While talking with AICN, the film’s earthy star Viggo Mortensen expressed his understanding of the matter: “I think that they are really aware of the fact that they’ve got one chance to [adapt the book], and if there’s any little things that they still want to work on a little more, to get it just right, whether it’s the music –I don’t know what it is — a variety of things, they want to do it right. And, if you rush it out before you feel in good conscience it’s there… So, I am disappointed. But, if they think they need a little more time, then I’d rather they took it than didn’t.”
That seems like a reasonable reaction for a guy who conceivably could have received accolades for his work, had the film arrived in time for “award season.” So when would he like to see it now? “What I hope they don’t do is then just put it out in February or something,” suggests the Vig. “I hope they wait and do it at the right time.“