Guillermo del Toro in Talks to Direct Back-to-Back Hobbit Films!

[Yautja]

Don't know if this one has been posted yet but here it is anyway:

After the past few weeks' spate of bad news (and weather), have we got some silver lining for you: our preciousss is in motion to return to the big screen. Now that Peter Jackson has kissed and made up with the studios, New Line and MGM are in talks with Guillermo del Toro to direct two, simultaneously shot installments of The Hobbit!


A quick recap for those just joining us: Jackson was originally interested in adapting The Hobbit, but a very loud, very public squabble over profits between Jackson and New Line Studios for the Lord of the Rings trilogy put the kibosh on that project. The two parties reconciled their differences last December and Jackson, busy with The Lovely Bones and Tintin, joined The Hobbit as executive producer with creative control.

And now del Toro is in talks to direct the back-to-back Hobbit movies, each budgeted at $150 million (substantially higher than any of the Lord of the Rings movies). Filming will begin in 2009, with release dates currently set for 2010 and 2011. Currently, del Toro is putting the final touches on Hellboy II: The Golden Army. He was previously announced to begin work on 3993, a dramatic horror movie written by The Orphanage scribe Sergio G. Sanchez, and it's unknown how The Hobbit will affect that movie's production.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

http://au.rottentomatoes.com/m/10007.../news/1705836/

[181]

Sweet, he did Pan's Labyrinth. I liked that style.

[Blubaru]

As long as it's not in spanish

[reiella]

Del Toro is a great director, but umm, directing Hobbit?

[RUR]

Originally Posted by reiella

Del Toro is a great director, but umm, directing Hobbit?

Right-O, though there are dissenting opinions.

Earlier thread here: https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread...831#post556831

[reiella]

Originally Posted by RUR

Right-O, though there are dissenting opinions.

Earlier thread here: https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread...831#post556831

*nod* Fair points, he is a good director, and I like his work, just doesn't feel right for Hobbit, will give it a fair shot though should it come, but does produce a bit of hesitance.

[Dotpattern]

Originally Posted by reiella

Del Toro is a great director, but umm, directing Hobbit?

You know how many people thought the same thing about Jackson when it was announced he was directing LOTR?

None of his previous films, especially Bad Taste or Heavenly Creatures (brilliant, btw), would have made you think of Hobbits or Middle Earth.

[RUR]

Originally Posted by reiella

*nod* Fair points, he is a good director, and I like his work, just doesn't feel right for Hobbit, will give it a fair shot though should it come, but does produce a bit of hesitance.

Seems we're in a minority. Toddled over to theonering.net to see what the truly hardcore had to say and, unsurprisingly, they have a poll asking whom they would like to direct. #2 after Fran Walsh is......Guillermo del Toro.
http://www.theonering.net/torwp/pollsarchive/

If The Faithful have faith, perhaps we should, too!

[Midnightsailor]

Del Toro is amazing. I'm sure if he directs the Hobbit movies, they will be too.

[zombieking]

Originally Posted by Midnightsailor

Del Toro is amazing. I'm sure if he directs the Hobbit movies, they will be too.

Yeah, and the article states Peter Jackson has creative input as well, so The Hobbit should hopefully retain the visual style with WETA doing all the effects. Sounds like a sure thing!

[davidPS3]

These should be good. With Jackson back on board, it can only be great!

[Kayne314]

The best of the Star Wars Franchise IMHO was Empire Strikes Back, Directed by Irvin Kershner. Executive Producer was George Lucas. Yet Lucas gets the praise because he had creative control.

Guillermo del Toro is a very good director. Peter Jackson knows the world. I think this combo could be excellent.

I cant wait to watch it!

[reiella]

Originally Posted by Dotpattern

You know how many people thought the same thing about Jackson when it was announced he was directing LOTR?

None of his previous films, especially Bad Taste or Heavenly Creatures (brilliant, btw), would have made you think of Hobbits or Middle Earth.

And in the same breath, I'm somewhat glad it's someone other than Jackson on Hobbit...

I'm already a bit baffled and confused at turning it into a two part movie...

But I think I just have that it's a kid's story stuck foremost in my head.

[jkwest]

Amazing news!!!

He will know how to bring enough darkness into the storyline in this one...

Perfect choice, IMO.

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by Blubaru

As long as it's not in spanish

As long as he doesn't try to work Franco fascism into this story.

[w_tanoto]

seems it would be good. I loved pan's labyrinth so much (except the sadistic moment of that evil stepdad)

[Geech]

http://www.bigpictureradio.com/2008/...ect-peter.html

It seems natural for Guillermo del Toro to take over where Peter Jackson left off, and now The Hollywood Reporter says a deal for Del Toro to direct back-to-back installments of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit could happen very soon.

In addition to being one of the most in demand directors alive - not to mention on of the very few who so closely resembles Milton from Office Space - Del Toro is also a wise choice sylistically. His work on the Oscar-nominated Pan's Labyrinth revealed his storytelling abilities more than previous efforts, but even in Blade 2 you could tell you were watching the work of someone unique.

Since the December resolution of a bitter lawsuit between New Line and Jackson over residual payments for the Lord of the Rings trilogy, Hobbit has been on a fast track. Jackson will produce, but has no time to direct or write, due to other commitments.

As with the Rings trilogy, the Hobbit films will be shot simultaneously, according to the Reporter. It's a $300 million safe bet for New Line, who will see the films go into production next year, assuming the writers strike doesn't drag out another six or eight months, with the films to be released in 2010 and 2011.

And somewhere, there's a guy dressed up in character already waiting in line.

[glenn22]

Nice! I'm a huge fan of Guillermo Del Toro

[nhaase]

I had read on rottentomatoes last month that is was down to him, Alfonso Cuaron (director of Pan's Labyrinth), and Sam Raimi. I don't like Spiderman, and even if I did, I think that two people who made Pan's are better suited for this project, so needless to say, I'm very happy with this.

[phranctoast]

Sam Raimi is working on a different Fantasy Series for Disney. I believe its called wizards first rule