The TV Addict 

Finally, it’s official! Guillermo Del Toro is directing THE HOBBIT. Rumors of Del Toro helming the film adaptation of THE HOBBIT (the prequel to THE LORD OF THE RINGS, if you aren’t familiar with your Tolkien novels), have been swirling around for while, but now it’s a done deal. What’s more – and I didn’t know this part until now – apparently he’s going to be directing two films back to back, one THE HOBBIT itself, and the subsequent one dealing with the sixty years between the events of that film and THE LORD OF THE RINGS. Del Toro is so committed to the project that he’s actually moving to New Zealand for the next four years (after he wraps post-production on HELLBOY 2) to shoot both films together with the help of WETA, the guys who did the special effects for THE LORD OF THE RINGS. There’s no script yet, but its presumed Del Toro will collaborate with Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh and Phillippa Boyens, the screenwriters of Tokien’s trilogy.

I couldn’t be more excited about this news. THE HOBBIT was a huge part of my childhood, and in many ways holds more of a place in my literary heart than THE LORD OF THE RINGS ever did. The fact that it’s going to be produced by the visually inventive and fantastical mind of Del Toro – who has yet to make a bad film, in my opinion – eases my mind about the novel getting its proper due. Ian McKellan has also openly stated that he would gladly reprise his role as Gandalf (who does appear in THE HOBBIT), so bit by bit the pieces are falling into place. Now let the speculation begin as to who will play Bilbo Baggins begin.

Source: Variety