The Hobbit has officially started shooting in New Zealand, though if the experience of this intrepid news reporter is anything to go by the chance of getting any sneak peeks is infinitesimally small.

Millions of people loved the Lord of The Rings movie trilogy Peter Jackson a decade ago. With ten years having passed since the release of the first of those films, the time is surely ripe for The Hobbit movies.

The Hobbit movies, of which there are going to be two, have been planned but subject to various delays for a few years now, but today (Monday, March 21) is the official first day of filming.

We obviously have another 18 months or so to wait until the first of the films is released, and the second one will arrive around a year after that. But it’s nice to know work has begun in earnest, regardless.