Hellboy helmsman to direct The Hobbit
Guillermo del Toro travels to Middle Earth
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Guillermo del Toro, director of Hellboy and Oscar-winning Pan's Labyrinth, will direct two Lord of the Rings prequels slated for release in 2010 and 2011, the BBC reports.
The first will be an adaptation of The Hobbit, the second an "original story" bridging the 60-year gap between Tolkien's first Middle Earth outing and the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Peter Jackson will produce the movies, and New Zealand will once again provide the backdrop for the action.
In traditional Hollywood love-in style, Jackson and his wife Fran Walsh acclaimed del Toro as "a cinematic magician who has never lost his childlike sense of wonder", and added in a statement: "We have long admired Guillermo's work and cannot think of a more inspired film-maker to take the journey back to Middle Earth."
Del Toro, 43, enthused: "Contributing to the Lord of the Rings legacy is an absolute dream come true."
Casting details are not as yet forthcoming, and whether Brit thesp Sir Ian McKellen reprises his role of Gandalf remains to be seen. The veteran actor last year expressed his keenness to once again don a hat and cape, saying: "If I am still functioning and working well, it is very likely I would be asked to do it." ®
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COMMENTS
@OMG
You obviously never read any of the extensive Appendix of LOTR that listed loads of things that take place between the 60 year period.
1. Aragorn's life.
2. Gandalf's activities - along with those of the Elves and Saruman
3. Sauron's moving from Dol Gulder back to Mordor; Mordor's resurgence and the subsequent battles.
...
On the subject of the new Director, having seen Pan's Labyrinth, I can only expect great things.
Hackson
Peter Jackson already destroyed one of Tolkien's books, does he need to put his grubby little mitts on this one, too? Looking at the rampant liberties he took with the story in LOTR, this stands to be yet another disgraceful, dumbed-down adaptation. I can't wait for more dwarvish hilarity like drinking contests and inexplicable Scottish accents.
Re: Inspired choices
"You need Quentin Tarantino directing, with Samuel L. Jackson as Thorin."
KILL THORIN ... With one well placed blow Thorin pops a cap in your ass.
Dialogue by Walken would be great, but not as great as him appearing in it. Maybe as Gandalf but Brian Blessed would be great too.
However we can't have a Hobbit movie with Leonard Nimoy singing the theme tune !

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