Jackson back in 'Hobbit' via NL, MGM
Jackson to exec produce after dispute settlement
By Gregg Goldstein
Dec 19, 2007

NEW YORK -- The eagerly awaited prequels to the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy will finally hit the big screen. GM and New Line have pacted to co-finance and co-distribute "The Hobbit" and a sequel to the film. New Line will handle distribution in North America, and MGM will distribute the J.R.R. Tolkien adaptations internationally.

Putting aside what once seemed like irreconcilable differences over the filmmaker's profit participation, "Rings" writer-director Peter Jackson and New Line have settled all litigation over the nearly $3 billion-grossing "Rings" trilogy. Jackson and Fran Walsh will executive produce the films, to be shot simultaneously, and New Line will manage their production.

Preproduction will begin soon, and principal photography is tentatively set for 2009. The release of the first film is slated for 2010 and the sequel in 2011. Jackson, MGM chairman and CEO Harry Sloan and New Line co-chairman and co-CEOs Bob Shaye and Michael Lynne jointly made the announcement Tuesday morning.

"I'm very pleased that we've been able to put our differences behind us, so that we may begin a new chapter with our old friends at New Line," Jackson said. " 'The Lord of the Rings' is a legacy we proudly share with Bob and Michael, and together, we share that legacy with millions of loyal fans all over the world. We are delighted to continue our journey through Middle Earth. I also want to thank Harry Sloan and our new friends at MGM for helping us find the common ground necessary to continue that journey."

The Hollywood Reporter
complete article

That's good to hear, except for the timeline. There was the animated musical IIRC and not much else. Should be good if the same standards are upheld.

BTW, where's the second one coming from as The Hobbit was a pretty thin book, perhaps Silmarillion? I have no clue at the moment.

augie wrote:

BTW, where's the second one coming from as The Hobbit was a pretty thin book, perhaps Silmarillion? I have no clue at the moment.

Basically they are just going to split The Hobbitt in two.

phileysmiley wrote:

augie wrote: BTW, where's the second one coming from as The Hobbit was a pretty thin book, perhaps Silmarillion? I have no clue at the moment. Basically they are just going to split The Hobbitt in two.

Hmm, OK makes some sense now and The Hobbit weighs in at 358 pages, I must have been thinking of something else. Still, two movies seems somewhat excessive to me. Ye old dollar comes to mind.

phileysmiley wrote:

augie wrote: BTW, where's the second one coming from as The Hobbit was a pretty thin book, perhaps Silmarillion? I have no clue at the moment. Basically they are just going to split The Hobbitt in two.

In fact, the first film will be The Hobbit, and the second film will be both a sequel to The Hobbit, and a prequel to LOTR --- using material gleaned mostly from the Appendices in the Return Of The King (the book), but I would suspect also from the posthumous works by JRRT covering this period.

JabbaPapa wrote:

phileysmiley wrote: augie wrote: BTW, where's the second one coming from as The Hobbit was a pretty thin book, perhaps Silmarillion? I have no clue at the moment. Basically they are just going to split The Hobbitt in two. In fact, the first film will be The Hobbit, and the second film will be both a sequel to The Hobbit, and a prequel to LOTR --- using material gleaned mostly from the Appendices in the Return Of The King (the book), but I would suspect also from the posthumous works by JRRT covering this period.

Now there's an idea, I totally forgot about the appendices and there is a lot of material there.

augie wrote:

JabbaPapa wrote: phileysmiley wrote: augie wrote: BTW, where's the second one coming from as The Hobbit was a pretty thin book, perhaps Silmarillion? I have no clue at the moment. Basically they are just going to split The Hobbitt in two. In fact, the first film will be The Hobbit, and the second film will be both a sequel to The Hobbit, and a prequel to LOTR --- using material gleaned mostly from the Appendices in the Return Of The King (the book), but I would suspect also from the posthumous works by JRRT covering this period. Now there's an idea, I totally forgot about the appendices and there is a lot of material there.

Aha! I hadn't been able to find those details anywhere. Thanks!

Whatever --- just so long as we get to see some more of Ian McKellan and Christopher Lee