While 60 years is fine on paper, it does not sit so well on film. PJ truncated the period from Bilbo's 111th birthday to Frodo & Sam fleeing the Shire to what looked like a few months, possibly 1 year whereas it was actually about 17:
From The Encyclopedia of Arda:
Quote:
In 3001, Bilbo held the great Birthday Party on 22 September (a birthday Frodo happened to share) and afterwards departed from the Shire, leaving Frodo to come into his inheritance, including (after much persuasion by Gandalf) the Ring.
After Bilbo's departure, Gandalf visited Hobbiton only occasionally. Frodo often went walking in the Shire, sometimes with his friends Folco Boffin, Fredegar Bolger, Peregrin Took and Meriadoc Brandybuck, but more often alone. His gardener at Bag End was Samwise Gamgee, who was to accompany him on his great journey.
On 12 April 3018, Gandalf returned, having discovered the truth about the Ring, and so Frodo discovered the history behind the One Ring, and the great danger it held. He resolved to leave the Shire with it. To cover his departure, Frodo sold Bag End to Lobelia Sackville-Baggins, and bought a small house at Crickhollow in Buckland, the region where he had been brought up. He departed from Hobbiton with Peregrin Took and Sam Gamgee on 23 September 3018, the day after his fiftieth birthday.
Now 60 years is 60 years, whatever way you look at it but I suspect that only a few crucial events will be covered, taking the bulk on the screen time, and my feeling is that Aragorn's travels, Gandalf's journeys, maybe something of the Thorongil period (bringing in Denethor and Thengel) would be likely. And Gollum will be there as well, slipping out of the caves and seeking The Precious.
We may even meet the Balrog again!