Due to Personal Reasons, Robert Kazinsky Has Left ‘The Hobbit’

It came as a shock to all The Hobbit fans, when Peter Jackson broke the news on his Facebook page, that Robert Kazinsky (Fili the Dwarf) has had to leave the project due to “personal reasons”. It was just last week, fans watched him on Jackson’s first video blog release, as he waved enthusiastically to the camera. Through Twitter, the former Fili had this to say, “Thanks for all your support, Peter and team have been the most wonderful and supportive team to work for and it's with a truly sad heart that things have turned out this way. The Hobbit will go on to be as great as I've seen and I will miss the family and friends that I've here. ‘From every disaster I've tried to make an opportunity.’ -John D. Rokerfeller" Jackson assured fans, Kazinsky’s absence would not hinder filming, as they are currently working with Martin Freeman (Bilbo Baggins), giving them time to hunt down a replacement.

Robert Kazinsky has been a big part of middleearthnews, really he was the reason this news source came into being. I had never even been on Twitter, let alone, understood how it worked, when I happened upon a small post on TheOneRing.Net. There, in 140 characters or less, he told the world of Twitter, “farewell Los Angeles, Hello Middle Earth”. He was leaving LA and was headed to New Zealand to prepare for ‘The Hobbit’. It was so simple, but it amazed me that I could follow him on his journey, and so he became the first person middleearthnews followed. You can’t imagine my excitement when he followed me back, and continued to support my news source. What an honor that has been. So it is with a heavy heart that I write this today. My thoughts and prayers are with him as he tends to whatever has caused his leaving, and be assured middleearthnews will keep you updated with all his goings on.