Today 3Foot7 Ltd. announced that New Line and Peter Jackson will begin shooting The Hobbit films on March 21.
Production was originally scheduled to get away on The Lord of the Rings prequel films on February 14. Jackson was forced to be admitted to the hospital for stomach pains prior to shooting and had to undergo surgery for a perforated ulcer. This setback followed a labor dispute and prior to that, MGM’s bankruptcy proceedings.
Last week Jackson was released from the hospital and is anxious to get the long-delayed film underway. In his words, “Despite some delays we are fully back on track and very excited to get started.”
The Hobbit films will star Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins and see several cast members from The Lord of the Rings trilogy appear including Cate Blanchett as Galadriel, Ian McKellen as Gandalf, Christopher Lee as Saruman, Andy Serkis as Gollum, and Elijah Wood as Frodo. Shooting will take place on location in New Zealand and at Stone Street Studios in Miramar.
The Hobbit Part 1 is due in theaters on December 19, 2012.
