Ian McKellen: 'The Hobbit' Shoots This Summer

He's been unreliable about a few things before, but he's still Ian McKellen, so we'll tell you all about it and you can believe it or discard it. McKellen says The Hobbit will still shoot this year in spite of all the problems it's been having taking shape. The new schedule, according to Gandalf, is for the production to begin in June. "Filming will take over a year. Casting in Los Angeles, New York City and London has started," McKellen writes. "The script too proceeds. The first draft is crammed with old and new friends, again on a quest in Middle Earth." Adds Sir Ian, "The director Guillermo del Toro is now living in Wellington, close to the Jacksons’ and the studio in Miramar." There is still talk that the films - remember, The Hobbit is two movies - will be shot in 3-D. Initially GDT and Peter Jackson were against it, but the studios - MGM and Warner Bros. - have to be in favor of it based on the box office performances of Alice and Avatar. I mentioned the problems that have beset this film earlier. They're all external, mostly having to do with MGM being in a very precarious financial position. Because the studio hasn't been able to get all the funding necessary, The Hobbit has kind of been hung out to dry for a while. There was talk of a 2012 release, then a 2011 release, and now it's kind of vague. If they shoot beginning in June and run through September or so of 2011, I don't see how they'd be able to get a good version ready in time for December of that same year. Plus, that schedule was originally put in place before there was talk of 3-D. We also still don't have a Bilbo Baggins; maybe they should cast that and Captain America simultaneously...

Comments

[Rob]

Oh neat!