Filming on The Hobbit is delayed, but why?

After years and years of negotiating and wrangling, THE HOBBIT was finally set to begin filming next month, but hold your horses, Tolkein fans: filming has been delayed due to some unforeseen circumstances.

Peter Jackson was hospitalized yesterday for a perforated ulcer in his stomach and underwent emergency surgery. Don’t get yourself all worked up over it; the surgery was a success and Jackson is expected to make a full recover. Jackson, however, still needs to make a recovery and that will take him away from HOBBIT’s pre-production and cause a delay in the production schedule.

It’s unclear how long it will push back the start of filming but a statement released by Jackson’s rep qualify it as a “slight delay.”

Delays aside, let’s all wish Mr. Jackson a speedy recovery and hope that he’s able to get back to work soon.