ROTTEN TOMATOES: Guillermo Del Toro in Talks to Direct Back-to-Back Hobbit Films!

Guillermo Del Toro in Talks to Direct Back-to-Back Hobbit Films!

Slated for release in 2010 and 2011.

by Alex Vo | January 28, 2008

After the past few weeks' spate of bad news (and weather), have we got some silver lining for you: our preciousss is in motion to return to the big screen. Now that Peter Jackson has kissed and made up with the studios, New Line and MGM are in talks with Guillermo del Toro to direct two, simultaneously shot installments of The Hobbit!

A quick recap for those just joining us: Jackson was originally interested in adapting The Hobbit, but a very loud, very public squabble over profits between Jackson and New Line Studios for the Lord of the Rings trilogy put the kibosh on that project. The two parties reconciled their differences last December and Jackson, busy with The Lovely Bones and Tintin, joined The Hobbit as executive producer with creative control.

And now del Toro is in talks to direct the back-to-back Hobbit movies, each budgeted at $150 million (substantially higher than any of the Lord of the Rings movies). Filming will begin in 2009, with release dates currently set for 2010 and 2011. Currently, del Toro is putting the final touches on Hellboy II: The Golden Army. He was previously announced to begin work on 3993, a dramatic horror movie written by The Orphanage scribe Sergio G. Sanchez, and it's unknown how The Hobbit will affect that movie's production.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

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(1-20 of 94 posts) | Reply

Dooud writes:
on Jan 28 2008 11:32 AM

this would be really great

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Jen Yamato writes:
on Jan 28 2008 11:35 AM

Awesome! If not Jackson, or Raimi, then surely del Toro makes a suitable third choice...

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Tahoejugglaz writes:
on Jan 28 2008 11:47 AM

Thats a relief...I wasn't sure what would happen if Raimi did it, Del Toro will actually put his heart into these movies

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iankusc writes:
on Jan 28 2008 11:52 AM

Sure Del Toro can likely pull it off, but directing this behemoth would likely mean his long-promised adaptation of "In the Mountains of Madness" will never see the light of day. Bummer, that.

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pom_pom288 writes:
on Jan 28 2008 11:54 AM

Poor Sam Raimi. I'm sure he regrets Spider-Man 3 now.

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arendr writes:
on Jan 28 2008 11:57 AM

Del Toro is the best choice if Jackson doesn't direct, IMO.

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ajkalan writes:
on Jan 28 2008 12:02 PM

Please make it happen. If anyone other than Jackson has to direct the films, del Toro surely has to be at the top of the list.

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Bardego writes:
on Jan 28 2008 12:05 PM

Guillermo has been the best rumored choice I've heard since Peter Wier was discussed last year.

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dahluzz writes:
on Jan 28 2008 12:10 PM

In reply to this comment (#1533227)
at first i thought jackson was the only person capable of doing the tolkien world justice, but that's really a narrowminded viewpoint. his interpretation was well executed, if not entirely faithful, but it's only one take on the material.

While I think it's necessary that Jackson produce, in order to maintain the styling in terms of weapons, costumes and certain effects from LOTR (thorugh WETA workshop), I would hope somebody else would direct because of the change in tone from LOTR to the Hobbit. Not to say PJ wouldn't do it justice, but let's see what someone else can do with this mythology.

Indeed someone qualified, NOT Sam Raimi. exactly what has he done that would make people think he can handle this? aside from his cult status among horror fans for the evil dead movies, the most impressive films on his resume are a simple plan and spider-man 2. to me, none of those bear much relevance when we're talking about the hobbit. Not to mention that his last film, spiderman 3, was an abomination for which he must first regain his credibility.

Rather than a third choice, I see del toro as one of the top two choices, second only to alfonso cuaron, who has proven he can do best-selling fantasy book adaptations (harry potter 3, the most watchable of any of them) as well as an oscar-calibur epic that pioneered various technical approaches to cinematography (children of men).

to me, cuaron is the clear choice. del toro is getting attention for this based primarily on pan's labrynth, and righfully so. but he'll have to crank down the violence (to me, one of the most over-blown and unattractive elements of pan's) in order to make this work for a wide audience.

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arendr writes:
on Jan 28 2008 12:14 PM

Yes, Cuaron would be great too.

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Oblivioncry writes:
on Jan 28 2008 12:15 PM

so are they dividing the hobbit into two parts or is one of the film set in the time in between LOTR and the Hobbit containing some original material?

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Ruckas356 writes:
on Jan 28 2008 12:44 PM

wow jackson and del toro!

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harrismonkey writes:
on Jan 28 2008 12:46 PM

I guess we knew this was coming (the Jackson not doing it part), but I'm still not sure I'd call it good news.

Oh well, this is a missed oportunity for sure. But hopefully we'll still get some decent movies out of it.

I sometimes think Del Toro gets a bit more love than he deserves (at least so far, hellboy and pan's labrynth are certainly solid films), but he's certainly a respectable choice.

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nogard46 writes:
on Jan 28 2008 01:01 PM

oh great!

Hobbittos aqui Hobbitos ayer, no mas hobbitos hablamos espaniol por favor.

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theginsengtree writes:
on Jan 28 2008 01:10 PM

In reply to this comment (#1533468)
I can see where you are coming from, I mean Jackson did an incredible job with LOTR and this will certainly be a big step up for Del Toro (then again, it was for Jackson too), but from what I've read of the Hobbit, it has a lighter quality than LOTR and as long as Jackson has creative control, I can see the qualities of Del Toro's Pan's Labyrinth work giving The Hobbit that special touch.

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Scarborough Fair writes:
on Jan 28 2008 01:17 PM

I wouldn't put Raimi ahead of del Toro here. But del Toro will have to pull back the reigns on his current 'themes'.

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jpotter writes:
on Jan 28 2008 01:27 PM

well, it gives me a little more hope about what still seems like a bad idea. but i have to admit i'm bummed this probably means del toro couldn't direct the final harry potter movie...

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theginsengtree writes:
on Jan 28 2008 01:36 PM

In reply to this comment (#1533671)
Make that movie(s) if the rumor that they'll split it up is hopefully true.

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Shatter24 writes:
on Jan 28 2008 01:39 PM

I think Raimi could have done a good job w/ the Hobbit films. Spiderman 3 was the highest grossing film of last year, b/c people generally liked it. Even critics were split on the film, 1/2 and 1/2. Spidey 3 is much maligned now, but people will eventually look back and appreciate it.

What if Hellboy II bombs for Del Toro? The studio will probably back away from him. Let's be honest, Hellboy was not his best work, and was only a modest financial success. I think Del Toro is talented, but he will have to ease back on the gore a little (not too much) for the Hobbit. I would be happy with either Raimi or Del Toro. They are equally as capable.

Cuaron would be in over his head. Harry Potter III was my least favorite, had a lot of material cut out, and a little over stylized to match the other films in the series. Children of Men was ok, not heavy on special effects, and was languidly paced at the beginning.

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Laughing_bun writes:
on Jan 28 2008 02:06 PM

excellent choice, i cant think of anyone better to do it.

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