The creative team behind the Lord of the Rings trilogy return to Middle-earth with this adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's classic precursor The Hobbit. Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh executive produce the New Line Cinema/MGM joint production, to be shot simultaneously with a sequel film culled from various pieces of the author's work. Acclaimed director Guillermo del Toro is attached to helm the two pics, budgeted at 150 million dollars each.
~ Jeremy Wheeler, All Movie Guide