The much-anticipated prequel to the Lord of the Rings trilogy has been speculated for years now. With it being done after the Lord of the Rings, that follows how I read the books Lord of the Rings first then I read the Hobbit. I actually ended the book The Hobbit more than I did with Lord of the Rings. I found it easier to read and get into, so I am very much looking forward to The Hobbit being filmed and eventually released! I was very happy when it was announced that Peter Jackson was to step back in and sort out the mess which occurred over the film for the past few years. I mean after what he did with Lord of the Rings, no-one else really could have taken on The Hobbit.

Martin Freeman was announced a few months ago now as the man filling Ian Holm’s shoes as Bilbo Baggins. As obviously Holm’s is too old to take on the role of Bilbo in The Hobbit, after all it was his younger years and adventures with Gandalf and slaying a dragon. Looking at the two pictures above, Freeman is a very good choice to play the young Bilbo.

Speculation has also been rife to whether Ian McKellen would return as Gandalf, but surely no-one else can play Gandalf since McKellen was incredible in Lord of the Rings. Other members from the Lord of the Rings cast rumoured to be back are Andy Serkis as Gollum, Cate Blanchett as Galadriel. Brian Blessed is also rumoured to have a part in the films.

News today has brought us that The Hobbit is going to be in 3D and will be filmed with red epic cameras, 30 hand held cameras. Shot in real 3D none of the post film making 3D stuff that has been so overdone in recent years. I am not really sure how I feel about it being in 3D as I am certainly not a big fan, unless Jackson goes along the Avatar route instead of playing up to the 3D – which I am sure he will.

The film is going to be split into two parts hence the 2012 and 2013 release dates penned at the moment. Filming is due to commence at the start 0f 2011. So lets hope they stop encountering problems, as this film really does seem to have to fight against well everything in the build up to filming! I am sure Peter Jackson and his team will not disappoint, I will have regular updates on the blog as news comes through and filming begins.

Are you looking forward to The Hobbit?