Guillermo del Toro Talks More About "The Hobbit" In 3D!

Jim here. As exclusively posted right here on MarketSaw by yours truly back in November 2007, there stands a very real possibility that THE HOBBIT(s) movies will be shot in stereographic 3D! Back then, there was a good chance that Peter Jackson would be directing, but he changed his mind and instead attached himself as Executive Producer - still much more than what other sites were saying - no PJ at all. We have known about THE HOBBIT in 3D for some time now and I know for a fact that PJ and company have already spoken at length about 3D back in January of this year, from my trusted internal sources at Weta. We even questioned Guillermo del Toro about it live and in person on May 25, 2008.

Now GdT has told MTV the following:

“IMAX is a fantastic medium. I am a shareholder. I love IMAX. I remember seeing ‘Polar Express,’ and then seeing ‘Polar Express’ in 3D and IMAX and having my life completely transformed,” he enthused, excitedly discussing the format’s immersive capabilities. “I think it would be a worthy discussion. But it hasn’t arrived."

“I think that we are experienced enough, I guess would be the term, to know that we should not daydream about [things like that] when we write the screenplay,” he said of whether or not he was even flirting with 3D or IMAX as possibilities. “Right now what we have is, you don’t have two filmmakers and two screenplay writers – you have four screenplay writers. We’ll be talking about 3D, on IMAX – but [not] right now.”

Awesome to hear him openly musing about the possibilities, and I remain steadfast that the movies do indeed get made in 3D and that they are going to be spellbinding. I mean, not spellbinding in only a great story (which we know it damn well will be), but spellbinding in it's immersion and experience. We are going to experience THE HOBBIT in 3D folks - I am staking a lot on this.

What I think GdT is trying to say is that in order to write the screenplay you have to know whether it will be in 3D or not - which makes total sense! Well they ARE writing the screenplays right now and so they have to know RIGHT NOW that it will be in 3D but are keeping it under wraps for some reason. I believe that on that great day back on September 29th where we had financial and contractual commitments to roll out digital and 3D screens, the fate of twin 3D HOBBIT prequels was sealed in victory.

I mean just look at the box office possibilites! 3D means much more revenue and with the potential 2D to 3D conversion of the original LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy and cinematic re-release (again - we were the first to report this from our sources here), the potential is staggering. You KNOW PJ and GdT are looking at this very seriously. Besides, the story really does call for 3D - to become totally immersed in Tolkien's world is a no-brainer.

If I should hear differently from my sources or further positive word, you will be the first to know right here, 'cause you know you get the straight stuff here, and not on AICN about anything 3D. Heck we even knew it would be a two part prequel and that the legal issues between PJ and New Line had been resolved.

I am passionate about all things Tolkien and all things 3D. Makes for a pretty good combination for MarketSaw especially with great sources in place! Stay tuned!!