Peter Jackson is finally going back to Middle Earth as two new Hobbit movies are officially in the works.
For years now disputes have been going on with Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, and others at New Line in regards to the Hobbit film or films. Things seem to be finally cleared up though as the disputes are all over and two new Hobbit movies are on the way.
New Line has stated that the films will be produced at the same exact time similar to how the Lord of the Rings trilogy was shot. There have been no budgets assigned as of yet. MGM and New Line are hopeful that Peter Jackson will be able to write and direct the films.
Jackson’s manager Ken Kamins stated though that “Peter won’t be directing because he felt the fans have waited long enough for The Hobbit. It will take the better part of every day of the next four years tow rite, direct and produce two Hobbit films. Given his current obligations to both The Lovely Bones and Tintin, waiting for Peter, Fran, and Phillippa to write, direct and produce The Hobbit would require fans to wait even longer.”
The idea is to have the first Hobbit film work with the J.R.R. Tolkien novel, while the second would be made up by Jackson and Walsh and would end with it leading to where the first Lord of the Rings kicks into gear.
Pre-production should begin by 2009 with hopes of a 2010 or 2011 release.