Exclusive ‘The Hobbit’ Production Update from Peter Jackson

Hello from the Weta Workshop! I thought I’d say hi since you’ll soon see The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug in theaters, and since I’m assembling the extra featurettes for its Dragonhoard Edition Blu-ray right now.

You’ve been very patient with me as I fully realize J.R.R. Tolkien’s vision. So let me thank you with some secret updates about our unexpected journey as it continues to go there and back again and ‘ ‘Smaug reference.

-I’m happy to confirm that Thorin and Company are all signed on for The Hobbit: There and Back Again.

-We had a HUGE breakthrough today with There And Back Again‘s adapted screenplay. I can’t reveal details but I promise it’s the perfect cliffhanger setup for There And Back Again: Part II.

-There will be a The Hobbit: There And Back Again: Part II.

-We’re looking to shoot There And Back Again: Part II in 2D and 3D and IMAX all at once, so you can see it in theaters three different ways (kidding! (not kidding! (what if I said there were oliphaunts?))).

-We’ve settled on a logline for The Hobbit 4: The Elaboration of Smaug. Think X-Men Origins: Wolverine if it was too expensive to render Wolverine on screen for more than 10% of the film.

-We will film Untitled Hobbit Prequel/Sequel 6 and the two films after it all at once, out of sequence, in Hawaii, because we will have run out of new New Zealand to shoot.

-My Los Angeles sit-down with Andrew Garfield went splendidly, and I’m convinced he’s perfect for The Hob-bit 11: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring: Rebooted: Starring Andrew Garfield.

-We’ve learned Guillermo del Toro’s schedule will open up in time for him to direct Hobb15: An Unexpected Quincea ‘era.

-Everyone loves the classic version of King Kong but do you realize how far visual effects technology has advanced since 2005?

-I just thought of a new dwarf right now: first name Bleegrums, blind, fights by echolocation, could be female, either way definitely into chicks. Somebody remind me about this later.

-Do you guys think Tolkien’s estate thinks I’m pretty? Be honest.

-We’re almost a third of the way through digitally removing Poochie (Andy Serkis) from Desolation of Smaug and the updated version hits theaters late 2016.

Anyway, I need to sign off. Sir Ian died. Good thing our effects team can “Weta around it”!

Happy filmgoing,

Peter Jackson

P.S.: Sir Ian McKellen. The actor.