Del Toro leaves Hobbit Project!

[jammi567]

http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2010/05/30/36920-guillermo-del-toro-departs-the-hobbit

No! At least he's going to finish writing the scripts, which is something. And, let's face it, it proberly was going to be inevitable eventually in light of all of the delays.

Let's hope that they can find someone just as good to replace him.

[Earniel]

Well, that is unfortunate. But I can see anyone bailing out if you signed up for three years and already you're looking at six years instead and you haven't even started.

[The Gaffer]

Hammer blow.

Will be gash if PJ ends up directing again.

[Coffeehouse]

My guess is that the director will be...




ta ta ta ta ta!!!




Peter Jackson.

It's a six-year production, and very few directors have the stomach, not to mention passion, to keep it going for that long. Jackson knows NZ and he's done it before.

And I think he would do a good job directing it. It's good that Del Toro will stay on contributing to the script though, I'm sure he will provide loads of his creative talent to the finished product.

[Jonathan]

Del Toro stated that he quits because he is already signed up to other projects. He hadn't anticipated the constant delays of the Hobbit production.
However like Del Toro, Jackson is also tied to other commitments in the years to come. I doubt we will see him direct the films. His manager says it is unlikely, too.

[Acalewia]

Tis a pity Del Toro bailed on the Hobbit. He's a great director and pays attenion to detail. From what I understand he has been planning his dream direct, Frankenstien, for years, plus he has a third Hellboy movie he wants to do. It would be funny if Jackson was given the reins again

[Gwaimir Windgem]

I doubt it will be Peter Jackson; after the fiasco between him and New Line, they'll probably want to minimize his role.

Honestly, I'm kinda glad Del Toro left. I think he's a fantastic director, but I really don't know that his style is suited to the Hobbit.

Of course, that leaves the question of who WILL direct. My misgivings about Del Toro's compatibility with the Hobbit aside, I don't know how likely they are to find someone better.

A friend of mine suggested that Werner Herzog should direct it; I'd totally pay to see that. :p

[EllethValatari]

So does this occurrence further postpone the first movie's release?

[hectorberlioz]

A friend of mine suggested that Werner Herzog should direct it; I'd totally pay to see that. :p

Didn't he die a few years ago?

In any case, I'm pretty uncomfortable again. I was OK with Del Toro. His comments about how The Hobbit was different in tone from LotR was right on, and I felt he was going in the right direction.

I am not going to be comfortable if they merely find a "serious" director with an Academy Award under his belt. I mean, sometimes serious directors really aren't serious when it comes to action/adventure-y stuff.

Also: I find this whole MGM thing pretty lame. I mean, the studio that has the Tolkien franchise now and the James Bond franchise...and they can't greenlight their biggest boxoffice draws? I wonder what movies they are releasing. At this point I think NewLine should have been the one to buy MGM, and not the other way around! :p

[Gwaimir Windgem]

Um, no? He pulled Joaquin Phoenix from a car wreck a few years ago; maybe that's what you're thinking of, but Herzog is still alive and filming.

[hectorberlioz]

Um, no? He pulled Joaquin Phoenix from a car wreck a few years ago; maybe that's what you're thinking of, but Herzog is still alive and filming.

No, I hadn't even heard of that!:eek:

Well, good for him. He's getting on though, I think, in age. I know he made a documentary film about Timothy Treadwell.

[GrayMouser]

Some speculation from Salon's film critic:

http://www.salon.com/entertainment/movies/the_hobbit/index.html?story=/ent/movies/film_salon/2010/06/01/who_will_direct_hobbit

[Gwaimir Windgem]

I'd gladly give up the "Hobbit" movie forever, in fact, if it meant getting to see del Toro's hypothetical versions of H.P. Lovecraft's "At the Mountains of Madness,"

Oh, I would totally make that trade.

[GrayMouser]

Oh, I would totally make that trade.

If it is possible to film Lovecraft, he might be the guy to pull it off.

[Gwaimir Windgem]

Either him or Herzog.

[BeardofPants]

I dislike Herzog.

[Gwaimir Windgem]

How can you not love this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7T8y5EPv6Y8)? ;)

Seriously, though, I lurvz. Fitzcarraldo, Nosferatu, and Aguirre Wrath of God are all works of genius. Some of his other stuff is more half-hearted (like the Loch Ness satire, and Rescue Dawn which just confused me).

[GrayMouser]

Rescue Dawn was by Herzog? :eek: When I saw it on cable I thought it was just some made for TV movie.

[BeardofPants]

I liked Nosferatu well-enough, but the other bits I've seen haven't really gelled with me. The BF keeps trying to make me watch other stuff, but that wrath one was a bit of a turn-off. Meh.

[Gwaimir Windgem]

Rescue Dawn was by Herzog? :eek: When I saw it on cable I thought it was just some made for TV movie.

I know! That's why it confused me so much; it was not Herzogian at all! :eek:

[Butterbeer]

Can't we just get Obama to insist BP buy out MGM? .. surely the owe us all that much?

[Insidious Rex]

If BP funded the movie youd end up with Smaug being the unappreciated misunderstood fire breathing monster sitting on his rightfully earned pile of treasure while the Dwarfs would become Gulf Shore shrimpers unfairly blaming Smaug for their losses. Poor Smaug! Cant he just get his old life back?!

[Butterbeer]

That sounds like it might be a joint BP and Osama Bin Laden production - :D

It'd be an interesting take on the story for sure ... still, it gives us an easy choice of Director - Michael Moore - LOL.

[shesabrandybuck]

Wait...what?! I really hope this doesn't affect the release date, I was really hoping for 2011!! Arghh, I guess I'll just have to wait. I was kind of excited to see Del Toro's interpretation, but I guess it's actually a blessing in disguise. I suppose we shall see what happens.

[Mark of Cenla]

I am bummed about the delay. What if the world really does end in 2012? ;)

[Morwen]

I'm actually quite relieved Del Toro isn't directing.

[Butterbeer]

How so? :)

[Morwen]

Not gonna lie, Pan's Labyrinth freaked me out a bit. :/

[Acalewia]

Morwen, That's G's style.

He was bummed himself that he had to step down. He was getting frustrated with all the delays. He wishes he didnt have too, but when the suits get their undies in a knot...

So is PJ taking the reins over again as I've heard.