Thanks to various restructurings at New Line Cinema, shooting of THE HOBBIT has been pushed back from Spring to Summer or Autumn 2010 (our time, Winter or Spring 2010 in New Zealand). With the requirments for a long period of post-production to accomodate re-shoots and effects work, as there was on the original LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy, this meant that the amount of time that would pass between the conclusion of the year-long principle photography shoot and the release of the first movie would shrink to just a couple of months. With this really not being realistic, New Line have pushed the first HOBBIT movie back to December 2012 (and presumably the second to December 2013) instead.

Disappointing, although given the way that production was slipping back month by month, not entirely surprising. As of yet Ian McKellen and Andy Serkis have confirmed they are returning as Gandalf and Gollum, whilst Hugo Weaving is expected to return as Elrond, although no deal is in place with him yet. Rumours are circulating that Brian Cox might play Thorin, whilst a number of actors are being considered for Bilbo. Earlier Toby Maguire rumours were shot down by his working on SPIDERMAN 4, but with that no long an issue, he is apparently back being talked about, despite repeated denials from Jackson and Del Toro.