Via his Facebook page, Peter Jackson has announced that the next HOBBIT movie - originally subtitled THERE AND BACK AGAIN - is changing its title.
Seems this possibility has been in play for some time, and the reason for said change relates to the addition of a third picture into what was originally intended as a two-part adaptation.
Our journey to make The Hobbit Trilogy has been in some ways like Bilbo's own, with hidden paths revealing their secrets to us as we've gone along. “There and Back Again” felt like the right name for the second of a two film telling of the quest to reclaim Erebor, when Bilbo’s arrival there, and departure, were both contained within the second film. But with three movies, it suddenly felt misplaced—after all, Bilbo has already arrived “there” in the "Desolation of Smaug”.
…says Jackson HERE, in a post which goes on to reveal that the full title of the next picture - due on US screens December 17 - is: THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES.
Jackson also indicates that THERE AND BACK AGAIN may become the moniker of a video set encompassing all three films in the HOBBIT cycle. He also references working on a DESOLATION OF SMAUG extended cut containing 25 minutes of new material, scored by Howard Shore. Presumably this will hit stores around the release of the third installment later this year? Don’t believe I’ve seen an official release date yet…
More on all of this via the link above!
—————
Glen Oliver
"Merrick"
