Recently Peter Jackson was quick to put down the rumors of a delay to the release time of The Hobbit yet in the latest Variety they have an interview with New Line Cinema executive Alan Horn who says the most probable release date will be Christmas 2012.
That’s a full year later than the current proposed release.
Although he doesn’t say why he thinks The Hobbit will be a year behind schedule the restructuring of joint Hobbit owners MGM is hinted at.
New Line Cinema share financing rights to The Hobbit with MGM which is currently up for sale to the highest bidder. MGM’s rights to The Hobbit will pass on to the as yet unknown new owners.
If a buyer cannot be found it is thought the assets of MGM will be broken up and sold individually. The Hobbit is one of those assets.
Normal practice would see the second script handed in to New Line Cinema for the green light. Once everyone is happy with the scripts a budget would be worked out and work start in earnest.
Its going to be difficult to work out a budget when you don’t know the financial position of the company who is supposed to be sharing the costs with you.
The above contradicts Peter Jackson who said in December that rumors of a delay were unfounded and as long as shooting began by mid 2010 he was confident of a Christmas 2011 release.
He did note though that this was dependent on the green light from the studio. Original story –> Peter Jackson Talks Hobbit Casting
We’ve heard these contradictions plenty of times already of course. One person says one thing only for it to be quickly shot down by another a few days later.
Examples….
On 23rd August 2009 Sir Ian McKellen told a cinema audience at an all night screening of The Lord of the Rings trilogy in London that he knew who had been given the role of Bilbo Baggins. Original story –> Bilbo Role Is Taken
“I believe we’re very close now to saying one name” Del Toro told MTV movies back in June 2009 when asked who was in the frame for the Bilbo baggins part, adding that “an announcement was no more than a couple of weeks away.” original story –> Bilbo Baggins Actor Close to Being Named.
6 months later and despite the above 2 statements we still get the “casting is still underway” or “no decisions have been made” statements in response to any breaking stories of a possible actor for the role of Bilbo Baggins.
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{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
This really sucks and I hope it’s avoided.
This make me realy sick, im allmost going for self destruction for this ;P but i war knowing that it should be an Delay or not even a movie
i hope peter get on hes feet again.
OMG! I WANT THIS MOVIE SOOOOO BAD I JUST LOOOOOVE MIDDLE EARTH AND GOLLUM!
Well if they do break up MGM then whoever gets The Hobbit shares will be buying a guaranteed goldmine.
Not to be morbid, but Mr. McKellan isn’t getting any younger, and I’d hate to have another Gandalf actor…please hurry!
Matthew Goode sucks
I actually don’t mind the delayed date for one (big) reason. That is, it won’t have to go up against the final installment of that lesser, yet highly popular, series… Harry Potter… in the Academy Awards.
This is really ill news.
I was expecting it’s release no later than NEXT CHRISTMAS or at worst early 2011 and I do share the idea that Ian McKellan being Gandalf is a MUST.
Long live this Gandalf.
I also expect that the Hobbit movie will not be else than Tolkien’s book; NO additions or cuttings.
SDS
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