The Hobbit has been plagued by litigation for ages, finally it’s all been settled. The film can finally be made without restriction!

Removing a roadblock from production of “The Hobbit” films, New Line has settled with the Tolkien Trust and HarperCollins in a suit over profit participation by Tolkien’s heirs in “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy.

Terms of the settlement, announced Tuesday, were confidential. The trust noted that the settlement allows the New Line/MGM films based on Tolkien’s “The Hobbit” to go forward without legal challenge.

“We are pleased to put this litigation behind us,” said Alan Horn, prexy of New Line parent Warner Bros. “We all look foward to a mutually productive and beneficial relationship in the future.”

The case had been set to go to trial Oct. 19 in Los Angeles Superior Court. Shooting on the two films, directed by Guillermo del Toro, is expected to begin next year with releases set for late 2011 and 2012.

This is great news for all those who are anxiously awaiting the release of these films. They are still a couple years off, but at least they’re going to happen now. Now lets hope Del Toro finishes the script soon so they can get cracking.

Source: Variety

DROP A COMMENT BELOW