Hobbiton under construction

Yes, it's official. Despite on-going legal battles between filmmakers and the Tolkien family estate, it seems production on The Hobbit is moving forward -- with backhoes. TheOneRing.net and stuff.co.nz reports that "fruit trees are being planted, hedgerows are being groomed and new hillocks are being marked off as the sites of more hobbit homes."

The site in Matamata, New Zealand does not yet seem blocked off, as the folks who operate tours of the Hobbiton movie set, ain't saying they are closed for business. Not yet anyway.

But the pictures of the backhoes etc suggest that the place is all torn up. In Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks, I visit the Matamata Hobbiton set. You can also get a tour of the place from whence hobbit come in my video.