Production Weekly is reporting that Guilermo Del Toro’s two-part take on The Hobbit is gearing up to start shooting in June. There was a lot of fuss recently when an offhand comment by producer Peter Jackson that they planned to start filming in the summer, threw the internet into an uproar as previously it had been believed that the movie would go into production in May.
It now seems the May date was always sepculative and June isn’t exactly much of a delay, and completely in line with what both Del Toro and Jackson have been saying in recent weeks. However while that’s the plan, at the moment the films still haven’t been officially given the greenlight. Although it’s almost inevitable that they will, the problem at the moment is that MGM is meant to be co-financing the movie, but with the company is in the process of being sold it’s making their participation a little uncertain.
While the Hobbit films will be made whatever happens, as New Line/Warner has already signed a deal to say it can go ahead alone if MGM can’t find the cash, the movies can’t get the official go ahead until the studios know exactly what’s going on in the money department, and that won’t be for a few weeks yet
As we said the other day, the casting on The Hobbit is now in full swing, with Del Toro looking for actors prepared to sign up for the massive 14 month shoot. The first of two Hobbit movies should hit cinemas at the end of 2011.