After much speculation it has been confirmed that Peter Jackson’s adaptation of Tolkien’s The Hobbit will be a trilogy of films.

The rumours flew around the internet last week as the countdown to the release of the first of the Hobbit films continues that the story was too big to be captured by just two films and the director today described the decision he was faced with, and how he and his creative team came upon the answer.

Posting to his Facebook page a few minutes ago he describes how two films became three, how, in his words, they found themselves faced with this question, do we take this chance to tell more of the tale? And the answer from our perspective as the filmmakers, and as fans, was an unreserved ‘yes.’ 

What this will mean in terms of reshoots (should any be needed) and the narrative hurdles Jackson and his team will have to overcome in order to make each of the films work as standalone features isn’t yet clear but you can expect rampant speculation to fill the air until an official confirmation comes through.

There are many fans of Jackson’s work who will greet this news with delight but will The Hobbit work as three films? Time will tell, personally I can’t wait to return to The Shire…

Here’s the full post,

It is only at the end of a shoot that you finally get the chance to sit down and have a look at the film you have made. Recently Fran, Phil and I did just this when we watched for the first time an early cut of the first movie – and a large chunk of the second. We were really pleased with the way the story was coming together, in particular, the strength of the characters and the cast who have brought them to life.  All of which gave rise to a simple question: do we take this chance to tell more of the tale? And the answer from our perspective as the filmmakers, and as fans, was an unreserved ‘yes.’

 

We know how much of the story of Bilbo Baggins, the Wizard Gandalf, the Dwarves of Erebor, the rise of the Necromancer, and the Battle of Dol Guldur will remain untold if we do not take this chance.  The richness of the story of The Hobbit, as well as some of the related material in the appendices of The Lord of the Rings, allows us to tell the full story of the adventures of Bilbo Baggins and the part he played in the sometimes dangerous, but at all times exciting, history of Middle-earth.

 

So, without further ado and on behalf of New Line Cinema, Warner Bros. Pictures, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Wingnut Films, and the entire cast and crew of “The Hobbit” films, I’d like to announce that two films will become three.

 

It has been an unexpected journey indeed, and in the words of Professor Tolkien himself, “a tale that grew in the telling.”

 

Cheers,

 

Peter J