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THE HOBBIT NEWS

Sir Ian McKellen Confirms 'The Hobbit' Starts Shooting in July

by Alex Billington
March 18, 2010

Although MGM still hasn't announced if they're being bought or anything else, we're all hungry for updates on The Hobbit. For a while, all we were reporting were updates saying that it was delayed, potentially until 2012, but those weren't confirmed. However, Sir Ian McKellen, aka the lovable Gandalf, has confirmed on his official website that shooting on The Hobbit starts this summer and "will take over a year." He adds that "the first draft [of the script] is crammed with old and new friends, again on a quest in Middle Earth." Yes! Variety also confirmed that it starts shooting in July even though New Line "hasn't officially greenlit [it]."

With MGM still in limbo, the reps have been saying that "we have not set a start date yet," but of course we all trust McKellen more than, well, just about anyone (oh, that Gandalf!). Peter Jackson and Guillermo del Toro are looking to finish the second Hobbit script soon which will put the production in the next phase. Although I don't remember hearing this, Variety says Warner Brothers' Alan Horn (since they now run New Line) said "earlier this year that the most probable scenario would be a release of the first film in the fourth quarter of 2012." Looks like everything may finally be starting to gain momentum in Hobbiton. Speaking of which, they've already started re-building that set in New Zealand. Who else is crazy excited for this?!

Explore tags: Hobbit News, Hype, Movie News, Opinions, Rumors

Shelby Hemstock

Star Wars is better.
DEADPOOL 72

@ shelby hemstock yes,the original star wars trilogy is cool apart from them fucking ewoks. the lord of the rings trilogy is the most perfect film trilogy ever,change the ewoks to wookies in return of the jedi then this would be the greatest film trilogy ever. BRING ON THE HOBBIT FILMS.
Captain Deutschland

My most anticipated movie of the millenium. That said, I was so overwhelmed by the LOTR-trilogy, that The Hobbit will most likely not meet my expectations. Curse me for a fool!
http://www.cine-escape.com Sakyo

Star Wars and LOTR are different.. i am totally innclined for the 80´s star war... but LOTR is good saga too..at least for this generation.. hope to see hobbit before the world tears apart for the 2012 Maya´s prophecy =D
Voice of Reason

YOU SHALL NOT PASS!!!!!!
Gill

Any news at all as to who will be playing Bilbo yet???
WB Exec

MUST WATCH THE PRECIOUS
Hedgehog

Why compare LOTR to Star Wars? Doesn't make sense to me, both are perfect in their own ways. Just because they are trilogies? Many other trilogies in this movie world. Anyways, I'm not too excited yet, it's still 2 years away. Gimme another 18 months and i'll start yelling it at the top of my lungs.
Freddy

Whoever says LOTR is no better than Star Wars (even when they're so different) clearly has no idea of all the elements that make a film good.
People's Champ

The nerds rejoice!!
Hexal

You all realize 'Shelby Hemstock' just said that to get the nerds a'raging right? Mission accomplished.
Hattori Hanzo

Finally! As for those worried that it will be a children's movie, remember that Jackson has stated repeatedly that it will blend effortlessly with the LOTR's movies.
Jimmy Love

id rather see this than the lord of the rings, not that they are bad movies, but they are nothing like the books.
books and movies have to be different

Not the old "nothing like the books" comment about movies again...
jomba joose

Bring it on! Can't wait. With regard to #1's post I agree, although it's like 1 & 1a with Apples & Oranges (space vs swords). Not even sure if our kids will remember LOTR the way we remembered star wars and the impression it left on Pop Culture. Come to think of it, that very impression left behind laid the fantasy-epic foundation for LOTR, IMO ofcourse.
BSL

What's this business about "a release of the FIRST film in the fourth quarter of 2012"? Are they breaking this into more than one movie?
Meh, Bleh

Is Sam Worthington in this?