Having suffered continuous delays, The Hobbit has again been pushed back with Andy Serkis, who provided the voice of Gollum for Lord of the Rings, confirming that production will begin some time later this year. On the red carpet for the Empire Awards, Serkis told Digital Spy that The Hobbit was still going ahead:
“It is, apparently! At some point towards the end of this year, I expect it’ll start kicking off.”
Since it was announced in late 2007 that Peter Jackson would be producing Tolkein’s Lord of the Rings prequel as two films, the intention was to release the first in 2010. However news of these highly expected films has always been vague and uncertain. Ian McKellan’s website was for a time, the only source that fans could rely upon for The Hobbit’s progress, stating that production was supposed to begin in July. This has since changed with Serkis’ remarks and the website now states that:
THE HOBBIT’s, two films, start shooting in New Zealand, at a time to be announced. Filming will take over a year. Casting in Los Angeles, New York City and London has started. The script too proceeds. The first draft is crammed with old and new friends, again on a quest in Middle Earth.
The director Guillermo del Toro is now living in Wellington, close to the Jacksons’ and the studio in Miramar. (McKellan)
The website also gives a tentative release date of 2011, however this also seems unlikely when time for post production is added to the filming schedule. The first Hobbit film is more likely to be released in 2012. Of course, this is assuming that there are no further delays, particularly those of a financial nature. As The Playlist has said, until MGM, the studio with the rights to The Hobbit is purchased out of their debts by a winning bidder, production is unlikely to go ahead.
Do you believe The Hobbit will start shooting at the end of this year?