The Hobbit

[Deleted]

Well I'll be damned. It is happening!

Los Angeles, CA (Tuesday, December 18, 2007)

Academy Award-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson; Harry Sloan, Chairman and CEO, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (MGM); Bob Shaye and Michael Lynne, Co-Chairmen and Co-CEOs of New Line Cinema have jointly announced today that they have entered into the following series of agreements:

* MGM and New Line will co-finance and co-distribute two films, “The Hobbit” and a sequel to “The Hobbit.” New Line will distribute in North America and MGM will distribute internationally.

* Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh will serve as Executive Producers of two films based on “The Hobbit.” New Line will manage the production of the films, which will be shot simultaneously.

* Peter Jackson and New Line have settled all litigation relating to the “Lord of the Rings” (LOTR) Trilogy.

Said Peter Jackson, “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. ‘The Lord of the Rings’ is a legacy we proudly share with Bob and Michael, and together, we share that legacy with millions of loyal fans all over the world. We are delighted to continue our journey through Middle Earth. I also want to thank Harry Sloan and our new friends at MGM for helping us find the common ground necessary to continue that journey.”

“Peter Jackson has proven himself as the filmmaker who can bring the extraordinary imagination of Tolkien to life and we full heartedly agree with the fans worldwide who know he should be making ‘The Hobbit,’” said Sloan, MGM’s Chairman and CEO. “Now that we are all in agreement on ‘The Hobbit,’ we can focus on assembling the production team that will capture this phenomenal tale on film.”

Bob Shaye, New Line Co-Chairman and Co-CEO comments, “We are very pleased we have been able to resolve our differences, and that Peter and Fran will be actively and creatively involved with ‘The Hobbit’ movies. We know they will bring the same passion, care and talent to these films that they so ably accomplished with ‘The Lord of the Rings’ Trilogy.”

“Peter is a visionary filmmaker, and he broke new ground with ‘The Lord of the Rings,’” notes Michael Lynne, New Line Co-Chairman and Co-CEO. “We’re delighted he’s back for ‘The Hobbit’ films and that the Tolkien saga will continue with his imprint. We greatly appreciate the efforts of Harry Sloan, who has been instrumental in helping us reach our new accord.”

The two “Hobbit” films – “The Hobbit” and its sequel – are scheduled to be shot simultaneously, with pre-production beginning as soon as possible. Principal photography is tentatively set for a 2009 start, with the intention of “The Hobbit” release slated for 2010 and its sequel the following year, in 2011.

The Oscar-winning, critically-acclaimed LOTR Trilogy grossed nearly $3 billion worldwide at the box-office. In 2003, “Return of the King” swept the Academy Awards, winning all of the eleven categories in which it was nominated, including Best Picture – the first ever Best Picture win for a fantasy film. The Trilogy’s production was also unprecedented at the time.

For more information about “The Hobbit” films, please visit www.TheHobbitBlog.com.

Link to stories at TheOneRing.net.

As a Tolkien geek and a lover of Peter Jackson's LOTR movies I am sooooo happy about this. Two movies might mean that they will also cover some of the stuff from LOTR's appendices which might be very cool. That was the rumoured set up way back when The Hobbit movie was first discussed. Personally I can NOT wait for these movies! So glad New Line decided to settle with PJ and sooooo glad this will be happening while Ian McKellan is still alive and well enough to play Gandalf!

[abbynormal]

I was wondering what they meant when they said it'd be two movies. I didn't think there was enough material in The Hobbit to justify two.

[Deleted]

One thing worries me: it doesn't actually say that PJ will direct in that press release. I hope he does! There were rumours at one point that PJ would produce and Sam Raimi direct. I like Raimi, but I would really like PJ to helm this!

[Deleted]

*passes out from joy*

This is the best news in a long while.

[canuckcutie]

I'm guessing the flop of The Golden Compass made the folks at New Line realize they needed to go with a guranteed franchise winner the next time they shelled out a few hundred million dollars.

The way I heard it - Peter would be busy directing other movies (Lovely Bones & Tin Tin) over the next year or two so he's only going to be producing on The Hobbit.

[JeanBean]

Yay!!!!!!

ETA: He won't be directing, which is kind of a bummer, but since he and Fran will be producing and he will be the "creative visionary," I'm feeling confident it will be good.

[Deleted]

I am also kinda bummed that he won't be directing. I am looking forward to this.

[chiqui]

I hope their Smaug is the most awesomist big-screen dragon ever!

[bklynred]

*has long, warmhearted daydream about the endless conversation of LOTR back in the days of the other place*

[Deleted]

Over at TORN[/url] there are links to articles speculating about who will direct. It seems PJ is definitely not doing it, and some fans on the message boards there are wondering if the issue actually is that he doesn't want to direct. I have to admit I'm wondering the same thing.

There's an interview with Guillermo DelToro saying he loves The Hobbit and would love to work on the movie (he was going to direct the Halo movie PJ was producing, before it fell through). But there's also a mention from Variety which makes it sound like Raimi is the guy:

“After“Drag Me to Hell,” Raimi is expected to go right back up the mountaintop and take the helm of “The Hobbit” films for New Line and MGM now that Peter Jackson has made it clear he won’t direct.”

That was the rumour that made the rounds some months back. That Raimi would direct and PJ produce. Might turn out to be what actually happens. I loved PJ's work on LOTR and I am glad he's involved, but I think Raimi or DelToro are very good directors too. And both have shown they can do well with fantasy/fairy tale stuff. Also, The Hobbit is very different in tone han LOTR so a new director might actually work out ok. I'm still just blissful this thing is actually happening!