As “that guy who didn’t like the LORD OF THE RINGS movie,” I was eternally pleased when the trilogy was over and I could go back to living my life. Then came THE HOBBIT. Warner Bros. and MGM jointly announced yesterday that filming has begun on THE HOBBIT, Peter Jackson’s two-part adaptation of JRR Tolkien’s story, which takes place 60 years before LORD OF THE RINGS.
With a screenplay by Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, Guillermo del Toro and Peter Jackson, the films will be shot in 3D on location in New Zealand. The news was posted on Peter Jackson’s new Facebook page, which will update frequently throughout production, along with two shots of Jackson on set in New Zealand.
We also have an official synopsis for the films, which go as follows:
“The Hobbit” follows the journey of title character Bilbo Baggins, who is swept into an epic quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor, which was long ago conquered by the dragon Smaug. Approached out of the blue by the wizard Gandalf the Grey, Bilbo finds himself joining a company of thirteen dwarves led by the legendary warrior, Thorin Oakensheild. Their journey will take them into the Wild; through treacherous lands swarming with Goblins and Orcs, deadly Wargs and Giant Spiders, Shapeshifters and Sorcerers.
Although their goal lies to the East and the wastelands of the Lonely Mountain first they must escape the goblin tunnels, where Bilbo meets the creature that will change his life forever … Gollum.
Here, alone with Gollum, on the shores of an underground lake, the unassuming Bilbo Baggins not only discovers depths of guile and courage that surprise even him, he also gains possession of Gollum’s “precious” ring that holds unexpected and useful qualities … A simple, gold ring that is tied to the fate of all Middle-earth in ways Bilbo cannot begin to know.