Peter Jackson will direct The Hobbit after all!

[Roy Mustang]

Peter Jackson WILL be directing The Hobbit after all!

What we hoped would happen, but didn't dare to think actually would, seems to be coming true. Peter Jackson, who pulled off the impossible with the Lord of the Rings trilogy, has decided to direct two installments of The Hobbit after all, Deadline New York reports.

Earlier this month, after Guillermo del Toro quit his Hobbit directing gig, Jackson said his taking over was unlikely due to current commitments. But he did leave open a slim possibility—and we say "slim" because he sounded a bit reluctant—by saying: "If that's what I have to do to protect Warner Brothers' investment, then obviously that's one angle which I'll explore."

Apparently, explore he did, because his deal is reportedly being negotiated right NOW with Warner Brothers, New Line and MGM.

There are no further details as yet, other than the fact that Jackson, Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens are scheduled to head to London the week of July 4, after which they'll be going to Los Angeles to meet with the actors who've impressed them the most from those that have been taped by casting directors.

[font="Book Antiqua"][color="Red"]Col. Roy Mustang[/color][/font]

[Yamamaya]

Well it's about time PJ made up his mind!

[Ante Bellum]

Huh. Didn't know he might not have directed. Either way, this is good news, right?

[ADXC]

Sweet, can't wait.

[TGJesusfreak]

I will go see this movie in theaters. Definitely.

[Rocketshipper]

I'm still dissapointed that Guillermo quit. I would have loved to see how he'd have directed the movies.

[Mithrandir]

I'm still dissapointed that Guillermo quit. I would have loved to see how he'd have directed the movies.

I wouldn't say a remake is totally out of the question - it's just at least 10 to 15 years off. That will let him get even better at directing. XD

[Radical Dreamer]

NO FREAKING WAY. AAAAHHH BEST DAY. That is seriously SO AWESOME and is EXACTLY what I was hoping for when I learned Del Toro would be stepping down! SO EXCITING. XDD

[Scarecrow]

I really didn't want Jackson directing this...

If he keeps the tone the same as the LOTR, it just wouldn't work. The Hobbit was written as a childrens book more or less. It felt a lot lighter, more colorful, and adventurous. I'm afraid Jackson is gonna try and make it more in sync with his LOTR trilogy and IMO, that would ruin The Hobbit.

I was REALLY looking forward to del Toro directing this as he would have brought a fresh and imaginative new look to it. Pan's Labyrinth captured that childrens story book like feel very well... I thought he was perfect to bring this to life.

And if Jim Henson were still alive, I'd actually prefer him do it over Jackson. His Storyteller series is amazing and more of how I'd have liked to have seen a Hobbit film adapted... albeit with a much higher budget.

Oh well... it may still be all right but I'm not getting my hopes up. I mean Jacksons style was perfect for LOTR... The Hobbit.. not so much unless he can adapt.

[Bobtheduck]

I was REALLY looking forward to del Toro directing this as he would have brought a fresh and imaginative new look to it. Pan's Labyrinth captured that childrens story book like feel very well... I thought he was perfect to bring this to life.

You'rejoking aboutPan's Labyrinth, right?

[Atria35]

Yes!!!! That is AMAZING!!!! I'm so happy.....

[Etoh*the*Greato]

Yes! No! Yes! No! Oh, PJ, please stop teasing my heart, so. It aches when you play with me like this.

[wildpurplechild]

I'm just glad they've finaly started making the Hobbit into a live action movie. I have been waiting years for this! I think if anyone can pull it off it's Jackson, though I wish Del Toro would have stayed with it.

Also, Bob's right. I watched part of Pan's Labrinth in school and I wouldn't call it any where near a childrens story.

[ich1990]

I too am sad that del Toro is being replaced by Peter Jackson. Still, out of any of the replacements that I can think of, Jackson is probably the best.

You'rejoking aboutPan's Labyrinth, right?

Someone hasn't seen or read Monster. A "children's story book" can mean a lot of different things to a lot of different people, and that "feel" doesn't always have to be used in the entertainment of children.

[Etoh*the*Greato]

You'rejoking aboutPan's Labyrinth, right?

A lot of aspects of it really did feel like a children's book, specifically in the ways the story was approached and told, if it was just more of a children's story for adults.

[Bobtheduck]

I too am sad that del Toro is being replaced by Peter Jackson. Still, out of any of the replacements that I can think of, Jackson is probably the best.



Someone hasn't seen or read Monster. A "children's story book" can mean a lot of different things to a lot of different people, and that "feel" doesn't always have to be used in the entertainment of children.

Hobbit is a Children's book. Made for Children. Not just that it has a Children's book feel. I'm not all that sure about Del Toro with an actual Children's book. Otherwise the same logic can apply to things like Happy Tree friends... And Naru taru (but THAT'S a different story altogether.) I wouldn't put either creator to work on an adapting a Children's book to cartoons, for instance. Not without seeing proof they can handle it properly.

[ShiroiHikari]

I take it you didn't like Pan's Labyrinth, then.

I was hoping that they'd get Jackson when Del Toro left, just because I really didn't think there was anyone else out there that could handle the project well. But I really wanted to see what Del Toro could do. It's not that I don't like Jackson, but The Hobbit ain't Lord of the Rings and it doesn't need to be. It's a totally different feel. Tolkien's writing styles in those two books are like night and day.

Also have you read The Hobbit lately? It's not exactly sunshine and rainbows even though it was meant for children.

[Nate]

ITT: People who think LOTR isn't also a children's story.

[GrubbTheFragger]

I am sorta sad and happy. I really wanted to see del toro's vision but his art is still gonna be there so it'll hopefully be awesome

[Nate]

I think no matter who directs this movie, the fans win.

It would've been interesting to see del Toro's take, but I don't think anyone can say that having Jackson do it is a bad idea.

[Rocketshipper]

I'm also a bit skeptical about them making this two movies. I can understand the desire to try and put as much of the book in as possible, to avoid the wrath of scary fans, but the Hobbit really isn't *that* long to begin with, definitly not as long as any one of the LOTR books, and I worry a bit that these movies might end up being a little padded. I thought the animated Hobbit movie was pretty good, it left some things out but the majority of the important stuff was in it.

[Atria35]

I take it you didn't like Pan's Labyrinth, then.

Also have you read The Hobbit lately? It's not exactly sunshine and rainbows even though it was meant for children.

It's not that they didn't like Pan's Labryth, it's just that it obviously isn't a movie meant for children (I suggest clicking the links provided in that particular statement for further clarification).

And while Hobbit may not be sunshine and rainbows, it is a far, FAR cry from the violence and morals of traditional children's fairytales. I mean, it was written while the idea of Disneyfication was only beginning to take hold....

[rocklobster]

I can't wait for this!

[Scarecrow]

I didn't mean Pan's Labyrinth was made for Children....

A lot of aspects of it really did feel like a children's book, specifically in the ways the story was approached and told, if it was just more of a children's story for adults.

This...

And while yes the Hobbit is a lot lighter, I think Del Toro would have been good at approaching the hobbit like a children's storybook. It's not all flowers and rainbows no. You can make something as dark and violent as you want and still have it feel like a children's storybook (though that doesn't mean the story itself is for children).

Another movie that was made for adults but is set up like a dark children's storybook is Running Scared. Although I don't think they were successful really, they were obviously going for that watching the credits and stated it in interviews and stuff. If the whole film felt more like the credits, the movie would have hit it's mark much more successfully at being a dark childrens story for adults but that's what they were going for (though I don't think they)

Running Scared End Credits

The film "Trick R Treat" was also approached as like a collection of really dark Children's story... for adults. There are some aspects I REALLY liked in this film but as a whole, it wasn't that great but I'm not a huge horror fan. I did love the atmosphere and stuff though.

Trick R Treat trailer

There's a difference between being made for children and having the atmosphere and structure of a children's story book while the story and content itself is very much adult.

Not that I would want Del Toro to make the Hobbit and all dark and stuff... but I think he would have approached it like a children's storybook (the tone, atmosphere, structure etc) more so than Jackson will who will probably make it fit more in with his LOTR trilogy.

But really, I'll see it regardless. I mean, if Del Toro didn't do it, I can't think of anyone else who I'd want to see touch it aside from Jackson.

[Yamamaya]

So I wonder where the cut off point will be for Part 1 of the Hobbit. Perhaps when the dwarves get imprisoned by the Elves of Mirkwood?

[GhostontheNet]

If he keeps the tone the same as the LOTR, it just wouldn't work. The Hobbit was written as a childrens book more or less. It felt a lot lighter, more colorful, and adventurous. I'm afraid Jackson is gonna try and make it more in sync with his LOTR trilogy and IMO, that would ruin The Hobbit.

I was REALLY looking forward to del Toro directing this as he would have brought a fresh and imaginative new look to it. Pan's Labyrinth captured that childrens story book like feel very well... I thought he was perfect to bring this to life.

I agree that I really wanted to see Guillermo del Toro direct The Hobbit, even if it meant it would take longer to see his take on Frankenstein, which I believe will be his magnum opus. However, I do think The Lovely Bones demonstrates that Peter Jackson has a solid grasp on the dynamics of fairy tales, including the elements of monstrosity, and the existential anxieties and traumas of coming of age. The film was panned by critics, but they failed to see that like any good fairy tale, the narrative can function on many levels to give many different messages. Indeed, I can convincingly argue that the film draws from Buddhist, Christian, Existentialist, Feminist, Punk, Glam, Proto-Goth, Psychedelia and 60's Counter-Culture, and other related sources. As such, this film had a stronger personal impact than any other film released in 2010, rivaled only by Splice and Alice in Wonderland.

[ShiroiHikari]

ITT: People who think LOTR isn't also a children's story.

And your definition of "children's story" is...?

[Nate]

Can we just admit now that this movie is never going to get made?

Peter Jackson running into union trouble

The International Federation of Actors, along with the Screen Actors Guild, is discouraging actors to work on the film because of the non-union labor in New Zealand. This is serious business for SAG: Essentially, actors who work on the film, like McKellen and Weaving, would be in violation of the union's bylaws and subject to expulsion from the union.

[Yuki-Anne]

I think I accepted that this movie wasn't going to happen when the lawsuits started way back in the day.

[ShiroiHikari]

Labor unions ruin everything.