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  • 2 weeks later...

According to Production Weekly (via /Film) Harry Potter director David Yates has been offered The Hobbit following Guillermo del Toro?s departure a few weeks ago.

On paper Yates is an ideal choice for the part. Just this weekend he wrapped filming Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II after shooting both films back-to-back. Warner Bros. and New Line are looking to do the same with The Hobbit, and having a director with experience in adapting fantasy novels onto the big screen is an advantage.

The only issue with Yates is that he will now be working flat out to finish the final Potter film (Part I just needs effects work completed) and he won?t be free to work on The Hobbit until at least June/July next year, assuming that?s the current Deathly Hallows schedule. Then Yates will probably need a break after dedicating 4+ years of his life to directing half of the Harry Potter franchise.

This might mean a December 2012 release is out the window, and fans may have to wait until 2013 to see the first Hobbit film.

Out of all the previous Potter directors I would have preferred Alfonso Cuar?n (Prisoner of Azkaban, Children of Men) who has a great artful eye for fantasy, and he is actually friends with Guillermo del Toro so they know each other?s style. I do like Yates as a director though and can?t wait to see what he has done with Deathly Hallows.

Source

Ever since Guillermo del Toro dropped out of directing "The Hobbit" prequels, Peter Jackson (the director of "LOTR" trilogy) has been searching for his replacement. Filmmakers like David Yates (Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix), David Dobkin (Wedding Crashers) and Brett Ratner (Red Dragon, Rush Hour) have already expressed interest.

At this point, nobody has officially been offered the job, because Warner Bros and MGM are doing all they can to convince Jackson to direct. While Jackson was signed on as a producer, he has stated that he would consider directing as a last resort.

Deadline says that the reason why del Toro dropped out was because the project would keep him in New Zealand for long stretches of time and he was not comfortable with that. Jackson, on the other hand, is from New Zealand and took part in writing the scripts for the two "The Hobbit" films.

The studio will apparently keep pursuing Jackson until he gives a definitive "No."

Read more: http://www.worstpreviews.com/headline.php?id=18019&count=0#ixzz0r1BuZ9tR

  • 2 weeks later...

Peter Jackson to Direct 'The Hobbit'!

After sorting through a few weeks full of rumors, Deadline is reporting that Peter Jackson has decided to take on the task of directing both Hobbit films himself, and is currently negotiatiing a deal with Warner Bros., New Line and MGM.

Obviously this makes the most sense for a number of reasons. Not only is Jackson the most familiar with this universe, having directed the previous three Lord of the Rings movies, but he's also been working closely with Guillermo Del Toro during those two years of pre-production they've already put into the two movies.

Plus, if they want to maintain their scheduled 2012 and 2013 releases, then Jackson is probably the man who can get that done. He knows the material better than anyone; he knows the actors, the locations and, according to Deadline, he's already been actively involved in the casting process these past couple weeks.

So, really, there's just no one else who's better equipped to take on this task, and while it's a little sad that Jackson won't be able to work on anything else for the next couple of years while he pieces together another two Lord of the Rings films, playing in this universe is where Jackson is ultimately at his best.

Still no official announcements have been made by either camp -- and Deadline is saying there's still a lot of money issues to be worked out and fine tuned -- but barring any breakdowns in the negotiating room, it seems like Jackson will be completing what he started all those years ago.

Source: Cinematical

AWESSSOOOOMMMEEE!!!! w00t.gif

uh oh!

Awhile back, Deadline confirmed that Peter Jackson will be directing the Hobbit. Claiming that Jackson is definitely not confirmed to step in to direct The Hobbit, Knowles quotes a source he refers to as "Derek" -- which, by the way it's quoted, is actually Jackson himself.

"No, nothing has really changed - I've always said that me directing was one option, and so that's not really news. The studio are working out what that deal would look like, because how else do they know if it's a viable option? But it's honestly one of several different options - many irons are in the fire right now. What's of great concern to everyone right now is trying to stay on schedule and not slip back another year, because we will start losing people - and that's increasingly difficult as each day passes. A lot of people - both film makers and studios are working very hard right now, trying to get a positive outcome here."

  • 3 weeks later...

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Sylvester McCoy, one of the original men to play Doctor Who, is reportedly set to join the upcoming 'Lord of the Rings' prequel, 'The Hobbit'.

'The Hobbit' has been going through a lot as of late, it has lost its director Guillermo del Toro, and Ian McKellen is rumored to drop out of the film. But here is some (hopefully) positive news about the film, Sylvester McCoy, who is one of the elven actors to play Doctor Who, is being said to be joining the film.

Sources say that McCoy would play the second biggest lead in the film. Anyone know who McCoy could be playing?

'The Hobbit' currently has no director, although Peter Jackson is rumored to take the directors chair. It is only fitting of course, considering he directed 'The Lord of the Rings' trilogy. Ian McKellen and Andy Serkis are expected to reprise there roles of Gandalf and Gollum, although as I mentioned above, McKellen's place in the film has been shrouded in doubt more recentley.

'The Hobbit' is expected to be released in December 2012, then a second part is expected to be released in December 2013.

^ I thought the Jackson to Hobbit's Director's chair is confirmed? :wacko:

nope he said he was interested but he didn't agree just yet, but I believe Jackson is just trying to get some actors on board just incase.

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