A Long-Expected Party: The Hobbit Starts Production

After directorial casting woes, a near workers strike, MGM’s bankruptcy, and even a studio fire; the primary actors, screenwriters, and director of both installments of The Hobbit have had their first script read-through at the Stone Studio’s location of the interior of Bag End.

Presumably it was the larger Hobbit-scale set, and not the smaller man-scale set. Or perhaps they were making sure they actually could fit thirteen dwarves and one hobbit into a single room?

According to Ian McKellen, “having Jackson and co-screenwriters Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens inviting comments on their script so far ‘is as close to bliss as an actor can get.'”

MGM released two pictures from the set via Facebook, the above, and the below:

(via Deadline.)