THE HOBBIT Movie Scheduled For 2012

Tolkien fans can relax – despite rumors to the contrary, “The Hobbit” remains on track for release in 2012.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Warner Brothers has scheduled the first installment of the J.R.R. Tolkien cult classic for a December 2012 release. The second and final part of Guillermo del Toro and Peter Jackson’s adaptation of “The Hobbit” will follow in December 2013.

Confusion about when the movie would hit theaters started after an IMAX press statement inadvertently listed the wrong year for the furry-footed adventure; IMAX has since correctly listed “The Hobbit” as on schedule for a December 2012 release.

“The Hobbit” follows the smash success of “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy, which Jackson directed.