Production company 3Foot7 Ltd, is pleased to announce that the first day of principal photography for The Hobbit will be Monday 21 March, 2011. It was supposed to start shooting this month, but director Peter Jackson was recently in the hospital for an operation, which kind of slowed down production a bit. He’s OK though, and here’s what the director had to say,
Despite some delays we are fully back on track and very excited to get started.
3Foot7 Ltd (who released this news) added,
This date has been chosen following practical considerations of the filming schedule requirements, actor availability and the NZ seasons. Shooting will take place at Stone Street Studios in Miramar and on location around New Zealand.
Confirmed cast include Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, Richard Armitage, Ken Stott, Graham McTavish, William Kircher, James Nesbitt, Stephen Hunter, Rob Kazinsky, Aidan Turner, Peter Hambleton, John Callen, Jed Brophy, Mark Hadlow, Adam Brown, Cate Blanchett, Andy Serkis, Mikael Persbrant, Sylvester McCoy and Elijah Wood.
The two Hobbit films will be released in December 2012 and December 2013.