The Director Sector

— MGM and New Line will co-finance and co-distribute two films, “The
Hobbit” and a sequel to “The Hobbit.” New Line will distribute in
North America and MGM will distribute internationally.
– Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh will serve as Executive Producers of two
films based on “The Hobbit.” New Line will manage the production of
the films, which will be shot simultaneously.
– Peter Jackson and New Line have settled all litigation relating to the
“Lord of the Rings” (LOTR) Trilogy. (CNN.com)

I’m currently of two minds here. I consider Peter Jackson to be one of the most brilliant directors in the past decade. He took one of the most widely read (if not THE most widely read) fantasy series and put it on the big screen for a relatively cheap cost, made massive profits, and spread the Lord of the Rings fandom even further into public consciousness. I think he will once again meet my expectations with “The Hobbit” film.

So what am I concerned about? This sequel nonsense. The sequel has already been done! “Fellowship of the Ring” is the sequel to “The Hobbit”. Technically, anyway. There is a space of about 60 years, I believe, between “The Hobbit” and “Fellowship” during which Bilbo Baggins grows old in the Shire. I hope they use actual source material and that Fran Walsh, Peter Jackson, and Phillipa Boyens actually write this sequel, because then it will likely live up to my expectations. And by Jove, they better include Tom Bombadil.

Thanks for making me drool in anticipation, New Line. Thanks a lot.