The Hobbit

The Hobbit will actually be two movies and not one as previously mentioned with the first being released in 2011.

The Hobbit – The Scoop

Peter Jackson and New Line Cinema have reached agreement to make J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Hobbit,” a planned prequel to the blockbuster trilogy “The Lord of the Rings.”
Jackson, who directed the “Rings” trilogy, will serve as executive producer for “The Hobbit.” A director for the prequel films has yet to be named.

Relations between Jackson and New Line had soured after “Rings,” despite a collective worldwide box office gross of nearly $3 billion — an enormous success. The two sides nevertheless were able to reconcile, with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios (MGM) splitting “The Hobbit” 50/50, spokemen for both studios said Tuesday.

“I’m very pleased that we’ve been able to put our differences behind us, so that we may begin a new chapter with our old friends at New Line,” Jackson said in a statement. “We are delighted to continue our journey through Middle Earth.”

Two “Hobbit” films are scheduled to be shot simultaneously, similar to how the three “Lord of the Rings” films were made. Production is set to begin in 2009 with a released planned for 2010, with the sequel scheduled for a 2011 release.

Hobbit Update

We’ve known for a while that Peter Jackson and Guillermo Del Toro’s eagerly-awaited adaptation of the Lord Of The Rings prequel, The Hobbit, would comprise two movies, due in December 2011 and 2012. But the make-up of those two movies has been up for debate… until now.

We spoke exclusively to both Del Toro and Jackson for our birthday issue, and they told us the latest, which is…

“We’ve decided to have The Hobbit span the two movies, including the White Council and the comings and goings of Gandalf to Dol Guldur,” says Del Toro.

“We decided it would be a mistake to try to cram everything into one movie,” adds Jackson. “The essential brief was to do The Hobbit, and it allows us to make The Hobbit in a little more style, if you like, of the [LOTR] trilogy.”

So there you go. The second film will not, as had previously been suggested, a film that will bridge the 60-year gap between The Hobbit and the start of Fellowship Of The Ring.

From Empire Online

Release Date

The Hobbit will be released December 2011.

Starring

Rumor has it, Ron Perlman, Hugo Weaving, Ian McKellen and Doug Jones will star in The Hobbit. We expect this to change dramatically in the near months.

Why You Care

You loved the novel as much as we did as kids, plus Peter Jackson is the master of this genre.

The Good

Guillermo del Toro of Pan’s Labyrinth and Hellboy fame will be directing the two movies.

The Bad

Shia LaBeouf is being considered for the role of Bilbo Baggins. I hate Shia LaBeouf. Does anyone like him?

Tags: Action 2011, Adventure 2011, Fantasy 2011, Peter Jackson, The Hobbit