Believe it or not, this is true. And it comes on the heels of some serious geek despair. Can this be anything other than good news? No cast info but then again who else but Ian, eh? That's my bet, anyway. Follow the link for the OFFICIAL press release that I got less than five minutes ago. I haven't even cleaned up the text or formatted this. I just want it out there.
ACADEMY AWARD-WINNER PETER JACKSON AND
NEW LINE CINEMA JOIN WITH MGM
TO PRODUCE “THE HOBBIT,”
EAGERLY-ANTICIPATED FANTASY ADVENTURE EPIC
NEW LINE CINEMA AND MGM TO CO-PRODUCE AND
SHARE WORLDWIDE DISTRIBUTION RIGHTS
PETER JACKSON AND FRAN WALSH TO EXECUTIVE PRODUCE TWO FILMS BASED ON “THE HOBBIT”
Los Angeles, CA (Tuesday, December 18, 2007) Academy Award-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson; Harry Sloan, Chairman and CEO, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (MGM); Bob Shaye and Michael Lynne, Co-Chairmen and Co-CEOs of New Line Cinema have jointly announced today that they have entered into the following series of agreements:
* MGM and New Line will co-finance and co-distribute two films, “The Hobbit” and a sequel to “The Hobbit.” New Line will distribute in North America and MGM will distribute internationally.
* Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh will serve as Executive Producers of two films based on “The Hobbit.” New Line will manage the production of the films, which will be shot simultaneously.
* Peter Jackson and New Line have settled all litigation relating to the “Lord of the Rings” (LOTR) Trilogy.
Said Peter Jackson, “I’m very pleased that we’ve been able to put our differences behind us, so that we may begin a new chapter with our old friends at New Line. ‘The Lord of the Rings’ is a legacy we proudly share with Bob and Michael, and together, we share that legacy with millions of loyal fans all over the world. We are delighted to continue our journey through Middle Earth. I also want to thank Harry Sloan and our new friends at MGM for helping us find the common ground necessary to continue that journey.”
“Peter Jackson has proven himself as the filmmaker who can bring the extraordinary imagination of Tolkien to life and we full heartedly agree with the fans worldwide who know he should be making ‘The Hobbit,’” said Sloan, MGM’s Chairman and CEO. "Now that we are all in agreement on 'The Hobbit,' we can focus on assembling the production team that will capture this phenomenal tale on film."
Bob Shaye, New Line Co-Chairman and Co-CEO comments, “We are very pleased we have been able to resolve our differences, and that Peter and Fran will be actively and creatively involved with ‘The Hobbit’ movies. We know they will bring the same passion, care and talent to these films that they so ably accomplished with ‘The Lord of the Rings’ Trilogy.”
“Peter is a visionary filmmaker, and he broke new ground with ‘The Lord of the Rings,’” notes Michael Lynne, New Line Co-Chairman and Co-CEO. “We’re delighted he’s back for ‘The Hobbit’ films and that the Tolkien saga will continue with his imprint. We greatly appreciate the efforts of Harry Sloan, who has been instrumental in helping us reach our new accord.”
The two “Hobbit” films – “The Hobbit” and its sequel – are scheduled to be shot simultaneously, with pre-production beginning as soon as possible. Principal photography is tentatively set for a 2009 start, with the intention of “The Hobbit” release slated for 2010 and its sequel the following year, in 2011.
The Oscar-winning, critically-acclaimed LOTR Trilogy grossed nearly $3 billion worldwide at the box-office. In 2003, “Return of the King” swept the Academy Awards, winning all of the eleven categories in which it was nominated, including Best Picture – the first ever Best Picture win for a fantasy film. The Trilogy’s production was also unprecedented at the time.
For more information about “The Hobbit” films, please visit www.TheHobbitBlog.com.
I wonder who will direct doesn't look like Jackson at the moment. This is good news none the less.
Not a fan at all of the LoTR trilogy so this news has no bearing on me personally. I just wonder how Jackson will juggle this with his planned Tintin trilogy with Spielberg which is which should be starting later next year. It's looking very likely he won't direct these Hobbit films making the whole thing a wash, no? I think fans were hoping he would helm these pictures and not just exec. produce. But who knows, maybe he'll figure it all out and do everything...
New Line must have gotten really spooked about how bad The Golden Compass did on opening weekend. Interesting :)
I hope Jackson ends up directing but if not my first choice would be Guillermo del Toro ,then Alfonso Cuaron or even Terry Gilliam, as long as it's someone else with a strong understanding of the fantastic merged with realism. Just keep it the hell away from all most every american director.
Too bad they didn't save this for THE SCOURGING OF THE SHIRE, which I would rather see, but I guess the ending of RETURN OF THE KING doesn't make that possible cinematically speaking...
Does anyone know what they mean by a sequel to the Hobbit? Would it be a creation coming from Peter Jackson?
i agree with Stanton~ Alfonso Cuaron would be a great choice, if not the best choice. but i don't know if Terry Gilliam could hold something that massive together anymore.