ROTTEN TOMATOES: Looks Like Those Hobbit Movies Still Need a Director

Looks Like Those Hobbit Movies Still Need a Director

Jackson recuses himself. For the fans.

by Jeff Giles | December 20, 2007

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During the years of legal disputes between Peter Jackson and New Line, there was no shortage of speculation regarding which director might step into his shoes for The Hobbit -- speculation that, as it turns out, will continue at least awhile longer.

As Entertainment Weekly reports, much as fans might have hoped this week's announcement that Jackson and Fran Walsh are producing The Hobbit would be only a prelude to the news that they'd be directing it (and its planned sequel), such is not the case -- at least not according to Jackson's manager, Ken Kamins:

"Peter won't be directing because he felt the fans have waited long enough for The Hobbit. It will take the better part of every day of the next four years to write, direct and produce two Hobbit films. Given his current obligations to both The Lovely Bones and Tintin, waiting for Peter, Fran, and Phillippa to write, direct and produce The Hobbit would require the fans wait even longer."

Quite a few fans wouldn't mind the extra wait if it meant Jackson directing the Hobbit films, but alas, it looks like someone else will wind up behind the camera. So the question, again, becomes "who?" According to EW, the short list of candidates still includes Sam Raimi, Guillermo del Toro, and Alfonso Cuaron -- but, as New Line co-chair Robert Shaye tells it, no decisions have been made:

"There is obviously a small but significant number of directors who could handle two films of this magnitude, but we have no commitment to anybody. Now that Peter is an integral part of the decision-making process, we all have to see eye-to-eye on any candidate we try to enlist."

Source: Entertainment Weekly

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(1-20 of 56 posts) | Reply

jasperoosterveld writes:
on Dec 20 2007 05:30 AM

They better pick on of the spanish/mexican directors.

(Reply to this)

Evimeleth writes:
on Dec 20 2007 05:30 AM

If there's a God, he'd choose del Toro.

(Reply to this)

Ender7406 writes:
on Dec 20 2007 05:32 AM

And that's why I'm an atheist Evimeleth.

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frogleg writes:
on Dec 20 2007 05:42 AM

I'd be fine with any of the three. Especially with Jackson producing; you know he'll have plenty of input.

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Novastar. writes:
on Dec 20 2007 05:51 AM

I'm almost sure that the worst choice of the three...Raimi will get the job .

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Ender7406 writes:
on Dec 20 2007 05:54 AM

Raimi's not terrible, per se, I'm just not sure he's up to the scope of the project.

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witherwings writes:
on Dec 20 2007 06:29 AM

I wouldn't mind waiting if Jackson directed. At all. I feel like this is a cop-out answer on his part. For some reason, he just doesn't want to, and I suppose it was a ton of exhausting work so I can't really blame him.

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Warheart1188 writes:
on Dec 20 2007 06:34 AM

I'd like to see PJ direct, but I'd love to see del Toro or Cuaron do it. They are fantastic filmmakers.

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DON OF THE D.E.D writes:
on Dec 20 2007 06:38 AM

It would be worth the wait for Peter Jackson to direct it. Raimi is a bad choice, Del Toro, not bad, but not Peter Jackson.

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tomwaitsjr writes:
on Dec 20 2007 07:05 AM

Del Toro.

No way in (Drag me to) HELL should it be Raimi and his idiot writing pal Ivan.

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dahluzz writes:
on Dec 20 2007 07:10 AM

i don't think fans have been clamoring for the hobbit movie as much as they have for a peter jackson hobbit movie. since when was there such a huge demand for the hobbit? lord of the rings was 4 years ago.

if sam raimi gets this project, he will ruin it. i don't care that spiderman 2 was good (great even) but spiderman 3 cannot be forgiven so quickly. he's got to redeem himself before he can be entrusted with this kind of property.

del toro lovers are gonna beat the drums on this one, but cuaron is really the best alternative to jackson. he proved he can handle a big budget fantasy adaptation with harry potter, and children of men was not only one of last year's best films, but featured some amazing cinematography and fx work. let del toro do lovecraft.

can jackson at least write these...?

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southwick writes:
on Dec 20 2007 07:17 AM

I would LOVE to see Cuaron.
His Harry Potter film is still my favorite.
I also go to watching A Little Princess, and thinking the direction (which was great) seemed familiar. It was Cuaron. Not to mention Children of Men was my favorite movie of the year...yeah give me Cuaron.

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bigteddyt writes:
on Dec 20 2007 07:36 AM

add another vote for cuaron. cuaron cuaron cuaron cuaron!!!

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Martin_C writes:
on Dec 20 2007 07:44 AM

Either Del Toro or Cuar�n would be great. I would still wait for PJ, though.

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Zen Bullet writes:
on Dec 20 2007 08:06 AM

I think that New Line realized that they had a problem when they didn't have Jackson's name attached to the films, and my suspicion is that they bought it from him, buying an "Exec Producer" credit . . . probably in return for the money they already owed him. Essentially, I think they "purchased" his participation, except I don't think he has had any intent to participate much. There has been no news of an independent inquiry resolving differences between New Line and Jackson's camp, only this "sudden revelation" that now they're getting along. Right.

Everything about these press releases smells funny. They're too carefully worded and they don't sound natural for a moment. They're hiding something. Nothing has actually changed for the fans. The original press statement even said that New Line was handling the production. And with Jackson's flimsy excuse for not participating (not even as a writer), it sounds mainly like a studio-driven affair. If Jackson is too busy to direct or write, then he's too busy to do much of anything else except maybe stamp his "seal of approval" all over the thing.

That being said, I DO think another director could take up the reins. But what's making me angry is that New Line seems to be pointing at Jackson's name and saying: "see? all better!" . . . when all evidence points to it being a charade.

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GiantYoda writes:
on Dec 20 2007 08:39 AM

Peter Jackson MUST direct these films. Tin-Tin...WTF??? That's gonna be cool, well, sort of.. But, The Hobbit is one of the most compelling fantasy adventures of the 20th century...heck it still towers above all else. The Battle of Five Armies - bring it!!!

LOTR was great, but The Hobbit could be Jackson's finest ever.

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rgallitan writes:
on Dec 20 2007 08:46 AM

Give Raimi a break people. Just because he helmed a corporate clusterf--k of a sequel doesn't diminish his credentials. That's pretty much the hardest circumstances to produce good work under, and he succeeded two out of three times.

Raimi's my fav of the group, followed by Cuaron. I like Del Toro, but The Hobbit is not his style.

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Astr0creep writes:
on Dec 20 2007 08:47 AM

Well since there is already a video game of The Hobbit, the OBVIOUS choice would be...

*Drum roll*

Uwe Boll!

Or Ron Howard. He knows how to direct midgets already.

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lonechicken writes:
on Dec 20 2007 09:05 AM

Cuaron! Del Toro always seems too dark, and would be for this.

Tin-Tin before "His Majesty's Dragon"???

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TheBerserker writes:
on Dec 20 2007 09:09 AM

The fans have waited long enough? More appropriate would be: If we wait any longer we may lose LOTR's audience and thus lose MONEY!! MOOONEEYYYY!!!!!

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