Del Toro was apparently on a shortlist of directors – which we can assume included “Spider-Man” director Sam Raimi – that were being considered for the part, but apparently now is the front-runner according to the Hollywood Reporter.
‘The Hobbit’ had been in limbo for months after LOTR director Peter Jackson sued New Line in 2005 over millions in allegedly missed fee opportunities, and a bitter, bitter feud ensued between studio and director, but the acrimonious stalemate was resolved in December of last year when all litigation was settled and Jackson was named the executive-producer of the projects.
When asked about the rumors two days after the suit was resolved, Del Toro told Entertaiment Weekly that he had heard “rumblings,” but nothing concrete enough to get his hopes up.
“You know, I think I’ve been abroad too long. I’ve heard some rumblings, but nothing official. I don’t want to think about it because it’s such an eventuality. It’s the only Tolkien book I read. I tried my best to read Lord of the Rings, the trilogy. I could not. I could not. They were very dense. And then one day, I bought The Hobbit. I read it and I loved it. So it would be a privilege. But listen, I wish I knew. At this stage, after ‘Hellboy II,’ I’m unemployed. [Laughs]”
Sam Raimi was once considered the forerunner on the project and told MTV in October of 2007 that “If [Jackson] didn’t want to direct it, and he was producing it, then I would love to be considered for the project.” Alfonso Cuaron (“Children of Men”) was also a name once thrown around.
Two Hobbit Films?
As for the story of the “The Hobbit,” one book, but yet two films? Is that odd?
Yes and no. It could be disastrous or wonderful, depending on what kind of LOTR fan you are. One ‘Hobbit’ film will actually be a straight adaptation of the Tolkien novel, the second movie will take place amid the 60 years that happened between ‘The Hobbit’ and ‘The Lord of the Rings,’ some of it likely taken from “The Silmarillion,” and some of it apparently to be pure invention from Peter Jackson and his co-writer Fran Walsh (this is where’s it’s either disastrous or wonderful part enters the picture – remember there is quite a bit of reinvention in the LOTR trilogy and ‘Silmarillion’ is notriously known as a snoozefest.)
The plus side for hard-core fans of the original trilogy, is that an invention could see the return of ‘LOTR’ characters like Aragorn, Frodo and many of the well-adored original principal cast. In September 2007, Jackson told AICN, that he would “love to work with Viggo Mortensen again [possibly by having] Aragorn protecting the Shire.” Many of the original cast said if they were asked back, they would say yes in a heartbeat. “If I’m asked to go back and revisit that character and it makes sense, I would love to. I would absolutely love to,” Elijah Wood recentyl told MTV.
Each picture is said to be budgeted around $150 million, with filming scheduled for both films in 2009 with a 2010 release date for the first installment. There’s also small talk that Jackson could direct the second ‘Hobbit’ film if the timing fell into place.
