“The Hobbit” Finally Gets the Green Light

The sets are built, some of the actors are waiting and the director is ready.

After what seemed like an eternity of waiting, “The Hobbit” has been given the official go-ahead to begin production.

And while that’s good news, that doesn’t mean there still aren’t some issues to resolve before director Peter Jackson returns to Middle Earth and begins filming the back-to-back installments.

First up, there’s a labor dispute looming over the production of the film in New Zealand. There’s also the question of who will play Bilbo Baggings in the film as well as filling in the rest of the cast.

But it looks like the films are on track to meet their opening dates in 2012 and 13.