There’s been plenty of debate over when exactly we might get to see The Hobbit, which to the best of anyone’s knowledge still doesn’t have a greenlight thanks to the ongoing MGM financial issues. Still, it looks like Warner Bros. is convinced it’ll get here, albeit a little later than planned, as a new press release mentions a December 2013 release date.

Despite the official nature of the release (spotted via Cinematical), we’re still not quite ready to take it as gospel, since a lot can happen between now and the end of 2013. Films get shoved back all the time.

But the document also talks about the planned IMAX arrival of other big movies, noting release dates for the likes of Zack Snyder’s Legends Of The Guardian: The Owls Of Ga’Hoole, which is set for September this year, and the two final Harry Potter outings, still scheduled for November 2010 and July next year.

Oh, and while there’s no date attached, both Batman 3 and the embryonic new Superman film both get a name check.

Now what we really want is for Guillermo del Toro or Peter Jackson to hit the message boards and joyfully announce that The Hobbit has the clearance to start shooting. Even it’s just Peter and Guillermo acting out all the roles in front of a white sheet.

Update: It looks like IMAX goofed a little on their press release - according to Warners and the Hobbit team, the first film is apparently due for release in December 2012, with the second in 2013. Thanks to the Heat Vision Blog for the correction.