When they announced that The Hobbit would be a trilogy, snarky and jaded Internet champions of art immediately began making smart-ass posts about how the book is 300 pages and doesn’t need three movies. For what would be the Prequel Trilogy to Lord of the Rings, and I mean that in terms of story not quality, two movies just isn’t enough based on what there is to show. Sure, The Hobbit itself is only 300 pages, but that’s not the whole story…

The Appendices

When I bring up The Appendices to non-LOTR fans they actually get pissed off and scream that they just want the story of The Hobbit and that’s it. But Tolkien didn’t stop with just The Hobbit. He went on to The Lord of the Rings, and in the back of Return of the King there is a series of Appendices that detail things that happen before, during, and after The Hobbit. There are points in The Hobbit where Gandalf leaves the dwarves; Tolkien explains what Gandalf’s adventure during that time was and not only is it worth telling; it ties directly into The Lord of the Rings. Adapting the Appendices is something Tolkien fans honestly never thought would happen, and that means that Jackson and crew are giving us a huge treat by putting as much of the whole story up there on the screen.

In fact, there’s enough in the Appendices for a total of four more movies. Three Hobbit movies and the LOTR “Epilogue”. I’d kill to see Jackson make a seventh movie that reunites the LOTR cast and adapts the section of the Appendices that explains what happens to the Fellowship after the Grey Havens. The only problem is there really isn’t much action, so the dream of seeing Gimli and Legolas build their boat together and sail away from Middle-Earth will remain just that.

Three More Jackson Middle-Earth Movies

When they first announced that The Hobbit would be two movies, my reaction was “just two?” I wanted more Peter Jackson Middle-Earth on the big screen. That’s one reason why the Extended Lord of the Rings editions are so great. They add even more of that world on the screen, and if giving Jackson another Hobbit movie to show more of Middle-Earth and connect the two trilogies even more, so be it. I’m all for it.

It’s Jackson’s Last Chance to Play With Tolkien

At the San Diego Comic Con this summer, even before the third movie was official, Peter Jackson kind of made the case for why he’d want to do a third movie. The Tolkien family does not like the movies at all, and the only film rights that exist for Tolkien’s writings are The Hobbit and LOTR (which includes the Appendices). The Silmarillion will never be adapted, if only because the Tolkien estate wouldn’t give up the film rights, so that means that filming The Hobbit with parts of the Appendices adapted would be their last chance to film anything Middle-Earth related. You sort of got the feeling that if this is it, they’ll film everything they can.

It’ll Help Spread 48FPS Acceptance

I have experienced 48FPS 3D, and it’s jaw dropping. The best I way I could explain it is that it feels more like looking out a window than at a film. It’s the most immersive movie format I’ve ever seen, which is why The Hobbit trilogy being filmed in that format has me really excited. It’s a bigger, and more impressive, revolution than what Avatar did with 3D; and I hope it catches on. Having a big studio trilogy, three movies, showcasing the technology will help it become more accepted. Because if people don’t see it on the first movie or the second, changes are very strong they would on the third after word of mouth spreads.

Trilogies Are Just Better

Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Back to the Future, and The Lord of the Rings are recognized as trilogies. For a film series, thanks to Star Wars, three movies just feel better. You have a beginning, a middle, and an end. With having three Hobbit movies that incorporate the Appendices, you end up with a trilogy that flows perfectly into The Lord of the Rings for six epic Middle-Earth adventures. I just can’t wait to be able to sit down with the Extended Editions of both The Hobbit and LOTR trilogies for a 24-hour Middle-Earth marathon.