Peter Jackson to Direct The Hobbit

Deadline’s Nikki Finke broke the story, I suppose there will be a fight about that, but here it is. The news at last that Peter Jackson will take on the challenge of directing The Hobbit. I don’t know why it felt like such a tease all along; didn’t it always seem like was going to do it?

The big part of The Hobbit story that interests me is how much the 3D decision spurs Warner Bros to convert the original LOTR trilogy into 3D, injecting new life and revenue cycle into the original films. I yawned at the announcement that George Lucas’ six Star Wars films will convert to 3D, maybe because I found the prequel underwhelming. But the prospect of a 3D revisit to Middle Earth, the Mines of Moria, Mordor, The Shire, Lothlorien and the epic battles of Helm’s Deep and Minas Tirith? Yes, please.

The screenwriters are listed on IMDb as Peter Jackson, Philippa Boyens, Fran Walsh and Guillermo Del Toro. It is rumored to star Cate Blanchett, Ian McKellen, Andy Serkis.