After a long and troublesome development road courtesy of the financial strife its parent company MGM ran into, Guillermo del Toro’s adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Hobbit” is evidently gearing up to begin lensing this November in New Zealand.
We say “evidently” because whenever a date is listed for this project, it seems to get bumped, denied or pushed back a few months. Last we heard there was still no green light for this project and with MGM’s ongoing problems it doesn’t feel like the project is going to get a thumbs up anytime soon.
So take it with a grain of salt if you like, but both Deadline Hollywood and the newest issue of Production Weekly are reporting a November start date. Deadline also says both scripts are done. If this start date is legit, how will it affect the Christmas 2011 and 2012 release dates? It’s hard to tell at this point and it’s best not to speculate until the November production is confirmed.
Before any cameras begin rolling though, del Toro, Peter Jackson and company will be getting serious with the gestating casting process, which began late last year and has seen any and every actor and their grandfather audition for. Perhaps we should brace ourselves for a crazy few months of ‘Hobbit’ casting rumors. So far, Ian McKellen is the only thespian who has already assured a place in the film, recently noting that his contract negotiations had just begun.
Discussions are also continuing to take place regarding a potential 3D shoot for the picture, something Deadline touts as an inevitability. Del Toro had noted on the OneRing.net forums in March that he “wouldn’t read much on [rumors of 3D] just yet” and that New Line had not enforced any pressure about the idea. However, even though the helmer didn’t sound like he was entirely interested in the concept, he seemed to leave the door slightly ajar — probably knowing that it’s going to end up being in 3D whether he shoots it that way or not.
It’ll be interesting to see which way del Toro and Jackson will lean in that regard, but it’s tentatively looking like there is hope to finally seeing the highly anticipated adaptation and prequel to ‘Lord Of The Rings.’