Jackson’s Hobbit becomes a trilogy

All those dwarves don't come cheap

Lord of the Rings Director Peter Jackson has revealed that his next work, a film adaptation of The Hobbit, will span three films.

The adaptation had previously been pencilled in as two flicks.

Jackson took to Facebook to announce the extension, arguing that editing of the first film has yielded the insight that:

“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.'”

It’s very hard not to suspect that’s Hollywood cant for “The studio said can we make more money and the answer was an unreserved yes.”

Jackson adds that the expanded production means more bits of The Hobbit, and other parts from other Tolkien tomes, will hit the screen. “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,” he writes.

The first two Hobbit instalments will arrive, as previously scheduled, at Christmas 2012 and 2013. The final chapter will emerge in mid-2014. ®