Production on THE HOBBIT Pushed to Middle of 2010

Before all you LOTR fanboys get all in a tizzy about this bit of information, know that production on the Guillermo Del Toro-directed version of THE HOBBIT was previously set to begin production in March of 2010.  The first draft of the script has only recently been submitted, and a second draft is currently in the works.  However, today comes word from the German site MovieReporter.net in an interview with Peter Jackson that production on the film has been pushed back to later in the year, possibly July.

Here is what Jackson had to say in detail (translation courtesy of TheOneRing.net):

We’re currently  working on the second script which we hope to have  completed by the  end of this year or beginning of  next.   When  the scripts are completed, we can begin with the exact calculation of the necessary budget.   We hope to start filming in the middle of next year.  However, we’ve  received  no green light from  the studio yet.

The issues facing MGM might be what is holding up that green light, but no one is saying for sure.  Jackson also hasn’t given any indication whether this will delay the film’s proposed December 2011 release date.  This was for the first film in the new two-parter with the second film scheduled for December 2012.