Guillermo Del Toro has admitted that The Hobbit is delayed.
There has been much speculation around when filming on the movie would get under way, with Andy Serkis recently revealing that he knew nothing more that anyone else.
But it was Peter Jackson who said that the movie wasn't delayed because it had not been greenlit yet and Del Toro backed up this claim.
Speaking to ComingSoon the filmmaker said: "It's not greenlit. That's categorical... We've been caught in a very tangled negotiation...
"There cannot be any start dates until the MGM situation gets resolved. They do hold a considerable portion of the rights."
And while the director said that the movie had been planned without 3D in mind he reveals that when they do get the green light they will be ready to go.
"We have designed all the creatures. We've designed the sets and the wardrobe. We have done animatics and planned battles sequences.... We are very, very prepared for when it is finally triggered."
However the cast for the movie is yet to be revealed with only Andy Serkis and Ian McKellan as known names for the film.
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