IT'S OFFICIAL: Guillermo del Toro to direct 'Hobbit'

[gatorboy]

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117984595.html?categoryid=13&cs=1

In a major step forward on “The Hobbit,” Guillermo del Toro has signed on to direct the New Line-MGM tentpole and its sequel.

The widely expected announcement -- which had been rumored for several weeks -- came Thursday afternoon jointly from exec producers Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh, New Line president Toby Emmerich, and Mary Parent, newly named chief of MGM’s Worldwide Motion Picture Group.

Del Toro’s moving to New Zealand for the next four years to work with Jackson and his Wingnut and Weta production teams. He’ll direct the two films back to back, with the sequel dealing with the 60-year period between “The Hobbit” and “The Fellowship of the Ring,” the first of the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy.

New Line is overseeing development and will manage production. Both pics are being co-produced and co-financed by New Line Cinema and MGM, with Warner Bros. distributing domestically and MGM handling international.

[hyphenate]

1. I saw that!

Glad to hear it for del Toro!

I'm kinda glad in another way--he was supposed to pen and direct a film version of an old Brit series, The Champions, one of my alltime favorites. He's principled enough to have done a decent job, but I rail against movie remakes of old shows. Especially when it's a favorite.

OTOH, the rights are owned by that sleaze-ass, Tom Cruise, so it's likely someone else will have a shot at it. I personally can't stand when movie stars option such fare as vehicles for themselves, especially when they don't have the talent or ability to do the role justice.

[Beregond2]

2. Very good news.

He has a wonderful way with fantasy. I suspect he will honor Tolkien's intentions far more than Jackson did. I'm a bit baffled by the idea of a movie covering the period between Hobbit and LOTR though. There is no existing story set in that period. About all that happens is, Bilbo gets old and Frodo grows up.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

3. Agreed

I believe that there are a couple of compendiums of information about some of the "history" of Middle Earth before, during, and after "The Hobbit" and the subsequent trilogy (including some facts and events not featured directly in any of the stories) written by Tolkien called "The Simarillon" (sp?) and "Unfinished Tales" (collected and edited by Tolkien's son) but I don't believe that there were any "sequels" of "The Hobbit" or stories set between "The Hobbit" and the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy per se. It will be interesting to see what they come up with but it doesn't make much sense to me how they will be able to pull a story (that I don't think even exists) out of that particular time period or with the information provided by the compendiums. Or are they splitting "The Hobbit" into two movies (as previously rumored) like they are doing with the final Harry Potter story? I am excited that they will be adapting "The Hobbit" however. I'm REALLY glad that they are going to be able to get Ian McKellan back as Gandalf.

[semillama]

4. The Hobbit will be one film, the other is the "lost years" film. n/t

Bring on Smaug!!!

and of course, MORE GOLLUM!!! MORE DWARVES!!! Yippee!

[truebrit71]

5. I think I read somewhere that it will just be the Hobbit split into two films...

...

[semillama]

7. That was the original rumor, but the latest information from Jackson and Del Toro

state that the Hobbit is one film, and the other film is the "50 year gap" film.

[truebrit71]

8. ...in that case I will have to make sure to miss the second one...

...I have no interest in watching a "Peter Jackson Gone Wild in Middle Earth" type movie...

Stick to what was written or leave it alone...

[terryg11]

6. yeah, there are no actual stories

between the the Hobbit and Fellowship but much takes place that as you have already stated is outlined by Tolkein in other works. I think they could fashion quite a good movie out of those, the almanac that I have in the back of one of my Return editions is fascinating.

Methinks you are correct, that the Hobbit will be two movies

[verges]

11. Gandalf

Gandalf's adventure's determining what the Ring actually is?

[companionnow]

9. Huh?

i've heard of Benicio del Toro. But Guillermo?

[gatorboy]

10. Benicio del Toro is the actor (Sin City, Snatch, Wolf Man).

Guillermo del Toro is the director (Of the films Pan's Laberynth, Hellboy, Blade II, etc.)
Benicio del Toro is the actor (Sin City, Snatch, Wolf Man).