Has Guillermo del Toro been oficially confirmed as the Director of 'The Hobbit'?

[romantico]

Posted: 4/1/08 at 10:37am

I keep reading movie blogs that say he is in fact the director and plans are moving forward. Then I read on Ian McKellen's website that he is in fact the director for the Hobbit. I just don't remember seeing an official statement from the studio or the press regarding this. Anyone know if the deal is 100% certain?

[Taryn]

Posted: 4/1/08 at 12:03pm

No, it's not official yet. It's just a lot of people (including Guillermo himself) really strongly support him being selected.

[tazber]

Posted: 4/1/08 at 12:21pm

I think it is official

[romantico]

Posted: 4/1/08 at 1:09pm

The imdb info was updated last December of 2007. A lot has happened since then, so thats why I was curious. Why hasn't the studio officially announced? I checked Variety and Hollywood Reporter and couldn't find anything which I think is odd.

[tazber]

Posted: 4/1/08 at 1:11pm

B/c there are some new lawsuits that have since cropped up (during the writer's strike). I think that the Tolkien estate is suing New Line (which now no longer exists) for unpaid royalties or something. MGM is brokering the settlement, but until they do everything is hush hush.

[romantico]

Posted: 4/1/08 at 2:03pm

I think I heard about this. Man, what is New Line's Problem? Did they think they could keep EVERYTHING from those films? I am glad Ian McKellen is going to be Gandalf and now it looks as if Howard Shore will be scoring the film. Only thing missing is Peter Jackson directing. Oh yeah, right.

http://www.aintitcool.com/node/36215

THE HOBBIT

Q: So has it come to pass, good Sir McKellen? Shall the dreaming masses with their musty books and their blackened pipes at long last hear those immortal words issue from under that famous nose? "Yes, yes, my dear sir-and I know your name, Mr. Bilbo Baggins. And you do know my name, though you don't remember that I belong to it. I am Gandalf, and Gandalf means me! To think I should have lived to be good-morninged by Belladonna Took's son, as if I was selling buttons at the door!" Looking about, I find I share the same hopes as millions of others, so I ask, a single query in a chorus... Will you again be our Gandalf in "The Hobbit" now that the deal is settled?

A: Yes I will, if Peter Jackson and I have anything to do with it, he being the producer and me being, on the whole, a very lucky actor. I've just read your quote out loud - fabulous speech.

God I love Ian!

http://www.mckellen.com/epost/lotr/080326.htm

[tazber]

Posted: 4/1/08 at 2:28pm

that is most definitely a bright spot romantico.
I assume Ian Holm is too old to reprise his role of Bilbo.

[romantico]

Posted: 4/1/08 at 5:05pm

I would LOVE to see Ian Holm back. If they start shooting by the end of the year, who knows? I was impressed with what they did in X-Men III. Even though I feel that film was an abomination to the original 2 (Thank You Brett RATner!)I was amazed at the technique used in the beginning of the film, the flashback of a young Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart. If they use a similar technique perhaps Ian Holm CAN reprise his role as Bilbo Baggins. I would LOVE that more than anything. I can't remember which characters were in the Fellowship of the Rings that were also in The Hobbit (besides Gollum, Bilbo, and Gandalf)but would love to see the same actors come back.

Once Indiana Jones comes out and Star Trek I will begin obsessing with the Hobbit 24/7!!!

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 4/1/08 at 5:39pm

I saw the Lord of the Rings musical in London a couple of weeks ago. I feared the worst, but actually enjoyed it much more than the films (I fell asleep during the second and third films). I do hope del Toro directs The Hobbit, my favorite of the stories. I loved The Devil's Backbone and Pan's Labyrinth. I just hope it is less than 3 hours long.

[romantico]

Posted: 4/1/08 at 6:53pm

I hear the Hobbit may be broken up in to two films.

[Taryn]

Posted: 4/1/08 at 7:30pm

It's a little more complicated than being broken into two films. One film will encompass the events in The Hobbit and the other would serve as a bridge between that and Fellowship of the Ring. I'm really not sure how I feel about that part.

I doubt Ian Holm will be back. It was one thing to give him that sort've temporary face-lift via makeup for the one flashback in FotR, but, in all honesty, he's probably just not young enough for the physicality that's going to go on. It's an adventure story.

I think the only character not mentioned who is in both books is Elrond. (Although you could conceivably have Legolas, because they get captured by the elves of Mirkwood, which is where he's from.) One of the dwarves in the book is actually Gimli's father (Gloin).

Of course, if Jackson and Walsh are going to be creating a bridge between the books, that opens possibilities for who could be involved. I'd imagine Aragorn and Saruman would both be very possible.