The story of the production on that one is a little insane.
If I remember correctly it was originally meant as a single film, then 2. With one as the Hobbit proper, and one using material from the Appendices and LOTR to bridge the two series.
It got delayed by Jackson and the Estate’s disputes with WB/New Line over profits from LOTR. There were some rights expirations in play as well, and MGM got involved to co-produce.
So short time line to begin with, starting from a bit of a mess.
It was originally supposed to be directed by Guillermo del Toro. And he left over repeated delays.
Which saw Jackson pressed into taking over, MGM was kinda broke. So they forced it into 3 films.
By the time Jackson actually started filming, there wasn’t a script. Pre-production wasn’t really finished, since they’d mostly started from scratch after del Toro left. Toss in a labor dispute where WB fucked New Zealand.
In the end Jackson had like three or four months to prepare, and they were reportedly figuring it out as they went. Like writing scenes just before or as they shot them. Jackson complicated things by insisting on shooting 60fps and in 3d.
