This should probably come as no surprise. Rumors have been swirling since at least 2007 that The Hobbit film adaptation would be springing onto screens in 3D. Of course, back then rumors still had Peter Jackson attached to direct. Since Guillermo Del Toro (Pan’s Labyrinth, Hellboy) signed on to direct, both he and Jackson have vehemently denied all rumors that they are aiming for a 3D release. As recently as last August, Del Toro plainly stated “we are not talking about 3D, we are NOT writing the screenplay for 3D right now.”
Of course, since then the film industry paid witness to a little thing called Avatar, which already seems to be pushing the studios towards finding the next 3D blockbuster. Del Toro provided a recent update in a post on TheOneRing.net forums about the ongoing possibility of seeing Hobbits in the third dimension.
“I wouldn’t read much on it just yet, but now, after all this time, after Avatar doing the Box Office it did, we have had enquiries from above about The Hobbit being in 3-D.
No impositions or heavy leaning. Just enquiries. Just fulfilling my promise to let you all know if discussions ever started.
Cheers
GDT”
This isn’t any sort of confirmation that the film will be 3D, but it certainly shows the studio is showing interested in providing for incentive to see what should already be a tentpole release.
There’s certainly great potential to filming this story in 3D, as Avatar definitely proved that the medium can provide a great venue for artistry. The only question is whether Del Toro and company are on the same page as their studio executives. Del Toro’s works have all been marked by a unique creative vision that incorporates several forms of visual effects, so it’s probably within his capabilities to imprint his idiosyncrasies on the form. But if the change to 3D is merely perpetuated by those looking to make a quick buck, without the complete consent of the filmmakers, it may not bode well for the vision of the project.
Currently The Hobbit is scheduled for release in December of 2011, with the second installment of the two-parter due a year later. There have been rumors that the two films could each be pushed back a year to allow for more creative freedom, and going 3D could certainly play into that.
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