Filming of the highly-anticipated The Hobbit will begin next month (Mar11) after shooting was delayed to allow director Peter Jackson time to recover from surgery.
The moviemaker was admitted to hospital last month (Jan11) to undergo an operation to treat a perforated ulcer and movie bosses revealed production had been pushed back from February (11) so Jackson could regain full health.
It was the latest in a line of problems for the Lord of the Rings prequel, which had already been stalled for months due to financial issues and actors union action in New Zealand.
But production on the movie, starring Martin Freeman and Cate Blanchett, is now on course to begin in March (11).
Jackson, who was released from hospital last week (03Feb11), tells AFP, "Despite some delays we are fully back on track and very excited to get started."
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