Peter Jackson has announced that he plans to add a third film to 'The Hobbit' to make it a 'The Lord of the Rings'-esque trilogy.
"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," the Oscar-winning filmmaker says in a statement. "Recently Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens 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," he continues.
"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."
Jackson says the studio is already on board to make a third film, even though the first two were shot simultaneously in New Zealand.
"I'm delighted that New Line, MGM and Warner Bros. are equally enthusiastic about bringing fans this expansive tale across three films."
"So, without further ado, I'd like to announce that two films will become three," Jackson concludes. "It has been an unexpected journey indeed, and in the words of Professor Tolkien himself, a tale that grew in the telling."
Peter Jackson has announced that he plans to add a third film to 'The Hobbit' to make it a 'The Lord of the Rings'-esque trilogy.
