This news comes to us from the Hellboy messageboards, where Del Toro posts regularly, via Compa-Mighty:

    Q: So is The Hobbit with GDT official?

GDT: Whew- Not yet. BUT there has been a lot of movement. And for the last few weeks there has been a lot of creative / cast / crew / visual talks and agreements and we have witnessed great progress in areas that I cannot disclose or that have already leaked from other sources. I am dying to share news but I have to be patient and wait until the papers are done and my attachment is real. Nevertheless- a LOT of progress in defining the films, their cast and crew. And, may I add, we are all happily in synch about all creative aspects so far and all willing and eager to move forth. I cannot say more but if all´s well the time will come To talk of many things: Of shoes — and ships — and sealing wax — Of cabbages — and kings…(Quote from Lewis Carroll- Ed).

    Del Toro went on to say that he was swamped by the last push to finish Hellboy II, but LOTR fans could expect some news in two weeks time (this was posted on April 2, so very soon) and “a nice item at Comicon”.