The Hobbit to start shooting in June

The journey back to Middle Earth will be starting this winter, as Guillermo del Toro gets set to shoot the two Hobbit movies...

After one or two uncertainties arose over the greenlight for the films at the end of last year, the two Hobbit movies are set to start filming in June, it's been announced.

The news was broken by Production Weekly, and the 14 months of shooting will be starting this summer in New Zealand. Guillermo del Toro is, of course, behind the camera for the films, although the cast of the two movies - and the central role of Bilbo Baggins - is yet to be confirmed. We'd expect some kind of announcement in the next couple of months.

All this means that the first Hobbit film should be on track for a Christmas 2011 release, which should put it head to head with the next James Bond adventure. The second film will follow a year later. We really can't wait...

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9 Comments

hectorbustnuts Jan 8, 2010 10:52 AM	I rewatched "Pan's Labyrinth" and "Hellboy 2" over the weekend and can not wait to see how del Toro brings "The Hobbit" to the screen. The man knows how to make a film.
sirtrancealot Jan 8, 2010 2:12 PM	Let hope Guillermo leaves the storyline in tact, and doesn't leave out crucial bits like "The Barrow Downs" or "The sacking of the shire" agreed he knows how to make a film, and the story of the Hobbit was better than LOTR anyways IMO. It's got a Dragon!
Hawkeye Jan 8, 2010 2:46 PM	Ooh... don't get me started! (too late!) I think leaving those bits out is a good move. Remember, the single most common critique of the series is that it seems to have about ten endings. Leaving in The Scouring would have muddied that even more. It makes sense in the books, but in a film, it would seem... too much. As to the Barrow Downs... how the hell do you explain a character like Tom Bombadil to a film audience?!
sirtrancealot Jan 8, 2010 3:18 PM	yeah I agree Tom Bombadil would have been really hard to present on film, so fair enough leaving him out. but the blade that Merry used kill him was kinda a bit important. and wouldn't have been too hard to add in even if it was just a quick hey i found this cool enchanted blade. wow! the special edition sortof eluded to the sacking and galadriel's gift. but i still think it was a meager effort to appease those who really wanted something true to the book.
sirtrancealot Jan 8, 2010 3:18 PM	by him i did mean the witch king of Angmar, it's friday.. i need beer!
Hawkeye Jan 8, 2010 3:27 PM	Well, do you remember who Merry got that blade in the film? Aragorn wanders off for a time at Weathertop, and comes back with four 'leaf shaped' knives... I think it's pretty obvious they are meant to be rather ancient weapons, and a very good nod to their providence :)
sirtrancealot Jan 8, 2010 3:41 PM	yeh i remember.. being disappointed that it wasn't really explained that it was special at all. and they did sortof use them at weathertop when they got rush'd by the Wraith.. that scene when they were all back to back kinda wouldn't have worked without them.
Hawkeye Jan 8, 2010 3:49 PM	And they get used in Moria, too, and really annoy the fuck out of the Troll :) But their real worth is against true enemies of the Numenoreans, so that really only becomes apparent fighting something like the Ringwraiths. And magic sword be-damned - you still need to know how to stick it in someone. So, yeah, I think the film still hints at it well enough :) (but yeah, would have loved to have seen the Barrow Downs)
sirtrancealot Jan 18, 2010 2:18 PM	Just found out they got Tobey Maguire as Bilbo..... I think that just ruined it for me!

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