What’s going on with The Hobbit?

Last week some fans eagerly anticipating The Hobbit flipped a little when IMAX made a press release that basically pointed out that the Guillermo Del Toro film was going to be pushed back. Then they went and reassured us all that the film was still on track, but not anymore.

What’s Playing (via Collider) spits out some quotations from Ian McKellen on what’s taking so long, and the plain fact that the film indeed is getting the push back.:

“That should have started in April but they didn’t contact me about a contract until a few weeks ago and we’re in negotiation”, the actor, who’d be reprising his Lord of the Rings‘ role Gandalf for the film, said. “I shall see (director) Guillermo del Toro and (executive producer) Peter Jackson when I’m in New Zealand after we’ve been to Australia and well find out more then.”

Continues McKellen, “I’ve read the script, or as much as had been written, they sent it to me, which was very accomplished and good, I thought, and a wonderful part, Gandalf. But I don’t have a contract and I don’t have a start date, so there we are. We’re in a bit of limbo at the moment”.

The feature, which once appeared like it was going to start filming as soon as this summer, could be stuck in this predicament for awhile especially if everyone is dragging their feet. Could it be happening due to financial issues? Schedule conflicts? Well, if they want us to go back to Middle Earth they better try to do it sooner than later.