Despite Sir Ian McKellen (rather optimistically) announcing that filming on The Hobbit was to commence this July, it appears that production has slipped back to the tail end of 2010.
Speaking with Digital Spy , Any Serkis (he of Gollum fame, like you need reminding), confirmed that filming would begin “at some point towards the end of this year, I expect it’ll start kicking off”.
So, why the delay? According to sources, it’s MGM’s current financial difficulties that are to blame.
TheOneRing.net spoke to a secret insider, who confirmed that MGM’s monetary woes are behind the delayed production. The studio is currently up for sale, but debt holders have yet to accept a bid from anybody.
TOR ’s source adds: “At this stage we are all working and hoping for the best case scenario. Without a doubt, the MGM situation carries great importance.”
The two-part film was originally set to be released in December 2011 and 2012, though hopes that the flicks will now make these release deadlines are waning.
That’s not stopping Guillermo Del Toro, though, who is pushing forward with work, tinkering with creature designs until he is given the official nod to start pre-production proper. Hang in there buddy, we have hope...
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