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THE HOBBIT NEWS

Officially Announced: Guillermo del Toro is Off of The Hobbit!

by Alex Billington
May 30, 2010
Source: TheOneRing.net

Holy crap this is big. It was announced by Peter Jackson & Guillermo del Toro today on TheOneRing that del Toro will no longer direct The Hobbit, but will still co-write the screenplays. "Out of respect to the legions of loyal Tolkien fans," they broke the news on the site and will make sure "the films are everything that the fans want them to be." Del Toro: "In light of ongoing delays... for filming The Hobbit, I am faced with the hardest decision of my life. After nearly two years of living, breathing and designing a world as rich as Tolkien's Middle Earth, I must, with great regret, take leave from helming these wonderful pictures."

This is so sad to hear and means a lot more about the project's delay, which has been stalled since MGM went bankrupt last year and on hold until they find someone to re-finance the entire company. As for the future of The Hobbit, we're not sure what to expect. "We feel very sad to see Guillermo leave The Hobbit, but he has kept us fully in the loop and we understand how the protracted development time on these two films, due to reasons beyond anyone's control, has compromised his commitment to other long-term projects," Jackson said. It sounds like there's a very interesting story behind this and maybe we'll find out more in the coming months about what happened, such as if GDT is announced as a director on another different film.

According to TheOneRing.net, The Hobbit is still planned to be adapted into two movies, one to be released in December 2012 & the other in December 2013. So as far as they know, it's still on, but no mention of who's taking his place instead. "The blessings have been plenty, but conflicting schedules have overwhelmed the time slot originally allocated," said del Toro. "Both as a co-writer and as a director, I wish the production nothing but the very best of luck and I will be first in line to see the finished product. I remain an ally to it and its makers, present and future, and fully support a smooth transition to a new director." Thoughts?

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Related categories: Hobbit News, Hype, Movie News, Opinions

Daniel

Yes! Now del Toro can move on to other, and better projects
http://bigfraggingdeal.com Drew

This. Sucks. I've been stoked for this ever since I saw Pan's Labyrinth.
Thor

Damn...He wasted all that time with this movie when he could have been making other films. Now he can start working on Hellboy III.
Hattoris Hanzo

Wow! Who saw that news coming today? While I love Del Toro's fims, as a huge fan of The LOTR's movies, I wasn't all that thrilled about his involvement in The Hobbit; his style just didn't seem to fit Jackson's vision to me. I sense that his leaving may have more to do with creative differences than anything else and he is using the delay as a way out. Now The Hobbit is back where it belongs, in Jackson's hands and hopefully he will scrap the idea of a dragging The Hobbit out over two parts amd make it a single movie instead as it should be.
8=D

WHAT THE FUCK ?????????????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rick

I like Del Toro as a person, but I don't think he is the one and only who can do this. My hopes stay with Peter Jackson, as long he is with the project i'm with the project!
Xerxex

Now he can start work on Hellboy 3, Ron Perlman isn't getting any younger! I have faith in Jackson I'm sure he will bring us The Hobbit in due time!
http://www.myspace.com/risksinrip Ambient

I am sad now...
Sam Shadey

I agree with #4 ... While Del Toro and Jackson are big fans of The Hobbit and brilliant fiml makers, their styles don't mesh. The Hobbit is better off in Jackson's hands and now Del Toro can concentrate on giving us more movies like Pan and Hellboy ... If nothing else, Del Toro's leaving now forces MGM to 'shit or get or get off the pot' as the old saying goes when it comes to The Hobbit. There is definetely more to this story than meets the eye.
Sharlto

Come on Jackson just man up and get the film rolling under your direction
4k4k

As much as I want to see this, another sign that this will never be made in the coming years. Del Toro would have been perfect for The Hobbit and I don't know if another director could capture his vision.
asfsd

Yes, thank God!!! Don't get me wrong Del Toro is one of my favorite director's and I would've LOVED to see him direct The Hobbit but let's face it... The preproduction on that film was terrible and time consuming. We basically had two years of absolute NOTHING. I seriously hope Del Toro now invests his time in making a third Hellboy.
Book of Eli

Great, now Sam Raimi will direct.
Rashad

How can you blame del toro for pre-production when MGM never gave them the money or even officially greenlit the project?
The movie man

Its going to be the man himself, Peter Jackson will helm (direct) The Hobbit. It was a long ploy by MGM so that Del Toro would move on. Peter didnt have the rights at first and now since it took so much time MGM's plan worked. Now in charge once again will be Peter. As said by Associated Press.
Cracky

... Shame. Oh well. Now carry-on Guillermo! Lets get to some new ground.
Mars

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Will

Why doesn't Jackson just direct it... hell he can almost afford to fund it too!
RT

YESSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!! Never wanted him to direct it anyway. That's not to say that I think any replacement will be better, but the last thing I want to see is yet another version of Pan's Labyrinth.
Al

NO!
movie mike

YAY! HELLBOY 3 BABY
http://www.valeriewriter.com valerie Atherton

I think Mr. Del Toro is a great actor. If anyone saw the Wolfman, they would realize that he will probably still be able to get work on other movies. I'm sure he'll fine. Bummed out, but not the end of the world.
George

Yes, Jackson should direct the Hobbit, or does he consider himself to old now for directing another LOTR movie?
Professor Brian O'Blivion

Sad to hear about the time wasted by del Toro, but he has some great non-Hellboy related projects on his plate can't wait for a couple of these films. Not too interested in "The Hobbit" as much as I am some of the other projects del Toro has upcoming.
kp

its all good as soon as they announce a new director fanboys across the universe will jump on his dick just as fast as they did for this one...
harrison

good good good not the right director for the hobbit anyway, as said before has a different style that doesnt fit in here. hopefully now jackson will direct it as long as its still in the works...
Walker

A lot of time wasted, im excited to see what we get from Del Toro. I hope its something fresh, I really can't get excited for a Hellboy III. The previous Hellboy's were good, but weren't anywhere near Pan's Labrynth or The Orphanage in my opinion.
Tomi

sad sad sad news... I really hope this doesnt mean that we wont see this movie ever come to life. FUCK MGM and along with them all the other fucking snobby know-nothing-about-creativity people in Hollywood!!!!!!!!
shadow

I think they should just kill the movies right now. It's in development and financial hell, lost it's director, and it's financial backing. It will never live up to the Trilogy, best just to let this go.
Ben

LMAO @ 22, is he trolling? YAY! Hellboy 3 please.
yup

Del Toro would have been the best man for the job. @22 I think you are retarded I think Matthew Vaughn should direct this, or Tarsem. It's got to be someone as creative and genuis and fantastical as Del Toro, which I think will be dreadfully hard to find
Candy Castle

This is a bummer. GDT would made something special. I blame MGM.
ryderup

Tarsem could direct. or maybe peter jackson will jump on?
John Van Rijn

J R R Tolkien's novels are life-affirming experiences, mythological stories in which the goodness and courage of men are their primary weapon in the fight against evil. Guillermo Del Toro's movies are about death. The two visions are incompatible. Spain has a long cultural history of producing artists like Del Toro, who explore the mysteries of death in a pessimistic but lapidary vision. For the Hobbit movies to work like LOTR we need the politically incorrect Peter Jackson, whose refusal to produce movies full of cynicism and self-loathing led him to make the beauty of the Lord of the Rings trilogy. The Hobbit is full of innocent curiousity (Bilbo Baggins is a naive hobbit who has never been outside the Shire) and a love of nature and life. You only need a cursory glance at the work of most directors to see that they do not understand these emotions. We need Peter Jackson to direct this movie.
Richard

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kevin rudd

this is the news ive been waiting for...hes such a crappola director and now they can safely deport him from nz forever. he was a joke, came into the process and added nothing and now has said hes over it. thats good for us too. make another hellboy or pans lab suckfest # 22 is a tard.
http://www.themoviescene.co.uk Andy

Oh well I guess Jackson will direct and personally don't see that as a bad thing. I just hope the whole MGM/ financing debarcle gets sorted soon.
Ryan

Please god del Toro going to bring his book "The Strain" to the screen. Fantastic book, would put all that twilight bollox in its place. Only del Toro could do it right.
DOLLIE

This Is The Fuckest Movie News In History... Too Little Too Late.
Clover

George W. Bush....first he destroys our COUNTRY....then the WORLD....and Now MGM....and finally "The HObbit"" YOu soul-less cocksucker!!!! Your evil knows no bounds.
Joe Ho

That stinks! Del Toro's Middle Earth would look so bad ass! All of his trolls and Orc's and monsters would look amazing. The only way this won't disappoint me is if he actually starts At The Mountains of Madness!!!!
Jeep-Fu

Wow! Well now maybe Del Toro can make At the Mountains of Madness and Jackson can direct The Hobbit...all is right with the world.
Andrew

I predict that the Hobbit will be directed by Alan Smithee http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Smithee.
Noma King

I fucking love Guillermo Del Toro... but it's a bummer that he pulled out of the Hobbits. Damn.... I was looking forward to that. Well, he could direct mY Spec Script though. Its baddass n I know Guillermo would love it. Hells Yeah!!!!!
Noma King

Anyone interested to know about my Spec Script and if Guillermo should direct let me know so i could tell u guys.
cinemabandit

http://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/film/3760208/Peter-Jackson-may-direct-Hobbit From the Wellington Daily Newspaper. Every cloud has a silver lining, and I think we may have one here.
http://www.answers.com/topic/honda-vtr1000f VTR1000 lady

In truth, immediately i did understand it. But after re-reading I think i understand
vold

Peter Jackson must direct. His vision is what made LOTR great.
DoomCanoe

FUCK! he better make his Frankenstein movie then
america

YESSSSS, maybe they can finally get michael bay to direct the hobbit now!
julian

Okay...he can't do the Hobbit, that sucks........but can he direct that H.P. Lovecraft film he was talking about doing?
mona

now that we've all had our little rant, FOCUS.Mr. Jackson has the ability,the experience and the cash, so hey,if it works, don't fix it.
the gimp

Apparently McG has showed interest to take his amazing career into new depths and visual wizardry...
gabbo

Well after the unholy pile of faeces he turned out with Hellboy 2 this is actually some good news.
SlashBeast

#34 - John Van Rijn You're such a moron. Who can say that Jackson's pre-LOTR works are non-cynical and full of a love of life and nature? The LOTR movies were full of affirmation of nature, life and mythology because of Tolkein, not Jackson. Del Toro would have followed in the same vein as Tolkein with The Hobbit. Keep your racist bilge elsewhere.