If you thought for a second that Peter Jackson was above going the same route as Twilight, Harry Potter, and The Hunger Games by inflating The Hobbit into a trilogy, well think again. After the first inklings popped up at Comic-Con that Jackson was considering shooting some additional footage, THR is now reporting talks with Warner Brothers have now taken a serious turn. Oh yay.
Jackson had been looking at adapting some of the other stories J.R.R. Tolkien wrote that helped flesh out some of The Hobbit's remaining mysteries, and if all falls into place he'll be embarking on a two-month shoot next summer in New Zealand. Jackson, Warner Brothers, producer/writer Philippa Boyens, and producer Fran Walsh are currently working out the logistics, and considering the film would no doubt be a monster hit, expect details to get worked out pretty quickly.
It's obvious why the studio wants to do it, and as much as I hate the idea of such a clear money grab, Jackson's deep love of Tolkien's works is driving this move. It wouldn't be surprising to me if he continued on even after this new trilogy is complete as there's no shortage of material to work with. The only thing they would need to do is lock up the actors to new deals and secure financing, which probably won't be that difficult. They'll have to get the ball rolling soon if they plan on hitting the summer start date, though.
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey opens on December 14th, followed next year by The Hobbit: There and Back Again on December 13th. Even after the Comic-Con footage, I'm still not that excited, but what about you? Are you hyped for a potential third movie?
