There is a lot of buzz in the Tolkien community with the news yesterday that Del Toro was in ‘talks’ to direct the two ‘Hobbit’ films. Unfortunately a majority of the buzz is a case of bad reporting – as many have taken the title from the Hollywood Reporter article (‘Del Toro doubles up for ‘Hobbit”) as an official announcement. However, read the first sentence and we see he is not confirmed, only in ‘talks.’ Now another rumor has surfaced that Del Toro has verbally confirmed he will be directing both films during a screening of his new movie ‘The Orphanage.’ This news has surfaced on a French Tolkien website, which may be another case of lost in translation! So is it Del Toro or What? We don’t know – but we’re working hard to find out. If anything has been officially said by Del Toro we probably can expect announcement pretty soon! [Original Hollywood Reporter Article] [First Del Toro Rumor] [More Confirmation Rumors]
Category: Director Rumors
I know there are a lot of different opinions in the LOTR community about who (if not PJ) should direct ‘The Hobbit’ films, but this reporter is hoping Guillermo Del Toro is on the short list! A new Hollywood Reporter article states:
“Guillermo del Toro is in talks to direct back-to-back installments of J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Hobbit,” which is being co-financed by New Line and MGM. Del Toro’s name was on a short list of directors who could tackle the project, one of the most anticipated literary adaptations of the past decade.“
This should make a lot of Ringers happy, as Del Toro came in second place on our informal Director poll. [See Poll Archives] [Hollywood Reporter Article]
Karl Urban, Eomer, has chimed in on his thoughts about the upcoming ‘Hobbit’ films in a recent TVGuide.com interview. When asked if he can imagine a Hobbit film in any other director’s hands, Karl answers, “Well, he (Peter Jackson) did such an overwhelmingly fantastic job with that trilogy, it’s hard to conceive of anybody laying their fingerprints on it.” [Read More]
In the eventuality that Peter Jackson does not direct ‘The Hobbit’ films, our new poll asks the question, who should? The poll on the right side of this page gives you a chance to vote for three of your favorite directors. Once you’ve voted, discuss it on our message boards with fellow Ringers! (Thanks to Annael for the original poll idea)
TORn Forum member Diedye sends us a link to an article at Portfolio.com which furthers the idea that Peter Jackson will not be directing ‘The Hobbit’ films. The article describes the series of events that brought about the resolution between PJ and New Line, as well as listing the projects and committments Peter Jackson has over the next few years. [Read Full Article]
Side Rant: Our current poll (located on the right side of this page) seems to imply that nearly 90% of fandom out there would like Peter Jackson to direct AND are are willing to wait a little bit for it to happen. While yes, the poll is not scientific, it is a good measure of the general will of Tolkien fandom. As someone in that 90%, I can only hope the flexibility exists for PJ to direct the next installments of the best fantasy film series in history!
In an article talking about Sam Raimi’s next film, ‘Drag Me to Hell,’ Variety seems to imply, with some authority, that Sam Raimi is going to be taking the reigns of ‘The Hobbit’ after that films completion:
“After “Drag Me to Hell,” Raimi is expected to go right back up the mountaintop and take the helm of “The Hobbit” films for New Line and MGM now that Peter Jackson has made it clear he won’t direct.”
Raimi has long been rumored to be in line to direct ‘The Hobbit’ films, but this ‘expectation’ from an industry publication seems to put some weight behind it. [Read Full Article]