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The rumor that The Hobbit films are to become three movies was just confirmed by Peter Jackson on Facebook!:
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.’
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I…don’t really know how I feel about this, to be honest. I don’t think there’s nearly enough to The Hobbit to make it into three movies unless a significant chunk of the third is bridging the gap between LOTR and this story. I feel like I should be excited about it- but instead I’m kind of cringing. It just doesn’t seem necessary.
There is plenty with the Appendices. The question is whether the films can pace things effectively to feel like it all belongs together.
I’m totally thrilled! I just re-watched LOTR and they discussed how, by the time they got to ROTK, there were five story lines to weave together into one story. I think PJ et al. will be facing a similar task if they add in all the stuff Gandalf and the White Council were up to while the dwarves and Bilbo were on their adventure.
Someone on TORn suggested how the Hobbit could be divided into three…I thought it made a lot of sense.
I think the connecting story line should be (and will be) woven throughout, not tacked onto the end. I’m not worried–there’s plenty of story to be told.
I imagine LOTR would have been made into 5 films (at least) if Jackson could do them over.
Instead of putting everything in the extended cuts of the Hobbit, we will get to see more in the theater. Even the most basic things require more time. When you consider the book gave only a mention of each dwarf, and barely a line to most, and we now have 13 better developed characters to keep track of who are present in nearly all major sequences, just getting reaction shots on these guys will equal plenty of screen time.
It is likely a good choice not to try to cram it all into two, when you can spread it out, and hopefully make it clearer, in three.
Just don’t read the trolls on PJ’s Facebook note. Seriously… PJ is a bigger fan than most of the Tolkien fandom put together (or he, you know… wouldn’t be as awesome as he is) and I get sick of people screaming that it’s ‘only for the money’. If you read the facts, there’s no reason why this decision shouldn’t be a good one, and if you feel PJ has given you no major reason to distrust him in his directional decisions thus far…. stop complaining.
I haven’t read much about the three film debate, and I don’t plan to argue strenuously on behalf of the decision. If I were less familiar with the story and the potential content that will go into the film, I might agree with the naysayers. On the surface it appears they are pushing it making a one book novel into a trilogy, but we know better.
If it were only for the money, I don’t think PJ would have to go to WB to ask permission to make more films, they would have been pushing it themselves. They are probably making sure they won’t be losing any money on the deal, but no way is that the driving force from Jackson’s perspective.
As far as trusting PJ; Jackson is not perfect as a director, IMO. ROTK had moments that I cringed over (well all three films did, but that one may have been the worst). But the good points FAR exceeded the blah ones, and that’s what counts.
^ oh yeah sure, he’s not perfect otherwise we’d be pooing rainbows and living in a fantasy universe. But I trust him because I think he did the best job any director could, plus bringing us into Middle Earth as an actual world. I just hate that people aren’t actually reading articles/what he’s saying the films are going to be and just going NOPE straight out. It just makes me angry when I hear ignorant people talking like they know things.
I hates ignorant people too! Feel free to bitch here any time!
Yeeeeeessssssssssssssss!!!!!! Ok I’m becoming a bit too excited hearing this news. How come I missed this on facebook today? Ah darn!
Thanks for making my day!
Actually it was Ian McKellen’s post on FB that clued me in first
Ah right! I’ve ‘liked’ Peter Jackson on FB so I get his updates but I must do the same for McKellen
. Well this is happy news. Can’t wait to re-visit Middle Earth (in 3 films 
)
As much as I am happy, that the fun will last longer, three films thrice the fun, I have some serious doubts now after I thought this through. In three movies PJ can put more of his own ,,improvements”. With some I could easily agree, like differentiating the dwarves, (some of them could have longer beards you know, they are Longbeards after all, this name must have came from somewhere), sequence with older Bilbo which connects the movies with LOTR, and few other things, but I don’t think that PJ will be more faithful to the sources now, he won’t miss oportunity to show his inventions. I know that adaptations are not 100% faithful to the book, but please, Tolkien story is masterpiece in itself, so what’s wrong with sticking close to it, director and crew still would have to make all visuals, device the looks of everything, care for the proper cast, could guide the way actors represent their heroes, but completely new things, like this Arwen’s dying nonsence from ROTK, are not usually working in my opinion.