No, seriously, I don't need these pieces of paper in my wallet (or plastic if you prefer). I can sustain myself on water and small rats that I hunt and kill, so that's fine, take my hard earned cash. Peter Jackson and Warner Bros. apparently are have a money crisis and they are looking to us, the movie going public, to take up the slack. Today, in a move that shocks and surprises no one, Peter Jackson announced that "The Hobbit" will now go from two films to three. He will be drawing on material from both The Hobbit and The Appendices of The Lord of the Rings books. While I wholeheartedly welcome the decision, I find myself lamenting my lost revenue, because that's another $15.00 dollars and also another 3 hours spent in a theater so there's also a reduction in my lifespan, but no biggie. Here's what PJ had to say on his Facebook page.
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. Recently Fran, Phil 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. 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.
So, without further ado and on behalf of New Line Cinema, Warner Bros. Pictures, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Wingnut Films, and the entire cast and crew of “The Hobbit” films, I’d like to announce that two films will become three.
It has been an unexpected journey indeed, and in the words of Professor Tolkien himself, "a tale that grew in the telling."
Cheers,
Peter J
Straight from the horse's mouth. No word on whether the third one will be called "The Hobbit: Cash Grab" or "The Hobbit: It's All About The Benjamins". Be back latter with more cool stuff, so stay tuned.
Todd "You Shall Not Pass" B.
[ComingSoon.net]
