Source: The One Ring
Oh no! The One Ring has reported that, after a long extended period of MGM holding up filming of The Hobbit films, Guillermo del Toro has left the director’s chair. Read on to see what producer Peter Jackson and former director Guillermo del Toro had to say on the matter.
Guillermo del Toro’s official statement:
“In light of ongoing delays in the setting of a start date for filming “The Hobbit,” I am faced with the hardest decision of my life. After nearly two years of living, breathing and designing a world as rich as Tolkien’s Middle Earth, I must, with great regret, take leave from helming these wonderful pictures. I remain grateful to Peter, Fran and Philippa Boyens, New Line and Warner Brothers and to all my crew in New Zealand. I’ve been privileged to work in one of the greatest countries on earth with some of the best people ever in our craft and my life will be forever changed. The blessings have been plenty, but the mounting pressures of conflicting schedules have overwhelmed the time slot originally allocated for the project. Both as a co-writer and as a director, I wish the production nothing but the very best of luck and I will be first in line to see the finished product. I remain an ally to it and its makers, present and future, and fully support a smooth transition to a new director.”
Peter Jackson’s comments:
“We feel very sad to see Guillermo leave the Hobbit, but he has kept us fully in the loop and we understand how the protracted development time on these two films, due to reasons beyond anyone’s control – has compromised his commitment to other long term projects…The bottom line is that Guillermo just didn’t feel he could commit six years to living in New Zealand, exclusively making these films, when his original commitment was for three years. Guillermo is one of the most remarkable creative spirits I’ve ever encountered and it has been a complete joy working with him. Guillermo’s strong vision is engrained into the scripts and designs of these two films, which are extremely fortunate to be blessed with his creative DNA.”
“Guillermo is co-writing the Hobbit screenplays with Philippa Boyens, Fran Walsh and myself, and happily our writing partnership will continue for several more months, until the scripts are fine tuned and polished…New Line and Warner Bros will sit down with us this week, to ensure a smooth and uneventful transition, as we secure a new director for the Hobbit. We do not anticipate any delay or disruption to ongoing pre-production work.”
Could this mean that perhaps Peter Jackson will step into the director’s chair? We can only hope.
But until we find out who the director will be, I say this is pretty sad news. Guillermo del Toro seems like he would have been the perfect fit, but it looks like he is just anxious to get back to making movies instead of waiting around forever for MGM’s financial troubles to get settled. Since they own the distribution rights to The Hobbit, filming on the two feature films cannot proceed until the situation gets remedied.
I do, however, think it is great that del Toro is still staying on to finish the screenplays. I wish that guy all the best and hope that he is making the right decision.
Keep checking back in to PCM for all the latest details.
