The Hobbit: Parts 1 & 2 (Jackson, 2012/13)

[X.]

It's official. Guillermo del Toro will be directing.

Brace yourselves, genre geeks, because here's some fantastic news: It's official. Dark fantasy master Guillermo del Toro has been officially signed to direct the Hobbit adaptation(s). Obviously we halfway knew this was coming, but it's great to have the news confirmed: We have a few years to wait, but the two-movie MGM/New Line adaptation of The Hobbit ... will both be "del Toro films." That's just awesome.

According to Variety, Guillermo will actually MOVE to New Zealand for four years to work on the two films. How's that for commitment to a project? Although it's not a done deal, it's expected that producers Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh and Phillippa Boyens will co-adapt the Tolkien tale together. No word yet on which Lord of the Rings cast members will be invited back for the prequels, but I'm betting we'll soon see Sir Ian donning that wizard's hat again!

[fizz]

Fantastic....best movie news of the year!!!

[shariqq]

Oh, I assumed this was already known. Here's from his 20th April interview on Hellboy 2, where he talks about The Hobbit movies too.  Absolutely love his approach!

CS/SHH!: Of course, there's been a lot of talk about "The Hobbit" lately, but you have so many projects on the slate either in development or attached to. Are you ready to get involved something like that which is so big and time-consuming? Do you have other directors you want to line up to make these other movies?
GDT: Yeah, well I'm very conscious that doing "The Hobbit" demands four plus years of my life where I will not do anything else as a director, and as far as producing is concerned, I think we have a good year and a half of pre-production, so I can always be available but concentrating on "The Hobbit."

CS/SHH!: Do you think you'd get involved with Peter on the writing of that?
GDT: We are still talking about how to go, but I will be involved with the writing, yes.

CS/SHH!: What's the most daunting thing with taking on a project of that size besides the time involved?
GDT: There's the scope, and the learning curve, because the amount of things I've gotta learn. I fell in love with "The Hobbit" but I'm marrying an entire mythology. It's like meeting the family of a girl you're going to marry… you get them all, and I fell in love with "The Hobbit" and now I'm familiarizing myself with not only the trilogy--the trilogy I only finally read--but every single thing I can read that Tolkien generated about Middle Earth or about him I'm reading, and in terms of the visuals. In order for the two movies to seamlessly involve into the trilogy, I have to literally put myself through the biggest "making of" ever assembled. I'm going to watch all the dailies of "Fellowship" and I'm going to watch most of the dailies of "The Return of the King." I'll watch as much material as I possibly can take, the camera reports... everything. By the end of the second ("Hobbit") movie, you have to be able to have evolved towards "The Lord of the Rings" and feel that it's a complete continuation.

[theoddball]

As a lifelong Middle Earth fan, this is some of the best news I've heard in quite a while. I hope the deal goes through that Jackson and team produce and co-adapt. I just watched Pan's Labyrinth a couple of days ago and I do believe del Toro is possibly the best choice to fill Jackson's empty director's chair. It will also be great to see Sir Ian back as Gandalf -- possibly one of the most perfect casting choices of all time.

[theoddball]

OK, casting time. Share your thoughts on who should play young Bilbo.

I'd go for James McAvoy. He has that signature British look and a touch of goofiness about him.

[fizz]

Considering the man played an Elf in Narnia, a hobbit would be the next evolutionary transition.

[shariqq]

Not an Elf. Mr Tumnus  is a faun - half human, half goat.

[X.]

Fuck LOTR. Fuck McAvoy. Fuck everything! I'm so drunk! Save meeeeee!~

[X.]

Before I go, I just want to say that I saw del Toro's "Pan Labyrinth" again for my Drawing class, and it is a really beautiful film. There. Now I am coherent. Now I have earned this post. There.

[X.]

I shouldn't even be online right now. I should be in bed. Sleeping. Trying to get sober. Being responsible. But I'm here -- on the WM Forum. Do you know why that is? Because everytime I'm here, everytime I hit that bookmark that says 'WM Forum,' I feel like I'm going back home. Not my real home in Dubai, where my loving Mom waits for me. I mean my real home; where I feel me. To place where I feel I belong; where I derive value and appreciation and the everyday motivation to get online.

Mods, sorry, this is the time for which you were given your powers. Use them. The guy that bestowed those priveleges on you is asking you to use it against him. But use them without prejudice. Use them objectively. Most importantly, use them above everything else.

P.S. The fucking Smurfs are Communists! And Gargamal is a stinking Capitalist!

ak out

[theoddball]

Mods, sorry, this is the time for which you were given your powers. Use them. The guy that bestowed those priveleges on you is asking you to use it against him. But use them without prejudice. Use them objectively. Most importantly, use them above everything else.

Hahaha! I don't know why, but that reminded me of this scene from you know which film:

DETECTIVE ANDREW
I really admire what you're doing.

JACK
What?

DETECTIVE ANDREW
You're a brave man to order this.

DETECTIVE KEVIN
You're a genius, sir.

DETECTIVE WALKER
You said if anyone ever interferes with Project Mayhem, even you, we gotta get his balls.

Jack stands up.

DETECTIVE ANDREW
It's useless to fight.

DETECTIVE KEVIN
It's really a powerful gesture, Mr. Durden. It'll set quite an example.

JACK
You're making a big mistake, fellas!

DETECTIVE KEVIN
You said you'd say that.

JACK
I'm not Tyler Durden!

DETECTIVE WALKER
You told us you'd say that too.

JACK
Okay, I'm Tyler Durden...listen to me. I'm giving you a direct order. We are aborting the mission right now.

DETECTIVE ANDREW
You said you would definitely say that.

[fizz]

Oddy...I thought the same thing.

Ak...you ok there bro? Missing Dubai?

Shariq - Elf, faun, squirrel, whatever. He can play the Bilbo part with his hands tied.

[X.]

OK, I just read that post again. I vaguely remember sitting by my laptop last night, in a drunk stupor. I apologize for the rant.

Oddy, ha ha, I'm glad you didn't "get my balls." And doing fine, Fizz; it was a bizarre thing I went to the previous night, and let myself go! There were funny people I met there (and, of course, I made notes for a future writing assignment) and some of the things we did -- and that I managed to scribble/remember -- included a discussion of the political affiliation of The Smurfs and a fine debate over the differences between Cheerios and Cheetos. Madness!

[shariqq]

Shariq - Elf, faun, squirrel, whatever. He can play the Bilbo part with his hands tied.

Uff! Elf & Faun are completely different races - it's like saying Dracula is a werewolf!!
About McAvoy: let's see... I'll wait for Wanted to give my opinion on it. PJ & Del Toro are quite meticulous with the actors they cast - so I'll trust them. Apart from an almost obvious selection of Ron Perlman in any role, most probably as Beorn (wiki), I'll not expect any obvious choices.

[shariqq]

Oddy, ha ha, I'm glad you didn't "get my balls." And doing fine, Fizz; it was a bizarre thing I went to the previous night, and let myself go! There were funny people I met there (and, of course, I made notes for a future writing assignment) and some of the things we did -- and that I managed to scribble/remember -- included a discussion of the political affiliation of The Smurfs and a fine debate over the differences between Cheerios and Cheetos. Madness!

For the sake of madali, I will refrain from saying "Madness? This is S-P-A-R-T-A!!!". Err...

AK: man, even your ranting is so much worth reading. Just make sure none of your meeting end up with you in secret rituals that cause you bodily harm. Unless they decree you messiah!