Peter Jackson Denies Hobbit Release Date Change

Damn, The Hobbit can’t seem to get a break. First Peter Jackson told the press that production on the two-part film adaptation with Guillermo del Toro at the helm wouldn’t start this coming March as originally planned as translated by One Ring (via German site Movie Reporter). Cameras would instead roll by the middle of next year in New Zealand. Then came news from The Wrap that the first installment had been pushed back from Christmas 2011 to 2012.

Midst these reports Jackson himself has publicly denied such claims to Collider. While making the press rounds selling The Lovely Bones, the Lord of the Rings trilogy writer/producer/director (and Hobbit writer/producer) said the rumors are to the contrary regarding any release date change:

"So you believe in December 2011 the first part is going to be in theaters.

Jackson: At this stage, that is certainly the plan. Yeah."

Eh, I’m not buying that. Jackson’s correct when telling the site “You don’t want to believe everything you read on the internet.” I’ll give him that. Plenty of ass-wipes just make shit up. But I’m not getting that vibe from this latest rumor.

Why? Because this story makes sense.  Filming on the Rings trilogy started in 1999 – a full 2 years before the first film Fellowship of the Rings hit screens. Given the massive under-taking Hobbit will be, I imagine they want to start principal photography a good chunk of time before its intended release much like what happened last time.

Jackson could be telling the truth. But this, more than anything else, feels like spin.