The Hobbit Will Get Limited Release in 48-Frames

Warner Bros. will reportedly only give a limited release to the much talked-about 48 frames-per-second (aka high-frame-rate) version of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey when it opens December 14, perhaps skipping some major metropolitan markets altogether.

"People who have seen much of the film in 48 frames-per-second 3D tell Variety the picture now looks vastly better than the test footage shown this April at CinemaCon, which had not yet undergone post-production polishing and got a mixed reception from exhibitors," according to Variety.

"But the studio still wants to protect the format by going into a limited release for the HFR version, hoping to test the marketplace and expand the HFR release for the second and third installments -- provided auds are enthusiastic. As of now, there are still no theaters ready for HFR projection, though some require only a software upgrade that will be ready in September. Warners is satisfied with the pace of efforts to ready theaters for HFR."

Source : feeds.ign.com