The fate of The Hobbit has been decided, and while it seemed like they were going ahead with planning the film even without an official nod from the studio, MGM has issued a press release reported by multiple sources that The Hobbit has an official Green Light and Peter Jackson will direct the film scheduled to start filming February 2011.
The film is still scheduled to come out in two parts in 2012 and 2013.
The Hobbit is greenlit, ready to go, with Peter Jackson at the helm, and shooting starting early next year. The NY Times was the first to report that Jackson’s deal to direct is finalized and Warner Bros’ and MGM have “worked out their deal to finance the pair of films.” The Wrap has also announced that The Hobbit has been greenlit with shooting starting in February. No more sources needed, this is a done deal, it’s time to start getting really excited about seeing J.R.R. Tolkien’s beloved novel finally hit the big screen in two movies in 2012 and 2013.
Now this just makes logical sense that they would finally move ahead with this. With the studio owing so much money to various sources, the only way to pay them all back is to make a movie. And why hold back the biggest potential to make a wad of cash to start paying the bills with. So they worked out a deal, and its official. The movie is happening. All that preparing and negotiationg was not in vain.
Whew.
But furthermore… Martin Freeman is likely to be playing Bilbo Baggins after all.
Deadline has been saying some very interesting things about what to expect with casting. First, we know that Sir Ian McKellen and Andy Serkis will be back as Gandalf and Gollum, respectively, but who else is in? British actor Martin Freeman is said to “soon be set to play Bilbo Baggins,” confirming rumors from in September that he’ll be playing the lead in Peter Jackson’s forthcoming two-part adaptation.
This is the best news yet.
We knew eventually this movie would get made, either after MGM was dissolved and whoever picked up the rights took advantage of this guaranteed money tree, or as it did unfold with MGM attempting to get back on its own feet.
But when I heard of Martin Freeman rumoured to be turning down the role due to scheduling conflicts with the BBC’s reimagining of Sherlock Holmes (which is brilliant), I couldn’t imaging anyone else in the role. Now thankfully with this green light scheduling can be confirmed and it looks like Freeman might be available after all.
I hope that works out like the rumours suggest.
BRING ON THE HOBBIT!!
