The Hobbit Now Headed to 2012 Release?

A few days back, Peter Jackson confirmed principal photography on the two-part Hobbit film adaptation had been delayed from March to an unspecified mid-2010 start. Although it was certainly in the back of everyone’s minds, there was no direct indication that this decision would affect the Christmas 2011 release date on The Hobbit – Part I.

Now The Wrap has been told by their contacts at Warner Brothers that the first installment will most likely be pushed back from Christmas 2011 to 2012. Obviously, such a move would put the second one now hitting our silver screens to 2013 by default. As previously reported, the writing team (i.e. director Guillermo del Toro, Jackson, Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens) have turned in the first draft and already typing away on the second. While other pre-production work such as set construction has commenced.

If shit gets even further delayed, then I’d start to worry.  Hell, there’s still the possibility we could get some casting announcements this month. It’d be nice to know who will replace Sir Ian Holm as Bilbo.

Additionally, this puts the studio without a major tentpole for the Holiday 2011 season. They could realistically place any of their three currently lined-up summer ’11 films in place of Hobbit – Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows – Part II , Green Lantern (ironic considering it was originally scheduled for Christmas 2010) or The Hangover 2 (don’t laugh – Todd Phillip’s next film Due Date was moved from summer to November 2010). If I was a betting man, I’d put the money on the final Potter movie being moved. Of course, there’s also the potential Sherlock Holmes sequel or something else moving there instead.