The epic 266-day shoot is now at an end; the epic wait for the films continues…

The Hobbit director Peter Jackson recently posted on Facebook:

“We made it! Shoot day 266 and the end of principal photography on The Hobbit. Thanks to our fantastic cast and crew for getting us this far, and to all of you for your support! Next stop, the cutting room. Oh, and Comic Con! Cheers, Peter J”

He doesn’t specify whether he means Part 1 (aka An Unexpected Journey) or the whole thing, but it’s feasible to think that it might be the whole thing, since it’s one big story, and it would make sense to film it all in one go.

However, looking elsewhere, it seems that he's referring to principal photography on both films. Fansite TheOneRing.net said a few days ago that the plan was for a “wrap party on July 7 after shooting both films in three distinct blocks.” They also elaborated that:

“Pickup shots are expected to follow soon after the Comic-Con wrap and it seems likely the group will leave the convention and return to Wellington, New Zealand.”

Also, a fan-run podcast notes that Ian McKellen (Gandalf) said he expected to finish filming by the end of July, and he may return for filming next year for the second part (5 or 6 minutes into the podcast). And a wizard is never late; he finishes filming precisely when he means to.

Of the most highly anticipated films this year, fans will have the longest to wait for The Hobbit.

The Avengers smashed box office records, pleased both critics and audiences, and finally got Joss Whedon the levels of commercial uber-success that he deserves. There was a decidedly mixed reaction to Prometheus, but even for many of its fans (or people-who-think-it-was-decent, whatever the word for that is), it didn't quite deliver on the hype. Meanwhile, the anticipation for The Dark Knight Rises continues to rise. And The Hobbit is still patiently (or not so patiently) by the many fans of the book, fans of the Lord of the Rings films, and Tolkien fans in general.

For director Peter Jackson, The Hobbit is, fittingly, an unexpected journey (because of his initial reluctance to effectively work in the shadow of his previous efforts with the Lord of the Rings films) and, since he still has to do post-production, a matter of there and back again.

(news via Derrick Deane on Twitter)

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is released on December 14, 2012 in the US, and December 26, 2012 in the UK. The Hobbit: There and Back Again will be released on December 13, 2013 in both countries. Yes, that's right, they're going to make us wait basically an entire year between instalments, just like with the Lord of the Rings films...

See also:

A purist's defense of Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings screenplay

Why Tolkien should make room for Dickens

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