The Hobbit Targeting A June Start

The Hobbit films will start shooting this June in New Zealand, reports Production Weekly. Production on the Guillermo del Toro-directed pics will take about 14 months.

While the production will probably not get the green light until MGM resolves its financial situation in the coming weeks, the studio and New Line/Warner Bros. have been targeting December 2011 and December 2012 releases for the two installments.

Andy Serkis, Ian McKellen, Hugo Weaving and Cate Blanchett are expected to reprise their roles from "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy in The Hobbit.