Peter Jackson open to directing The Hobbit
Jackson talked with Dominion Post about the possibility of directing:
"If that's what I have to do to protect Warner Bros' investment, then obviously that's one angle which I'll explore," he said. But stepping in as director would be difficult as he had signed writer and director contracts with Hollywood studios for two other films, with one likely to begin next year. "The other studios may not let me out of the contracts."
Jackson and partner Fran Walsh, The Hobbit's executive producers, learned of del Toro's decision Saturday. Jackson said he was saddened by the director's departure, which was "amicable". del Toro plans to stay on as screenwriter.
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey comes to theaters December 14th, 2012 and stars Cate Blanchett, Saoirse Ronan, Orlando Bloom, Elijah Wood, Martin Freeman, David Tennant, Ian McKellen, Christopher Lee. The film is directed by Peter Jackson.
The Hobbit: There and Back Again comes to theaters December 13th, 2013 and stars Ron Perlman, Hugo Weaving, Ian McKellen, Andy Serkis, Doug Jones, Kiran Shah, Billy Connolly.
Comments (45)
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Red Camera Man
Yes! Peter Jackson for the directing!
2 years agoby @redcameramanFlag
Vanboy
Forget about the other progects and do this! I'm actually glad Del Toro won't be directing. PL was way to dismal. Complete your saga Jackson. Everybody wants you to. Lightning will strike again.
2 years agoby @vanboyFlag
Masta_Chiefed
Ure not reading the same comments buddy.
2 years agoby @masta-chiefedFlag
jameslev
masta, im sure most of us relize that he most likely cant, we're just all wishful thinking
2 years agoby @jameslevFlag
renodc
The title of this post should be "Peter Jackson says he would if he could, but he can't".
2 years agoby @renodcFlag
Masta_Chiefed
JESUS PEOPLE!!! READ MORE THAN THE HEADLINE!!! HE'S CONTRACTUALLY OBLIGATED TO DIRECT 2 OTHER FILMS!!! YOU'RE EITHER LOOKING AT ANOTHER HUGE DELAY OR HE ISNT GONNA DO IT!!! TERRIBLY MISLEADING HEADLINE MOVIEWEB!!!
Sorry I don't usually yell, but I dont want to think most of you can't read more than the titles of these articles. I mean movieweb does a brilliant job of trolling for movie news. At least read the couple paragraphs they post.
2 years agoby @masta-chiefedFlag
lantimes
be nice to see jackson do this, fit well and would complete the lord of the rings well with having the same director for all book related
2 years agoby @lantimesFlag
Marston
Thank the lord. I didnt care for the Hellboy movies. and Pans Labrynth, though brilliant, was frustrating to me and didnt really care for that either. so this is some of the best news ive seen in a while
2 years agoby @marstonFlag
The Soylent Green Monkey
F*cking Hobbits.
2 years agoby @soylentgreen2Flag
jameslev
ahh man that would be a breathe of some of the freshest air around, hes the only perfect director for the film, del toro was just a suitable replacement
2 years agoby @jameslevFlag
Bane5000
MICHAEL BAY TO DIRECT PLEASE.....LOL j/k only del toro and jackson have good eyes for fantasy movies such this, so if del toro not gonna direct, then peter is the only logical person to do this film and add it to his trilogy, it only makes sense....i hope he does it afterall
2 years agoby @bane5000Flag
Shadow Of The Day
Great News.
2 years agoby @asifFlag
The Narrator: The Better Man
Jackson won't be let off the hook. The other studios know that The Hobbit would be a great competition for them ,and Jackson at the helm... they'd lose money with whatever else comes out that month. They won't allow that to happen. Sorry folks.
However, if there is some off chance they let him do this.... YES!
Till then, I look forward to Jacksons Tintin collaboration with Spielberg.
2 years agoby @narratorFlag
gandoff2169
I liked what del Roro did with Hell boy. But I was always a bit worried how he would do the Hobbit. I would rather have Peter Jackson do it any way, but I do see this being a issue with other studios either being paid fees to push back their films for him or some other big squable.
2 years agoby @gandoff2169Flag
CBF
Good news. Let's hope it stays this way.
2 years agoby @comicbookfanFlag
Ryan Moran
good
2 years agoby @nightwing18Flag
Messenger
I think he is the good choice here but does he REALLY want to do it? If not and he is kind of pushed into it then he might not give it his all. This is a monumental task he would undertaking and I could see it wearing him out and not being able to get the best result.
2 years agoby @messengerFlag
Narzion
sam raimi-NO
2 years agoby @narzionFlag
Dedpool
But if because of contract issues he can't do it then get Sam Raimi. He wanted to do it anyway and was gearing up for WoW film which is basically a LOTR-esque world
2 years agoby @dedpoolFlag
Dedpool
He needs to do it. It would make the movies more of a coherent piece. I like Del Torro and he was my second choice to do a Hobbit film if Jacson didn't want to (and I get why. It's an exhausting effort and how does one top ones previously amazing films with something less action packed) but the idea of some things being changed (liked the Wargs) to fit Del Toro's vision scared me. I didn't think straying away from the designs and such of the LOTR trilogy would be a bad idea.
2 years agoby @dedpoolFlag
Remy72883
see this makes sense, it is his world and no one could get it right like he did, clearly from the beginning he was the man for the job, so im hoping this will get done and he is riding the director chair,
2 years agoby @remy72883Flag
mosorwvlad
Just do it ! You know you wan't to !!
2 years agoby @mosorwvladFlag
The Movie Ghost
Y-E-S = YES!!!
2 years agoby @thejoker-16Flag
Masta_Chiefed
By lose his ass I mean financially. There's no way he's gonna end up getting buttplugged in prison or anything.
2 years agoby @masta-chiefedFlag
Masta_Chiefed
Damn. Thanks Movieweb. I didnt know he contractually couldnt do it. Sorry guys. It looks like a legal bind, and when you sign a contract it might as well be with blood. He will lose his ass in court if he doesnt restructure or live up to the signed ink.
2 years agoby @masta-chiefedFlag
Mutant
This happens if a director gets projects for ten years or more. They should only have 4 or 5 projects in 9 or ten years, not 10 projects that's just over kill, no wonder Del Toro left besides the delays.
2 years agoby @zenderFlag
MovieWiz001
Do it, Jackson. it's in your blood!
2 years agoby @moviewiz001Flag
DarkTower19
If he's already contractually obligated to films for other studios, I don't think it's possible. I am so depressed by this news.
2 years agoby @darktower19Flag
Tripleredx
Peter Jackson - Do this world a favor and direct the god damn movie.
2 years agoby @tripleredxFlag
Stiles
Jackson should always have been first choice. There's not another director on the planet who knows Middle Earth the way he must.
2 years agoby @stilesFlag