The Hobbit is now officially a Trilogy

Originally conceived to be two movies - "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" and "The Hobbit: There And Back Again", Peter Jackson has finally gotten his wish, as the famed The Lord Of The Rings Trilogy director, MGM, and Warner Bros. are working out details to commission a THIRD movie for the prequel story to the LOTR saga!

Reported by Deadline, Slash Film,and MTV News, the official announcement of a trilogy adds a as of yet untitled third Hobbit movie to the line up. This follows up on rumors and speculation on Jackson's request to create another film, extending the story of a young Bilbo Baggins and his adventures with Gandalf The Grey and a group of Dwarves led by Thorin Oakenshield! The main difference, however, is that the third film may get a Summer 2014 release, which will break tradition from its predecessors, which are scheduled to be released this December and the next December, following on the LOTR films that were also released in the same manner. More details, as well as rumors of the domains registered that hint on the possible third film's title, can be read up at the source post at Slash Film!

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Trailer
The first chapter of The Hobbit, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, opens in theaters this December!

UPDATE: Here's Peter Jackson's personal comments about the announcement!


"It is only at the end of a shoot that you finally get the chance to sit down and have a look at the film you have made. Recently Fran, Phil and I did just this when we watched for the first time an early cut of the first movie – and a large chunk of the second. We were really pleased with the way the story was coming together, in particular, the strength of the characters and the cast who have brought them to life. All of which gave rise to a simple question: do we take this chance to tell more of the tale? And the answer from our perspective as the filmmakers, and as fans, was an unreserved ‘yes.’ 


We know how much of the story of Bilbo Baggins, the Wizard Gandalf, the Dwarves of Erebor, the rise of the Necromancer, and the Battle of Dol Guldur will remain untold if we do not take this chance. The richness of the story of The Hobbit, as well as some of the related material in the appendices of The Lord of the Rings, allows us to tell the full story of the adventures of Bilbo Baggins and the part he played in the sometimes dangerous, but at all times exciting, history of Middle-earth. 


So, without further ado and on behalf of New Line Cinema, Warner Bros. Pictures, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Wingnut Films, and the entire cast and crew of “The Hobbit” films, I’d like to announce that two films will become three. 


It has been an unexpected journey indeed, and in the words of Professor Tolkien himself, ”a tale that grew in the telling.” 


Cheers, 


Peter J