The Hobbit to start filming in March

First MGM’s financial woes threatened to delay the latest J.R.R. Tolkien film adaptation, The Hobbit, then there were labour disputes with the New Zealand production staff plus a change of directors, and so it should come as no surprise when director Peter Jackson was recently hospitalized for a perforated ulcer.

Finally today (February 7), The Hobbit production company, 3Foot7 Ltd., announced that the first day of principal shooting will be Monday, March 21. The plan is to film the adaptation in two parts, with The Hobbit Part 1 to hit theatres in December 2012, and Part 2 the following December.

“Despite some delays we are fully back on track and very excited to get started,” said director Peter Jackson.

The Hobbit takes place before the events described in trilogy of Lord of the Rings. The confirmed cast includes Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins, along with Ian McKellen, Cate Blanchett, Andy Serkis, Elijah Wood, Saoirse Ronan, 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, Mikael Persbrant, and Sylvester McCoy.