The Hobbit's Epic Journey from Middle Earth to World Premiere; IT'S TAKEN 75 YEARS TO REACH THE SCREEN

Beginning of article

Byline: ALUN PALMER alun.palmer@mirror.co.uk

FANTASY yesterday became fact at the world premiere of a classic book the movie industry had, for 75 years, believed was impossible to film.

Stars of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey flew into Wellington and gazed in amazement as fans, many dressed as characters from JRR Tolkien's novel, transformed New Zealand's capital into Middle Earth.

Ever since its publication in 1937, producers have dreamed of turning the tale into a movie. But the epic nature of the story - about hobbit Bilbo Baggins and a band of dwarves setting out to steal a dragon's treasure - has been matched by the epic struggle to achieve that. …