In a time “Between the Dawn of Færie and the Dominion of Men”, a tale of a certain hobbit was published to wide critical acclaim before gaining fame as a classic in children’s literature. But the fact of the matter is, fantasy novel “The Hobbit” was written with such flair that it went beyond just children’s liking.
If the above have failed to ring a bell (or two), perhaps the mention of the name J.R.R. Tolkien would jog your memory more.
Told in the form of an episodic quest, The Hobbit follows the quest of a home-loving hobbit, Bilbo Baggins, to win a share of the treasure guarded by the dragon, Smaug. Readers who are familiar with both the “Lord of the Rings” and “The Hobbit” novels will have to agree on one thing – this is where it all begins. This hobbit tale will finally explain how too-curious-for-his-own-good Bilbo Baggins acquires the ring of power the Lord of the Rings trilogy is centered on.
Who better to work on the movie but Academy Award-winning New Zealand director Peter Jackson himself, right?
But today brings greater news when the man behind the jaw-droppingly awesome epic “Lord of the Rings” trilogy announced that the big-screen adaptation of The Hobbit will be split into three films. Three! Instead of the previously planned two films released a year apart.
It took weeks of negotiations between the director himself, Warner Bros, New Line Cinema, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, the rights holders, and the principal cast to seal a third film. And trust Peter to enlist the help of social media to confirm it:
It is only at the end of a shoot that you finally get the chance to sit down and have a look at the film you have made. Recently Fran, Phil and I did just this when we watched for the first time an early cut of the first movie – and a large chunk of the second. We were really pleased with the way the story was coming together, in particular, the strength of the characters and the cast who have brought them to life. All of which gave rise to a simple question: do we take this chance to tell more of the tale? And the answer from our perspective as the filmmakers, and as fans, was an unreserved ‘yes.’
We know how much of the story of Bilbo Baggins, the Wizard Gandalf, the Dwarves of Erebor, the rise of the Necromancer, and the Battle of Dol Guldur will remain untold if we do not take this chance. The richness of the story of The Hobbit, as well as some of the related material in the appendices of The Lord of the Rings, allows us to tell the full story of the adventures of Bilbo Baggins and the part he played in the sometimes dangerous, but at all times exciting, history of Middle-earth.
So, without further ado and on behalf of New Line Cinema, Warner Bros. Pictures, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Wingnut Films, and the entire cast and crew of “The Hobbit” films, I’d like to announce that two films will become three.
It has been an unexpected journey indeed, and in the words of Professor Tolkien himself, “a tale that grew in the telling.”
Cheers,
Peter J
We say it was totally worth fighting for!
All three films are being shot in digital 3D (yes!) and the first Hobbit film is due out on the 14th December this year. For more information, visit the movie’s official website.
