Guillermo del Toro doubles up for 'The Hobbit'

maquiladora

From The Hollywood Reporter :

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Guillermo del Toro is in talks to direct back-to-back installments of J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Hobbit," which is being co-financed by New Line and MGM.

Few filmmakers have the cachet that del Toro has, as well as a deep love for the source material, an assured grasp of fantasy filmmaking and an understanding and command of geek culture as well as its respect. Del Toro has built that goodwill through such films as the Oscar-nominated "Pan's Labyrinth," "Hellboy," "Blade 2" (which was made by New Line) and "The Devil's Backbone."

Because of the strike, no writer has been hired to adapt Tolkien's children's classic, though that process will be fast-tracked once it's resolved. Del Toro and Jackson will oversee "Hobbit's" writing.

Principal photography for the films, which will be shot simultaneously, is tentatively set for 2009. The production budget is estimated at $150 million per film. The release of the first film is slated for 2010 and the second in 2011.


http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3i331d7d05b8008476b2fae087024a2b8e

projectmayhem

good news IMO. loved hellboy and thought pans labyrinth was out of this world. he could do something special with the hobbit. if jackson got it i would have been bored stupid

Necronomicon

Excellent news.

Kur4mA

Excellent news. This could be amazing if done right, and I completely trust Guillermo to do it.

Raekwon

Del Toro is an amazing director who makes visually stunning movies so I am absoluately delighted to read this news

johnny_ultimate

Certainly a good choice, although I'm still dubious about whether the second installment - said to be a new story set in Tolkien's world - will hold up. Will wait and see.

Tusky

Great choice. Hes get a wicked imagination.

Full_Circle

Ecxellenté. Just the news I wanted to hear!

Jack B. Badd

Wohoo!

Basq

Yaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!


















... I'm relatively pleased about this news!

MikeHoncho

This is the best man after Jackman for the job. Im delighted with this news.

CrazyTalk

Brilliant news!

maquiladora

Quick update : Del Toro has confirmed that he will be directing The Hobbit at a press conference in Paris for "The Orphanage".

Basq

Source for that maquiladora.. can't find anything about that online?

Jack Sheehan

Am I missing something here? Two films of the Hobbit?

maquiladora

basquille wrote: »

Source for that maquiladora.. can't find anything about that online?

http://www.tolkien-universe.com/news.php

http://www.elbakin.net/film/news/6322-Del-Toro-Confirme-Bilbo-Le-Hobbit

Frankmagnet

Its Official :D:D:D

http://movies.ign.com/articles/849/849112p1.html

Del Toro has yet to confirm anything. From what I've read an announcement was made by someone hosting the premier. There has been no official statement or confirmation form Del Toro or New Line, so I wouldn't get excited just yet. Though that siad, please God let it be true.

Jello

It's great news, he should bring a darker feel to the film as The Hobbit was more or less a children's book.

Petey2006

Del Toro's an excellent choice for The Hobbit. Obviously, in an ideal world, Jackson would be finishing the saga he started. But he's very busy on other projects, and the fact that he's still producing is encouraging. Del Toro's a fantastic visual director, and that's going to be essential for The Hobbit. And, while I'm not sure about this, Weta are going to be doing the special effects, and this too will ensure the film has the quality of Lord Of The Rings.

What the second film is going to be, however, is a bit of a mystery. An original story? I'm entrigued, but wary...

lodgepole

Jello wrote: »

It's great news, he should bring a darker feel to the film as The Hobbit was more or less a children's book.

What's good about that? Why does The Hobbit need a darker feel? it's a fantastic book, for children or anybody else. I hope Del Toro shows the same respect for the source that Jackson did.

maquiladora

Deleted User wrote: »

Del Toro has yet to confirm anything.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIvVc0BBEFQ

maquiladora

maquiladora wrote: »

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIvVc0BBEFQ

That's hardly concrete evidence of del Toro directing. It's a bunch of students asking questions while Del Toro politely smiles. Confirmation of Del Toro directing will some when New Line releases an official press release cementing his involvement.

maquiladora

Deleted User wrote: »

That's hardly concrete evidence of del Toro directing. It's a bunch of students asking questions while Del Toro politely smiles. Confirmation of Del Toro directing will some when New Line releases an official press release cementing his involvement.

From the video - Female Translator: "Today it is our pleasure to announce something that everyone was hoping for, Guillermo will direct ‘The Hobbit’"

maquiladora

maquiladora wrote: »

From the video - Female Translator: "Today it is our pleasure to announce something that everyone was hoping for, Guillermo will direct ‘The Hobbit’"

Del Toro has yet to confirm anything, nor has New Line. A female translator is not a viable souurce for major Hollywood news. I'm pretty sure if it was offical then Del Toro would have issued a statement or at least done more than smile and nod his head when it was mentioned.