Peter Jackson: Hobbit a Trilogy

After many rumors and much speculation, Peter Jackson announced "The Hobbit" which was originally scheduled to be a two-part series, will now be a trilogy.

Jackson said, "It is only at the end of a shoot that you finally get the chance to sit down and have a look at the film you have made," the Oscar-winning filmmaker wrote on his Facebook page this morning. "Recently Fran [Walsh], Phil [co-screenwriter Philippa Boyens] and I did just this when we watched for the first time an early cut of the first movie—and a large chunk of the second."

Jackson added: "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.'"

Jackson said the impetus behind the decision was that in order to fulfill his vision for the Tolkien story, he felt an additional film needed to be added.

"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. The richness of the story of The Hobbit, as well as some of the related material in the appendices of The Lord of the Rings, allows us to tell the full story of the adventures of Bilbo Baggins and the part he played in the sometimes dangerous, but at all times exciting, history of Middle-earth."

Jackson finished off his announcement saying this: "So, without further ado…I'd like to announce that two films will become three. It has been an unexpected journey indeed, and in the words of Professor Tolkien himself, "'a tale that grew in the telling.'"

Some fans of the Christ-inspired tale have been concerned over whether or not the story will be watered down because of the lack of material in comparison to the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

From my point of view I don't think so, as shown be the first series, in the capable hands of Peter Jackson the extraordinary story should be in good hands.

Jackson appears to be saying he's going to use this to explore the characters much deeper than he could have without the third installment.

I, for one, welcome the news, and can't wait until the prequel begins.