9/7/2009

in

After a lawsuit, "The Hobbit" film has the green light to begin production.

Elaine Campion

Filming of a feature based on J. R. R. Tolkien's "The Hobbit" has been cleared to start after the settlement of a lawsuit previously hindering any work on the film.  
  
"The Hobbit" tells the story of Bilbo Baggins, a minor character in the previously successful "Lord of the Rings" films. The book explains how Baggins came to discover the powerful ring that the plots of "LOTR" center around.  
  
New Line Cinema made just shy of $3 billion at worldwide box offices with the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy between 2001 and 2003. However, in February of 2008, members of Tolkien's estate filed a lawsuit against the studios based on breach of contract, and sought over $150 million in profits.  
  
The terms of the settlement were not released, but New Line is now proceeding with work on "The Hobbit," which will be made into two films by Guillermo del Toro ("Pan's Labyrinth," "Hellboy"). New Line Cinema plans on releasing the "The Hobbit" in 2011.