Warner Bros yesterday issued a photo of director Sir Peter Jackson on set, saying his health was "good" after a health scare which put him in hospital. Actors have been in Wellington for some time, several of them helping out at this month's cricket fundraiser for Christchurch earthquake victims.
British actor Martin Freeman will play Bilbo Baggins, the adventurous hobbit, with Andy Serkis as Gollum, Cate Blanchett playing Galariel and Orlando Bloom as Legolas.
The Hobbit is based on a book by British author J R R Tolkien, published in 1937.
Recognised as a classic in children's literature, The Hobbit follows the quest of home-loving Baggins to venture into dangerous territory in search of treasure guarded by the dragon, Smaug.