Guillermo del Toro popped up at the Saturn Awards and Collider corned him for an interview about all kinds of things including his involvement with “The Hobbit” and his future projects while Deadline’s report that Peter Jackson is negotiating to take over directing duties of the Hobbit are lighting up the internet.
The Saturn Awards honor the best in science fiction, fantasy and horror which means del Toro is right at home and while walking the press line he stopped and talked about past present and future on video for about 20 minutes. He still hopes to make an announcement at or around Comic-Con about his next project and he talks a about working with Jackson, Fran Walsh, Phillipa Boyens, Weta Workshop, Alan Lee and John Howe. He even talks about his man cave and says his Comic-Con experience is like Sarah Jessica Parker in a shoe store. And, his is pretty funny! (“I dress like bleep, I drive an old car and I spend all my money on crazy art or toys.”)
TheOneRing.net has yet to get a confirmation of the Jackson report but Deadline is pretty solid and we promise to update as soon as we get official word one way or another. GDT compared talking about “The Hobbit,” to speaking about a girlfriend the day after a painful breakup.
Guillermo del Toro Talks THE HOBBIT, HELLBOY 3, FRANKENSTEIN, AT THE MOUNTAINS OF MADNESS, SATURN AND THE END OF DAYS from ColliderVideos on Vimeo.
Visitors to Westfield Manukau City may be shocked to find a fiery beast residing in the mall from Monday 28 June. Part of Westfield’s school holiday programme, Weta Workshop sculptor Kim Graham will be inspiring and educating up-and coming artists as she works in ‘The Dragon’s Lair’ on a ‘life-sized’ dragon sculpture. Kim will also be inviting young shoppers to lend a hand in bringing the creature to life. Kim will be demonstrating sculpting from 10am daily and encouraging children to help her as she works. While talking through the sculpting process, she will explain techniques & tools and reveal how movie magic happens. The dragon is currently a 5 foot 9 inch Plaster of Paris covered sculpture with one tonne of clay to be added over the next two weeks. More..
In a bit of non-news-news, Deadline Hollywood (and multiple other sites) recently posted: Almost one month after Guillermo del Toro dropped out of directing The Hobbit, Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson is in talks to helm the two films in the franchise. Story developing…
NYMag.com says that Neill Blomkamp will not direct a pair of ‘Hobbit’ movies to be produced by Peter Jackson. The online magazine cites an insider at William Morris Endeavor, Blomkamp’s agency, with the info that not only will he not be directing, he was never contacted by Warner Bros. or MGM.
TORn didn’t say Blomkamp would direct, only that a source claimed to have viewed a film breakdown and a lot of the sources info fit with other whispers from other sources. The shortest line between Blomkamp and the film would run though New Zealand and Jackson, not L.A. studios, but NYMag isn’t going to make the report unless its source is solid. Read the whole account right here.
We know Jackson will be in Los Angeles next week and have heard he is there now meeting with studios who are trying to get him to sit in the director’s chair. We have further heard some of his high-placed team is in London working on casting.
With all the Hobbit news flying around airwaves and websites, TheOneRing.net spoke with Fictional Frontiers about the process of breaking the news that Guillermo del Toro was leaving ‘The Hobbit’ and the possibilities of who might replace him and the state of things in general. You can listen to MrCere‘s interview that starts just before the 22 minute mark. Also featured are James Berardinelli of www.reelviews.net and finally the great author George R.R. Martin. Catch the whole show right here.
Perched upon a crossroads in the northwest of Middle-earth, the small town of Bree is a quiet village. In the center of town, the Prancing Pony Inn is a home away from home for weary travelers from distant lands. Looking for Gandalf the Grey, Frodo and his companions seek shelter from the Black Riders who have pursued them through the wilderness, but there is little rest to be found at the Inn this night. Unfriendly stares bear down on the fearful Hobbit party and the wizard fails to appear. Amid the sodden patrons and hooded strangers Frodo and his friends exchange fretful glances, while outside the terrifying Wraiths converge upon the town in search of their quarry. Just Released – edition size: ONLY 500 World Wide PRE ORDER NOW!