Filming for Peter Jackson's adaptation of the J.R.R Tolkien masterpiece The Hobbit is finally underway. The movie starts filming today in New Zealand.
Everyone is excited to get started, Jackson's assistant told New Zealand media.
Shooting is finally underway after a couple of setbacks that created some major delays, including, a dispute over distribution rights, studio financial issues, Guillermo Del Toro's departure from the director's chair, and Peter Jackson's hospitilization earlier this year.
Whew, sounds like a lot of hurdles to jump over, but it's now time to get started.
Warner Bros. released the picture below of Jackson as an initiation to the start of filming.
The Hobbit will be made into two 3D films. It follows the journey of young Hobbit Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) who is on an quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor.
The two films are planned for release in December 2012 and 2013, respectively.