‘Hobbit’ Filming Delayed After Peter Jackson Is Hospitalized

Filming on The Hobbit has been pushed back a bit after director Peter Jackson was admitted to a New Zealand hospital with acute stomach pains.

Jackson went to to Wellington Hospital on Wednesday night and underwent surgery for a perforated ulcer, according to a statement from the production. He is said to be resting comfortably, and doctors expect him to make a full recovery.

“Sir Peter’s surgery is not expected to impact on his directing commitment to The Hobbit beyond a slight delay to the start of filming,” according to the statement.

Filming was scheduled to start sometime next month.

It’s the latest hurdle for the production, which has suffered previous director Guillermo Del Toro’s departure, followed by various labor and financial issues that plagued the studios behind it.