It almost seems that the San Diego Comic-Con becomes the center of the entertainment Universe for a few days. Maybe it does. We were there presenting a panel, meeting fellow fans, conducting trivia, grooming sources, hanging out and watching the celebration of popular arts. Despite pen stabbings, incredible (or impossible) lines and vexing shuttle buses, it remains an incredible experience.
TORn was among the very first panels to kick the week off and it helped produce a torrent of film industry folks and fans who wanted to touch base on ‘The Hobbit’ films.
As we all know from his elequent recent departure from The Hobbitproduction, Guillermo del Toro still has very strong feelings regarding the future of these films.
“As a fan, I hope those movies get made,” del Toro mentioned to an audience at ComicCon during a Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark presentation. He added “And I hope to God Peter Jackson directs them. They’re beautiful and they’re needed in the world.”
The situation at MGM is believed to be the main obstacle for getting The Hobbit off the ground. But the production could ramp up reasonably quickly with del Toro noting that 98 percent of the first movie is already designed along with approximately half of the second one.
Update: thanks to message board member Theodred for finding a short clip of an interview with Guillermo at Comic Con where he discusses this topic. View the video at mtv.com.
Update: There is another exclusive interview with Guillermo del Toro discussing the same topic, including additional comments on The Hobbit. Read the entire article at Deadline | Hollywood.
In his first move since deciding not to direct “The Hobbit” movies, Guillermo del Toro has decided to bring Disney’s Haunted Mansion ride to the big screen.
Del Toro announced his involvement in the project today at Comic-Con in a surprise appearance at the end of the “Tron” session. Before his appearance, he offered The Hollywood Reporter an exclusive account of how the project came together.
Del Toro, who checked out of “The Hobbit” in May because of ongoing production delays, will co-write and produce the movie, to be called “The Haunted Mansion.” He may direct the film as well. Read More…
Not only will TheOneRing.net present a panel Thursday at Comic-Con, we will be running a series of games and contests from the Weta booth #2615 (the corner of the Dark Horse pavilion). Prizes have been donated from Weta, Badali Jewelry and author Ethan Gilsdorf. Thursday will kick things off with a digital scavenger hunt (bring those digital cameras!) Instructions and sign-in will be available following the TORn panel back on the dealer’s floor, set to kick off at 12:30 p.m. with some fantastic prizes including items like: LOTR mini Shields, LOTR stone pendants, a map of New Zeland as Middle-earth, Red Eye of Sauron pins, and Weta and TheOneRing.net shirts (styles to be determined), geek tags (including custom TORn tags!). Each day another TORn contest will be held including “Hobbit” auditions and Tolkien Trivia! And, come say hi to staffers Quickbeam, Deej and MrCere hanging out with Weta. And of course, we will update from the greatest popular culture celebration in the world with news, notes and interviews!
July 14 (Bloomberg) — Lions Gate Entertainment Corp., the independent film and TV producer, has approached creditors of ailing Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. to help shape a plan to acquire the studio, two people with knowledge of the situation said. Lions Gate Vice Chairman Michael Burns has been meeting in New York with investors who hold some of MGM’s $3.7 billion debt, according to the people, who requested anonymity because the discussions are private. More..
It almost seems that the San Diego Comic-Con becomes the center of the 
