'Hobbit' Reportedly Set to Begin Production in June

Echoing the recent thoughts of producer and co-writer Peter Jackson, Production Weekly (via Coming Soon) says that The Hobbit films will get underway this June in New Zealand. Like The Lord of the Rings trilogy, both Hobbit movies will be shot in one fell swoop. That not only allows Jackson and director Guillermo del Toro to get through the massive amount of work in a more efficient way, not having to call actors back in two or three years later, it's actually a cheaper way to make movies. According to the latest update, the project should take 14 months to complete, and that sure doesn't give a lot of time for post-production. The first Hobbit movie is still on the docket for next December, which itself is only 23 months away, so subtract five months from that. I guess it depends on how they shoot: Will the films be made concurrently - so they can share locations and talent between the two films, maximizing what they need to get at one time - or are they going to be done back-to-back, almost as separate productions? Here's why I ask: If they had another six months or so - if, as was originally rumored, the films would start shooting early this year - then the concurrent production mode would work very well. But if you've only got 18 months and your director is on set for 14 of those months, that's not a lot of time in the editing suite. As a comparison, The Lord of the Rings shot three films in about 14 months, but there was almost another year after that to put together Fellowship. That's really the only drawback I can see. Maybe it's already been addressed and post-production on the first film will greatly overlap the shooting schedule. I think it would kind of have to, if that 14-month schedule doesn't already include editing and effects. It would still be a logistical problem, though, because how much time would Jackson and del Toro get to spend working with the editors during the shoot? Much like the James Bond film that is throwing caution to the wind, The Hobbit relies partly on MGM, which is about to be sold off in total or in chunks. Warner Bros. still wants this in theaters in December 2011, the follow-up a year later, and it's really hard to say it's going to shoot and when until the MGM stuff gets resolved. It's doubtful the new owners would take a wait and see approach on something like The Hobbit, but that's still a slight concern. I also wonder if new ownership or even Warner Bros. will look at the success of Avatar and insist on 3-D. Spectacle movies, whether they need the added dimension or not, can charge more for tickets and people would absolutely pay to see The Hobbit in IMAX. Jackson and del Toro don't seem to want it, but that's another thing to watch over the next few months.

Comments

[Ramsay]

GDT is going to tear this movie up (up in a good way!) He is one of the most inventive people in the industry and has certainly made a name for himself recently with The Orphanage and Pan's Labyrinth. I'm not a LOTR fan boy, but I vivdly remember watching the Hobit, reading it, and listening to it on tape while on long, tormenting car rides with the family, so I'm pretty excited about GDT's involvement.

[Rob]

GDT is a fine choice based purely on Pan's Labyrinth. He knows how to do fantasy and he seems to have a super special effects team. I am hopeful.