Someday, likely late 2012/2013 if the current schedule stays, MGM and New Line will finally release the long-awaited live-action Lord of the Rings prequel, The Hobbit. Once they finish the script, secure a new director, get the cast nailed down, and get over the current studio shenanigans preventing production from moving forward.

However long we have to wait, like any good big-budget, tentpole film before it, there’s bound to be a videogame tie-in. Former director and co-writer Guillermo del Toro said last year that there would be a Hobbit game, but not right alongside the release of the movie. “It’s too ambitious to try and tackle that along with ‘The Hobbit’. We have such tight release dates … Planning a videogame that revolutionizes all things the way it should be, we’re gonna be involved, we’re gonna be participating, but I don’t think we’re gonna create a revolution just yet.”

No official word regarding a Hobbit game has been publicly confirmed yet, and since it’s such a long ways off, new Tolkien license holders Warner Bros. aren’t likely to cough up any details in the near future. They’re far too busy with 2011′s Lord of the Rings: War in the North right now. Though, a resume last year outed a pitch for a LEGO Hobbit experience from WB-owned Traveller’s Tales, but that was a far as that went at that time.

A new job listing for a Marketing Director at Warner Bros. Interactive this week confirms that the publisher indeed is looking to create at least two titles based on The Hobbit alongside Lord of the Rings. “Position will be responsible for brand development and product marketing activities for the entire portfolio of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit games at Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. Position manages high-level cross-company & external partnerships relative to the assigned franchises,” reads the post.

There’s also a requirements of brand development and marketing for the entire Tolkien portfolio,  including “Lord of the Rings: War in the North, two games inspired by The Hobbit movies, and all post-launch content, handheld and digital products.” Unless they’re planning two separate entries, it sounds like Warner may be approaching The Hobbit just like EA is with the final Harry Potter film, and making a game for each part.

And that’s it. No clue as to who will be developing, when they will release, or what kind of games they may be. Might our Hobbit adventures be like Snowblind Studios’ War in the North, and a nice mix of RPG and action? The aforementioned LEGO rendition? Please don’t let it be like Vivendi’s action platforming attempt from years back.


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