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Morning Must-Read: Peter Jackson Confirms a Third 'Hobbit,' James Cameron Plans 'Avatar 2,' James Bond Tease and Fantastic Fest Films

By: Sean OConnell on July 30, 2012 at 9:44AM Comments (5)

Some argue that Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings films form the greatest trilogy in Hollywood history. How will they feel once he’s finished with The Hobbit?

Jackson confirmed Monday morning that his Hobbit adaptation will in fact be broken into three films, as was rumored for some time now. The third film will reach theaters Summer 2014. Writing on the film’s official Facebook page, the Oscar-winning director writes: 
 
“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. Recently Fran, Phil 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. 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.'  
 
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.
 
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.  
 
It has been an unexpected journey indeed, and in the words of Professor Tolkien himself, ‘a tale that grew in the telling.’”
 
Reason to celebrate, Hobbit fans, or too much of a good thing? 
 
Speaking of too much of a good thing, Rush Hour producer Arthur Sarkissian tells CraveOnline he wants to get the band back together, so to speak, for a fourth Rush Hour film that’s grittier, more realistic, and more in line with the original film. Though he has yet to hire a screenwriter to flesh out a story, Sarkissian says both Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker are game for a fourth Rush Hour sequel, so the chances of this happening are better than average.   
 
 
The chances of Avatar 2 happening, however, are growing slightly more slim. In the New York Times over the weekend, director James Cameron opened up about the changes he’s making to his work routine as he settles into New Zealand, where he’s expected to make the next few Avatar films. He purchased 2,500 acres of farmland around Lake Pounui, where he hopes to farm and possibly scuba dive. But somewhere in there, he hopes to make the Avatar sequels … which won’t be in theaters until 2015, at the earliest.  
 
The fall film season is characterized by the number of film festivals audience members have at their fingertips, from Venice and Toronto to New York, L.A. and Telluride. But genre fans know that they need to be in Austin, Texas for the annual Fantastic Fest, which unveiled its first wave of programming Monday morning. Titles of note include a Gala Premiere of Pete Travis’ Dredd 3D; the U.S. Premiere of James Nunn and Ronnie Thompson’s Tower Block; and a repertory screening of Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining. Click here for a full list of titles announced so far. 
 
Finally, if you are watching as much of the Olympic Games coverage as we are, there’s a good chance you’ve already seen the new TV spot teasing Sam Mendes’ Skyfall, which blends James Bond (Daniel Craig) into a series of quick-cut action shots. Craig looks so amazingly cool landing on a train car that’s being chopped in half by a crane. He’s such a fantastic Bond. Check the spot out below, if you haven’t yet seen it:
 

 
Follow along on Twitter @Sean_OConnell and @Fandango. 

Tags: The Hobbit, James Cameron, Peter Jackson, Avatar 2, James Bond, Skyfall

Categories: Morning Must-Read

Comments (5)Leave a Comment

  • Aug 7th 2012 6:59AM

    jewl5  said...

    trilogy *

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  • Aug 7th 2012 6:58AM

    jewl5  said...

    Three films is a little over-kill for one book. Two movies made sense, three is just plain greedy. They weren't thinking, "do we take this chance to tell more of the tale?" they were thinking, "Can we get away with squeezing more money out of the fans?" You squeeze the LOTR trillogy into one movie per book (which you shifted focus on events in the Two Towers) and now you're dragging The Hobbit out into THREE films?! It doesn't make sense. Most of the book is spent describing visual elements that will take a moment to depict on film.

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  • Jul 31st 2012 5:52PM

    Javajive  said...

    That's fantastic so the HOBBIT will be a trilogy (yeeeahhh!!!): Congrats to Film Director Peter Jackson, I for one look forward to the Hobbit journey story(s) for their quite deep, rich and Spectacular. The whole Cast of characters are fascinating and can't wait for Smaug to stretch his mighty wings, and the haunting Necromancer, the Dwarfs, Gandalf, Bilbo, etc.,. strong stories to be unveiled. Plus, looking forward to AVATAR II the first was visual/action treasure beauty and great Cast. SKYFALL, looks amazing and Actor Daniel Craig...'Wow!!!! Can't wait.

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  • Jul 31st 2012 5:20AM

    1825861736  said...

    Its great that The Hobbit will be a trilogy, James Cameron is one of the greatest directors of our time and if we expect Avatar 1,2 & possibly 3 to take awhile to be in theaters it will be will worth the wait.

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  • Jul 30th 2012 10:53AM

    fandad1960  said...

    I guess the popularity of Avatar is why we have to wait longer for the sequel just as the dark knight rises had to be waited 4 years because of the dark knights infamous success story

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