With news landing over Memorial Day weekend that Guillermo del Toro had left “The Hobbit,” reaction from the web came immediately, even if it meant putting aside the BBQ and beer for a moment to parse the news. With the long weekend officially over, and the usual channels of inquiry beginning to open up, more details on emerging on the likelihood of Peter Jackson sitting in the director’s chair and it’s looking more and more unlikely (and we’ve already gone on at length why we think that won’t happen).
Jackson didn’t take too long to comment on whether or not he’ll direct the gestating picture saying over the weekend, “If that’s what I have to do to protect Warner Bros.’ investment, then obviously that’s one angle which I’ll explore,” while planting a seed of caution by adding “The other studios may not let me out of the contracts.” Those contracts certainly revolve around the very expensive “Tintin” films with the first one set to hit in late 2011, with the other is tentatively scheduled to arrive in 2012 (there’s been talk of a third film, but with the busy schedules of Jackson and Steven Spielberg, we don’t see this materializing anytime soon if at all).
With Paramount and Sony staking the film as a major tentpole earner on their future ledgers, we would wager they it will be very difficult for Jackson to squirm out of those commitments. However, it’s Jackson’s manager Ken Kamins that puts the final nail in that coffin telling Deadline Hollywood quite bluntly, “Peter has …obligations and commitments to other films that would make it impossible for him to direct ‘The Hobbit’ at this time, even if it was offered, which it hasn’t been” (it’s almost the same quote he gave Anne Thompson, but he now sounds unequivocal this time; he’s also spoken to EW and said the same).
But for every gray cloud, there is a silver lining as it appears Jackson has yet another project up his sleeve with Kamins adding mysteriously, “I’ve been quietly working on setting up a film for him to direct while Guillermo would have been directing ‘The Hobbit’.”
While this news might appear to seem new, it has apparently been the plan all along. Way back in August 2009, Jackson spoke with MTV about the plethora of upcoming projects on his plate and mentioned that he was planning to knock out a film while del Toro was shooting “The Hobbit.” While he kept details scarce, Jackson does say that he had “an original horror idea” not based on any books or previous material that he had in mind to shoot.
Bear in mind, this was almost year ago and that project may have changed shape, but regardless if he was still keeping an eye out for “a fun little project on the side, that’s not too big” to knock out, and if the pieces have quietly come into place, it may be another commitment that will be difficult to get out off.
But even then, that film might have to wait as the start date on “The Hobbit” gets pushed further and further. While the film still doesn’t have a greenlight from MGM, a source tells EW that a December 2010 start date has always been the plan and that del Toro’s exit doesn’t change anything, and whoever comes on board to fill the empty seat will be working with that same schedule in mind. Take that start date with a grain of salt: remember, the film has had a multiple, shifting start dates (just two weeks ago, a November start date was “announced“) and they are more likely advisory dates for the potential cast (who, incidentally, they can’t formally make offers to until a budget is approved) to keep their calendar than anything set in stone. “The Hobbit” is just likely not going in front of cameras until the MGM situation is sorted out and a budget is finalized.
There is no doubt that Peter Jackson will continue to be involved in “The Hobbit” in a major capacity as a screenwriter and producer, but his obligations will end there. With production now threatening not to start until 2011, he will already run into potential conflicts with the “Tintin 2” (if indeed the aim is to get into theaters by 2012) as well as over-seeing the post-production and marketing campaign for the first installment.
Lastly, a strong posit by the LATimes. “Random thought: I wonder if it’s a coincidence that James McAvoy, considered a likely choice for Bilbo Baggins, just signed on to star in “X-Men: First Class” — I wouldn’t be surprised if he made that move after a conversation with del Toro about the trajectory of things down in New Zealand.” The timing here is good and this is not unreasonable postulating.
The saga continues…..