Happy Feet 2 - Is there something we don't know?

[mole-caz.livejournal.com]

I was just looking at some blogs and spotted this which has puzzled me to say the least. I have no idea how true or not this may be or whether it is up-to-date news but just thought I'd share it in case any of you know something I don't!

Yes, I heard a few weeks ago that Elijah Wood was “not necessarily” returning for Happy Feet 2. I waited a little while so as to protect my source, who I can confirm is very solid and “in the know” as they say. An Australian expression for this is that “he wouldn’t piss on your barbie, mate”. Okay, at least one of these statements is true.

From here:
http://preciousegg.wordpress.com/2010/01/30/get-wood/

Comments

[elijahs-mumble.livejournal.com]

This is what Aint It Cool News say:

We're hearing lots about the casting of HAPPY FEET 2, but I recently heard a rumour from source/drug-induced hallucination The Walrus that Elijah Wood might not be returning after all. If this pans out, I'm not sure they can get away with the usual "scheduling conflict" excuse, given voice over recording can generally be slotted into anyone's schedule. Was there a contractual disagreement? A creative dispute? Will Tom Hardy pull double-duty and replace Elijah Wood as well? If this happens (or, rather, doesn't happen), you heard it here first.

[mole-caz.livejournal.com]

Oh, so it is more than mere speculation then? Could Brittany's death be a problem or could it be that he really might be making that film Orli was originally going to do?

[sssneaking.livejournal.com]

I wonder if this is related to Brittany Murphy. Maybe they've decided to take the story a different route and not re-cast Gloria. If Gloria is out, Mumble might be too.

Or, there could be something much more murky about this.

[ladysnaps.livejournal.com]

hmmm... i'd like to chime in on this subject if i may. last week on the today show, brittany murphy's husband said that she was asked to return as gloria, then after warner brothers heard the rumors of her problems on another film and being let go, they decided to take the offer back.

if it's true of elijah not being involved any longer, it's sad. the movie won't be the same without his voice. i'm also wondering if elijah found out about the brittany issue and warner brothers (if that's true) and decided not to do the film.


here's the interview if you want to hear what was said. the pertinent statement comes in at about 5:40.

http://thesuperficial.com/2010/01/brittany_murphy_died_because_s.php

i guess we need to hear about this from the horse's mouth.

[gobsmacked.livejournal.com]

Is not Brittany's husband generally acknowledged to be a scuzz who alienated her from her friends and co-workers, and is now trying to pass the blame for her death onto anyone else? I wouldn't believe that man if he said the sun rose in the east.
Edited to add:
i'm also wondering if elijah found out about the brittany issue and warner brothers (if that's true) and decided not to do the film
Was he really that good friends with Brittany? And even if he was, does it necessarily follow that he would break a contact and risk being sued for millions in damages? I seriously doubt it, and I think very highly of Elijah. But I'm realistic. It would be irresponsible and other people than Elijah would suffer.
Look what happened on Lord of the Rings. Supposedly the guys had all bonded with Stuart Townsend by the time he was unceremoniously dumped. Is there any evidence that any one of them ever tried to follow him?

[rakshi.livejournal.com]

If this is true it will be sad, indeed. 'Happy Feet' without Mumble?? I think NOT.

*sighs*

[gobsmacked.livejournal.com]

Mumble *was* the "Happy Feet" of the title. This sucks.

[mumis.livejournal.com]

I agree Happy Feet with out Mumble is not the same!:(

I don't know is this is true,the could be a rumor I hope!

[poplij.livejournal.com]

I really hope that isn't true. I was looking forward to part 2... with Mumble and Elijah !

[not-alone.livejournal.com]

I really hope this isn't true but I have been thinking how strange it is that he hasn't yet gone to Australia given all the reports we had that work would start early January (if I remember correctly). I'd just put it down to the schedule being changed because of the Brittany tragedy, but this has made me wonder. Mumble is 'Happy Feet' and Elijah is Mumble - if he's out of it for whatever reason I believe it will flop:(

[bellewood.livejournal.com]

Whatever the reason for this.. if it's true.. then i believe there'll be a good and valid reason. Elijah just would not pull out on a whim!

[mole-caz.livejournal.com]

Could it be that he is making the film Orli was originally going to do I wonder? Can't recall its name now but there was talk of him taking over the lead role. Or has it anything to do with the fact that Brad Pitt is now on board? All very curious......

[bellewood.livejournal.com]

I would love to have confirmation that he's making The Places in Between.. that would be fantastic, but i doubt that's the reason for him pulling out of HF, if it's true. After all, don't they usually record the voices around the actors schedule? And if Brad Pitt is taking over as the voice of Mumble ( oh, i hope not..) then there has to be a very good reason why Elijah can't do it. I wonder what it is.

[chickenlegs-11.livejournal.com]

When I clicked on the link the quote has changed somewhat from what you've posted above which is very strange. To be honest I wouldn't care if Elijah returned or not. Although I enjoyed the first film, I'm totally unexcited about a sequel. Sometimes I wish film people would leave well enough alone.

[gobsmacked.livejournal.com]

I trust my source on the Elijah thing, but also agree it’s rather odd news. I mean, the actor can barely get a walk on role in movies these days, but is fast turning into the Christopher Lee of voice acting – getting voice roles in a vast array of animated films – so not sure why this would suddenly be off the cards. I mean, it’s all the little guy does these days: 9, Beyond All Boundaries, Happy Feet and something called The Legend of Spyro (both a film and a preceding series of videogames).

can barely get a walk on role in movies these days
This is a sort of inaccurate perception, seeing that Elijah was just at Sundance for the Romantics. How trustworthy *is* his unnamed source?

[chickenlegs-11.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the full quote! What a nasty comment it is! yeah he IS doing a lot of voice-over work but does this person have to be so condescending? Sheesh! Yeah gotta wonder when people talk about unnamed sources.

[gobsmacked.livejournal.com]

Since the blogger keeps changing what he says, I figured it was best to have hard evidence that he is a d-bag

[primula-baggins.livejournal.com]

I was watching the last Conan O'Brien show on January 22 (Friday), and Robin Williams was the guest that night. He said that he was going to go to Australia to do voice work for Happy Feet 2 "in about a week". So, I figured that both he and Elijah would be going there at that time. I was thinking then that it would be this weekend they would be flying down "undah". :) It made sense to me that Elijah would fly down after Sundance was over, and it ended yesterday.

I guess if we discover Elijah's in Australia soon, we'll know this rumor isn't true.

[gobsmacked.livejournal.com]

I wish we could use this as proof, but I'm not sure they'd all go to Oz at the same time. It would be more to the point if Disney made a big announcement, as they did with Pirates of the Caribbean IV.

[primula-baggins.livejournal.com]

I wasn't suggesting it as proof, per se. Since many people thought Elijah was going to Oz in January, I thought it a possibility that he and Robin might go there at the same time. But I certainly don't know. :)