The Hobbit Production Team Aiming For June Start Date

By our guest blogger, Matt Jussim

Although there has been no official greenlight from the studio yet, Guillermo del Toro’s two-part Hobbit project is preparing to start shooting this summer reports Production Weekly.

According to the site: “Guillermo del Toro's adaptation of JRR Tolkien’s "The Hobbit" is due to begin a 14-month production schedule this June in New Zealand.”

There is still a lot of work to do in regards to the project, especially with the lead role of Bilbo Baggins still yet to be cast. But if that start date is met, the project would stay on track for its December 2011 and December 2012 release dates.

MGM still has a lot of financial troubles to figure out, but fortunately for the studio, New Line and Warner Bros. has agreed to help to carry some of the financial burden until MGM gets back on its feet.

One thing is for certain, though. We know that Ian McKellen will return as Gandalf, although as of now he’s the only actor from "Lord of the Rings" confirmed to be returning. Hugo Weaving, Cate Blanchett and Andy Serkis, whose characters all appear in "The Hobbit" storyline, are apparently not locked in for the next film at the moment.

Production on “The Hobbit” hopes to start in June.