has come out about the Tintin movie, Spielberg claims that it won’t be effected by an actor’s strike because its using motion capture technology. I wonder what union Andy Serkis belongs to then?

Source: Spielberg’s Lincoln Logged

Taking a break from directing the first Tintin movie, Steven Spielberg has purchased another comic for adaption. This time its Ghosts in the Shell, the Japanese manga book and TV series. Its classic manga with robots, a futuristic city scape and great characters. I’m not sure if a non-Japanese director will be able to adapted it without turning into some cookie-cutter action film.

Chances are the film will be made using the same technology as the Tintin Movie and Market Saw is reporting that it will be made in 3D.

Source: There’s A New Epic In Town: Spielberg Buys Rights To Manga “Ghost In The Shell” – Will Be Live Action 3D!!

According to French film magazine Les Cahiers du Cinema, the character of Doctor Krollspell, the ex-Nazi scientist who works for Tintin’s enemy Rastapopoulos is to be played by Eric Stoltz. I’m not sure what to make of this. Krollspell only appeared in Flight 714 and isn’t included in the casting list. That list suggested that the three films being made were The Crab With The Golden Claws, The Secret of the Unicorn and Red Rackham’s Treasure. Rastapopoulas doesn’t appear in any of them.

Either the directors have radically changed their minds about which films to make or are completely changing the plots of the books or the French magazine is completely wrong.

Source: Dr. Krollspell Meet Rocky…no, not that Rocky…

Originally a story from the Daily Mail, the rumor that Thomas Sangster has been cast as Tintin is getting stronger. The Telegraph has no new information except that are 100% certain. There is none of the fudging found in the Mail’s story such as “is about to sign…”.

I doubt that the Telegraph has any better sources of information that the Mail so I think this is just bad reporting. Sangster being cast is a just a rumour, one of many like Simon Pegg being cast as Tintin, though he does have the looks to make a good Tintin.

The Telegraph goes on to say that they don’t know which of the Tintin Books is being made into the film. Obviously they haven’t read this blog. We reported back in October that Red Rackham’s Treasure & Crab With The Golden Claws to be the Tintin Movies . Logically, Crab With The Golden Claws will be the first Tintin movie as this book introduces Captain Haddock.

Souce: Spielberg casts British teenager as Tintin

The Daily Mail (not the most reliable paper in the world) is reporting that 17 year old Thomas Sangster has been cast as Tintin. Sangster is no stranger to the movies, he played the son in Love Actually, he also appeared in Nanny McPhee and is about to start work on James Cameron’s Bright Star.

I’ve not seen Thomas Sangster in any films but this photo shows he has the right look to him. He seems a better prospect than Kirsten Myburgh. However I’m not going to make predictions. This story appeared in the Daily Mail’s Showbiz section so hasn’t been subjected to the already low editorial standards of the news desk. It could easily be Sangster’s agent getting some free publicity by floating a rumour to a gullible journalist. Or it could be an example of a great scoop.

Source: Well, actually … Tom’s on the case as Tintin via Marketsaw

According to Andy Serkis, interviewed in Indie London, Steven Spielberg will begin shooting the first Tintin Movie (almost certainly The Secret of the Unicorn) in September. With Peter Jackson directing the second ( Red Rackhams Treasure ). Serkis also confirmed that he is to play Captain Haddock.

Q. Are you going to be reuniting with Peter Jackson again for Tintin?
Andy Serkis: In fact tomorrow I’m flying out to start on Tintin. Steven Spielberg is directing the first one, and then Peter Jackson is doing the second. The bulk of the shoot starts in September but things got a little bit moved around after the writers’ strike.

Q. Were you at all worried when Peter first got back in touch that having played Gollum and King Kong, he might ask you to play Snowy the dog?
Andy Serkis: [laughs] Absolutely, in fact people assume that I am, which is even more disturbing [he’s playing Captain Haddock].

The Cottage – Andy Serkis interview

Tintin movie director Steven Spielberg has a busy schedule with the latest Indiana Jones film coming out soon, a biopic of Lincoln on the cards and of course, one of the three Tintin films. He is also working on The Trial of the Chicago 7, due to star Sacha Baron Cohen. Problems with scheduling actors and a potential actor’s strike are causing problems for the production. What this means for the Tintin movie is unknown.

Source – Steven Spielberg Delays The Trial of the Chicago 7?