Peter Jackson was pretty vocal at SDCC 2012 about his desire to turn The Hobbit into three films and the director has reportedly had his wish granted by Warner Bros. Jackson was on record stating that there was just too much story to be condensed into two films and that he was worried about what would be lost in the editing process.
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey hits theaters on December 14, 2012 while he Hobbit: There and Back Again is scheduled to be released December 13, 2013. The third film has been tentatively scheduled for a Summer 2014 release.
No word yet on how this additional film will be negotiated with the cast and talent.
Here's an official statement from Peter which he posted on his facebook page.
It is only at the end of a shoot that you finally get the chance to sit down and have a look at the film you have made. Recently Fran, Phil and I did just this when we watched for the first time an early cut of the first movie – and a large chunk of the second. We were really pleased with the way the story was coming together, in particular, the strength of the characters and the cast who have brought them to life. All of which gave rise to a simple question: do we take this chance to tell more of the tale? And the answer from our perspective as the filmmakers, and as fans, was an unreserved ‘yes.’
We know how much of the story of Bilbo Baggins, the Wizard Gandalf, the Dwarves of Erebor, the rise of the Necromancer, and the Battle of Dol Guldur will remain untold if we do not take this chance. The richness of the story of The Hobbit, as well as some of the related material in the appendices of The Lord of the Rings, allows us to tell the full story of the adventures of Bilbo Baggins and the part he played in the sometimes dangerous, but at all times exciting, history of Middle-earth.
So, without further ado and on behalf of New Line Cinema, Warner Bros. Pictures, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Wingnut Films, and the entire cast and crew of “The Hobbit” films, I’d like to announce that two films will become three.
It has been an unexpected journey indeed, and in the words of Professor Tolkien himself, ”a tale that grew in the telling.”
Cheers,
Peter J.
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Release Date: December 14, 2012
MPAA Rating: Unknown
Starring: Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, Andy Serkis, Elijah Wood, Cate Blanchett, Richard Armitage, Hugo Weaving and Orlando Bloom
Directed by: Peter Jackson.
Written by: J.R.R. Tolkien (novel), Fran Walsh (screenplay), Philippa Boyens (screenplay), Peter Jackson (screenplay), Guillermo del Toro (screenplay)
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