Del Toro To Direct The Hobbit...

[THUGGEDOUT]

Glad to hear this, I love his films so we should not be disappointed...

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Mexican filmmaker Guillermo del Toro was named on Thursday to direct two movies based on the J.R.R. Tolkien book "The Hobbit" to build on the blockbuster success of "The Lord of the Rings" series.

Plans to make a two-part precursor to "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy, based on Tolkien's three-volume follow-up to his "Hobbit" story, were announced in December after settlement of a bitter legal dispute cleared the way for the project.

Del Toro, whose credits include "Pan's Labyrinth" and "Blade II," will move to New Zealand for the next four years to work on both "Hobbit" films with executive producer Peter Jackson, who directed all three "The Lord of the Rings" movies, according to New Line Cinema and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios.

The studios have said that filming will begin in 2009, with tentative release dates set of 2010 for the first film and 2011 for the sequel.

SOURCE (http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080425/film_nm/hobbit_dc;_ylt=Alc0fzh70t_lmXKa9Xgd6EiRG78C)

[lalaland]

I love the fact that del Toro is becoming more mainstream. Time was people would be like "...who?" but now, and particularly once his upcoming films come out, people will actually recognize the name. As well they should! I was addicted to flipping through his sketchbook on the Pan's Labyrinth site before it came out... his creative process is so freaking cool.

Anyone else kind of wanna see what he'd do with a superhero movie? :rolleyes:

[daevv]

I'd still rather Peter Jackson as his vision of Middle Earth is what I want The Hobbits to look like but thats Hollywood for ya.

[Demonbear]

Well the novels are quite different anyways, its not the same tone, so in a way it's good to have another director, especially a very visual one, to bring his own pace.

Btw Mckellan said he'd be Gandalf in this movie also, so it kinda ties the movies together.

[Nuvian]

im happy he is directing it,Pan's Labyrinth was an awsome movie,and i did enjoy hellboy aswell.

[lalaland]

Btw Mckellan said he'd be Gandalf in this movie also, so it kinda ties the movies together.


I'm excited for Sir Ian to return. I figure even if somehow it's horrible, it'll be worth it to see him as Gandalf again.

That said, I can't imagine the movie sucking. I love del Toro's work.