1) Why did it take so long?

'The Hobbit' adaptation was first announced back in 2007 and should have been finished by 2010. That was not to be, as the ill-fated project was struck by one problem after another, including the Tolkien estate suing New Line, studio MGM's inexorable slide into bankruptcy, a strike by acting unions that almost saw production leave new Zealand and much, much more. It was epic.

2) What happened to Guillermo del Toro?

The movie's production difficulties meant that Guillermo del Toro — the 'Pan's Labyrinth' and 'Hellboy' helmer who was supposed to direct - quit the project despite spending two years on pre-production. He'd got sick of waiting for MGM to sort themselves, telling TheOneRing:

"In light of ongoing delays in the setting of a start date for filming 'The Hobbit', I am faced with the hardest decision of my life. After nearly two years of living, breathing and designing a world as rich as Tolkien's Middle-earth, I must, with great regret, take leave from helming these wonderful pictures."

Del Toro's incarnation of 'The Hobbit' may've looked much different to Peter Jackson's version. He said he wanted much more animatronics and considered casting Ron Perlman as shape-shifting bear man Beorn, Ian 'Lovejoy' McShane as Thorin the dwarf and Doug Jones as Elvenking Thranduil.

[Related story:The Hobbit isn't finished says Jackson]

[Related story: McKellen broke down on Hobbit set]

3) Who was almost cast as Bilbo?

The identity of Bilbo also generated dozens of rumours, from Tobey Maguire and David Tennant to Jack Black and James McAvoy. Del Toro even said he wanted Ian Holm, who played Bilbo in 'LOTR', to reprise the role. However, in the end the part went to 'The Office' star Martin Freeman.

4) Which 'Lord Of The Rings' actors are back?

Holm would eventually make a cameo, and joined a long list of 'Lord Of The Rings' stars returning to Middle-earth, even if their characters weren't in 'The Hobbit' book. This included Elijah Wood's Frodo, Cate Blanchett's Galadriel, and Orlando Bloom's Legolas. Evangeline Lilly has also been cast as Tauriel, a female elf who doesn't appear in any of the books. A rarity.





5) How did Christopher Lee shoot his scenes?

Another Middle-earth veteran back for more is Christopher Lee, as evil wizard Saruman (also not referenced in 'The Hobbit' books). Sadly, the 90-year-old legend was a bit too frail to make the punishing 24-hour flight over to New Zealand, so Peter Jackson let him shoot his scenes in Pinewood Studios, near London.



6) What rights do the filmmakers own?

Which companies own what bits of the Tolkien universe is a complicated issue we don't have space for here. Put simply, Jackson and New Line CAN make films based on 'The Hobbit' and 'The Lord Of The Rings' books, but CAN'T adapt any of the fantasy author's other Middle-earth stories, such as 'The Silmarillion' and 'Unfinished Tales Of Numenor And Middle Earth'. It's why the director turned to the Appendixes in 'The Return Of The King' to plug the gaps between his two series.

7) What happened to Robert Kazinsky?

Story continues