Del Toro Directing Both HOBBIT Films

[Zer0-Sum]

Guillermo del Toro has been on the rumored short list to direct the Hobbit films and apparently, it's all but confirmed now that he will be in charge alongside producer Peter Jackson. The Hollywood Reporter says that he is in talks to helm back-to-back installments of the J.R.R Tolkien novels, which will be co-financed by MGM and New Line.

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.

Del Toro is wrapping up the post-production for Hellboy II:The Golden Army and has a few projects on the horizon like a new adaptation of Frankenstein and an update of the Cthulhu Mythos with the upcoming adaptation of H.P Lovecraft's At The Mountains of Madness.

http://www.mania.com/57266.html

:rockon::rockon::rockon::rockon:THIS RULES!!!!! Pan's Labyrinth kicked ASS. I am happy that Jackson got a director that understands fantasy like he does. I cannot wait for these movies to come out.:worthy:

[Travis]

Good news, indeed.

[Zer0-Sum]

HELL'S YAH!!!!:pinky:

[Coded-Dude]

Meaning Sam Raimi can stick with Spider-Man....this is definitely good news. He said he wouldn't mind if a new director took Spider-Man in a whole new direction(start from scratch), but I would rather see them further the current character. I'd like to see Toby come back and have an epic battle with Venom in the next movie. Which probably wouldn't have happened with Raimi out.

[Pro A.]

Good, good. Del Toro is a really imaginative filmmaker and he knows how to entertain (Hellboy) and he knows how to make thought-provoking films (Pan, as mentioned). Now he can combine them. I imagine the Hobbit films will be particularly gothic and littered with style.

[Gummy]

I love Del Toro's creatures, it's very animated.
I'm looking forward to see it on this film, and also the character development.

Great news indeed.

[the poe collector]

This news is most excellent. I was hoping Del Toro would be the one to get the job.

[Negativity]

2010?

That's in sooooo long.

[seahorse]

i wonder if it'll be the same bilbo

[Zer0-Sum]

i wonder if it'll be the same bilbo

That is the word in the rumor mill. That both Sir Ian Holm(Bilbo) is coming back. he is actually younger than then he looked in LOTR as they artificially aged him.

Sir Ian McKellen is also coming back as Gandalf too. he is still going string he says and wants to play Ganldalf the Grey again. He likes The Grey better than the White. he said for him it is a much more complex character to act as.

[Pro A.]

But still... Ian Holm has gotta be close to 70 or so, if not more because he looked old as Ash waaay the hell back in 1979 when he was in Alien.

[Blaksmoke]

As long as McKellen, Holm and Serkis are back, I don't care who directs this thing.

Well that's not completely true, but you know what I mean.

[LiquidEagle]

:laugh: I just watched the episode of Extras last night with Sir Ian McKellen in it, so funny