THE HOBBIT Goes Before the Camera in July

It was reported back in November that production on the two-part prequel to LORD OF THE RINGS, THE HOBBIT, had been pushed back to mid-2010, possibly July.  Well, according to Ian McKellan’s official site, those reports are 100% accurate.

THE HOBBIT’s, two films, start shooting in New Zealand in July.  Filming will take over a year. Casting in Los Angeles, New York City and London has started.  The script too proceeds.  The first draft is crammed with old and new friends, again on a quest in Middle Earth.

The director Guillermo del Toro is now living in Wellington, close to the Jacksons’ and the studio in Miramar.

Nothing official has come from New Line, yet, as reported by Variety.  A spokesperson even went so far as to outright say they had not set a start date on production.  The biggest elephant in the room here is what is going on with MGM.  Their restructuring is moving slowly, and no one seems to know what will happen to their side of the financing once all the movement dust settles.

It is looking more and more likely that we won’t be going back to the shire until, at least, December 2012.