Good news, J.R.R. Tolkien fans: Warner Bros. and New Cinema have decided to turn The Hobbit into three films instead of two.
[More from Mashable: YouTube Video of the Day: Peter Jackson Takes Us Behind the Scenes of The Hobbit]
Director Peter Jackson announced the decision on Monday with a post to his Facebook page.
The film version of The Hobbit -- which is the predecessor to The Lord of the Rings in literature -- was originally conceived as a two-part film series. As was the case with The Lord of the Rings film trilogy, both parts were filmed back-to-back in New Zealand. Principal photography for those films wrapped earlier this month.
While the director has lots of footage to work with, Variety reports that production for a third-film will need to re-start.
On Facebook, Jackson summed up the situation, writing:
"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 continues, noting:
"So, without further ado and on behalf of New Line Cinema, Warner Bros. Pictures, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Wingnut Films, and the entire cast and crew of "The Hobbit" films, I'd like to announce that two films will become three."
The first part, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey will be released in theaters on December 14, 2012. The second film, is slated for December 13, 2013. Rather than following the standard Christmas release window, the third part is now expected to arrive in theaters in the summer of 2014.
What do you think about a third Hobbit film? Let us know in the comments.
This story originally published on Mashable here.
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