They always say good things come in threes and today Peter Jackson just proved that when he officially announced The Hobbit is now going to be a trilogy. The rumour of three films has been around since Comic Con when the director teased the audiences in the hall that there might be another film but now talks have taken place with Warner Bros and Jackson announced the good news on his Facebook page.
The Hobbit is actually one of the ‘shorter’ stories from Middle Earth so when the project was in early stages it bewildered fans first when it was announced the film adaptation is going to be 2 parts but today’s news may bring some concerns. Now with more narrative needed the concern that the story maybe already wafer thin in 2 films however JR Tolkien always provides appendices that are just as big as the main story itself will be used to make sure there cohesive. There is also another problem of the cast to sign extensions and also to make sure the cast will also be available too.
Here’s what Sir Peter Jackson said…
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
So are you excited or concerned? We’re excited here at The People’s Movies and have complete faith in having 3 films and with Peter Jackson a true fan and previous journey’s to Middle Earth prove he will deliver.
THE HOBBIT:AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY will be with us 14th December 2012 with the final part coming 13th December 2013 with THE HOBBIT:THERE AND BACK AGAIN. Part 3 is set for a Summer 2014 release (possibly December 2014)
The cast includes returnees from Lord Of The Rings Sir Ian McKellan, Cate Blanchett, Orlando Bloo, Ian Holm, Elijah Wood, Christopher Lee, Hugo Weaving and Andy Serkis with new cast of Richard Armitage, Jed Brophy, Adam Brown, John Callen, Stephen Fry, Ryan Gage, Mark Hadlow, Peter Hambleton, Stephen Hunter, William Kircher, Sylvester McCoy, Bret McKenzie, Graham McTavish, Mike Mizrahi, James Nesbitt, Dean O’Gorman, Lee Pace, Mikael Persbrandt, Conan Stevens, Ken Stott, Jeffrey Thomas, Luke Evans, Benedict Cumberbatch , Aidan Turner, Evangeline Lily and Barry Humphries.
