The buzz across the web today has been that Guillermo del Toro may be close to being chosen to helm the upcoming two Hobbit films.
Peter Jackson and New Line ended their feud recently, and Jackson signed on to produce the project, but unfortunately won't be available to direct for some time into the future. He felt it would be better to go ahead with a new director, rather than wait till he was available.
At this time he's working on "The Lovely Bones," and also has agreed to direct a series of Tintin movies with Steven Spielberg.
Assuming del Toro is the final choice to direct, the immediate concerns of a number of fans is if he made turn the story into a much darker version of the Hobbit, based on the body of work he's directed in the past.
That was my immediate reaction as well, and I think a legitimate one. If he is chosen and were to do that, it would lose a lot of fans, as the Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings trilogy were definitely a different genre than that.
Hopefully with the influence of Jackson, that wouldn't happen.
Let's face it though, most fans would prefer Jackson far beyond anyone else that would do it. So there will be the inevitable comparisons and disappointments no matter who takes the job. They'll have to live with that when making their decision.
As far as the project itself, principal photography should begin sometime in 2009, and potential release dates of 2010 and 2011 are being thrown around. Estimates are the cost of the films will be about $150 million each.
» Guillermo del Toro Confirmed Landing "The Hobbit" Gig from BizofShowBiz
At the French premiere of "The Orphanage," when the host introduced Guillermo del Toro, he confirmed that he had officially been handed the reins of "The Hobbit.""Today is a big day because we are announcing what everyone wante... [Read More]
Tracked on: February 3, 2008 1:24 AM | Permalink to Trackback