CONFIRMED: THE HOBBIT To Become A Trilogy; Third Film In Summer 2014; Possible Titles


Coming straight from Peter Jackson himself, we can now confirm that The Hobbit is set to become a trilogy. Jackson announced it on his official Facebook page, posting this:

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.”

Additionally, Variety have revealed that the third installment is set for release in Summer 2014, although there’s no specific date yet. Warner Bros have the rights to over 100 pages of notes J.R.R. Tolkien made which were supposed to be an extra book, but it was never fully made. So, Jackson and co will set out next Summer to film all that additional material, as well as lump the extra footage they had left over with that. I have no idea what is in the appendices, nor if the details are online, but if I find out I’ll quickly update. For now, what do you think of this news? Sound off below!

UPDATE: This isn’t about the appendices, but Fusible (via /Film) have discovered quite a few domain names registered for The Hobbit, revealing some possible titles. Check them out below:

http://whois.domaintools.com/desolationofsmaug.com

http://whois.domaintools.com/riddlesindark.com

http://whois.domaintools.com/thedesolationofsmaug.com

http://whois.domaintools.com/thehobbitdesolationofsmaug.com

http://whois.domaintools.com/thehobbitriddlesindark.com

http://whois.domaintools.com/thehobbitthedesolationofsmaug.com

http://whois.domaintools.com/thehobbittheriddlesinthedark.com

http://whois.domaintools.com/theriddlesinthedark.com

As /Film notes, Riddles in the Dark is the title of the fifth chapter of The Hobbit, whilst The Desolation of Smaug refers to the destruction caused by the dragon Smaug. The domains were registered via MarkMoniter, the site that manages the names for the two current Hobbit movies.

SOURCE: Facebook