Del Toro Quits The Hobbit!!!!!

Ok just found this out a few seconds ago and all I have to say is Dam you MGM Dam you all to HELL!!!!

Sad news from Middle-Earth (or New Zealand, as they still insist on calling it): Guillermo del Toro will no longer direct The Hobbit.
The Mexican director, who has been in heavy development and prep for the Lord of the Rings prequel for the past couple of years, announced the news in a joint statement with producer Peter Jackson via TheOneRing.net just a short while ago.
“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”, says del Toro. “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”.
Jackson adds: 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”.
The Hobbit seemed to be the big-budget blockbuster del Toro was born to make but, as filming of the two-movie saga kept being pushed back because of the MGM ownership battle (which has effectively placed The Hobbit and Bond 23 in limbo), it became clear that something would have to give on del Toro’s packed dance-card; a card that’s already bulging with movies post-Hobbit, the continuation of his novel series, The Strain, with Chuck Hogan, and the development of his own label, Disney Double Dare You.
And, while we're sure that it was a hard Hobbit to break, in the long run it may be the best move for him. He’ll still be involved with the movies – he’ll continue to co-write the screenplays with Jackson, Fran Walsh and Phillipa Boyens, while his design input will be vital – but this will allow him the time and opportunity to make movies that might be more personal.
So now the search for a new director begins. With, in theory, just a few months until filming begins on the first Hobbit film, will Jackson step into the breach? Will Sam Raimi, who was vying with del Toro for the gig in the first place, ditch the Warcraft movie to play with some real Orcs? Or will someone new come into the reckoning?
Whatever happens, we’re confident that The Hobbit will make it to the big screen, although we wouldn’t be surprised if the release dates got pushed back a bit. It’s just a shame that del Toro – the greatest purveyor of twisted fantasy working in movies today – won’t get a chance to work his dark magic on Middle-Earth.

Source taken from..
http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=28016

Disheartening news. There isn't exactly a vast pool of directors with experience in high quality fantasy movies to choose from... Del Toro seemed to be one of the best alternatives to Jackson himself.

I don't understand why MGM is hesitating to greenlight this project... considering the tremendous success of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, the Hobbit movies are pretty much guaranteed to make money.

Originally Posted by Count Froody

Disheartening news. There isn't exactly a vast pool of directors with experience in high quality fantasy movies to choose from... Del Toro seemed to be one of the best alternatives to Jackson himself.

I don't understand why MGM is hesitating to greenlight this project... considering the tremendous success of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, the Hobbit movies are pretty much guaranteed to make money.

I know, now lets just see if Jackson himself will step in and direct (fingers crossed)

Too bad, but to be honest I'm not really having high hopes since they announced to make two movies out of the book. The hobbit as a story line is perfect, it has a nice beginning, middel and ending part with a fantastic climatic battle with dragon to finish the story off nicely. And just to grab a few (a lot) millions extra out of it they decided to ruin it.

Whats wrong with two films? I would rather they had two films and didn't miss anything out of the books then one film with loads missing. As much as I love Lord of the Rings, I was gutted when I watched the Fellowship and there was no Tom Bombadil and no Barrow Downs (To use just one example)

Originally Posted by Azog 150

Whats wrong with two films? I would rather they had two films and didn't miss anything out of the books then one film with loads missing. As much as I love Lord of the Rings, I was gutted when I watched the Fellowship and there was no Tom Bombadil and no Barrow Downs (To use just one example)

Yes I thought this aswell, people would soon moan if they missed out Beron, also I liked that in The Lord Of The Rings they gave a nod towards Tom by giving Treebeard one of his lines

Originally Posted by Azog 150

Whats wrong with two films? I would rather they had two films and didn't miss anything out of the books then one film with loads missing. As much as I love Lord of the Rings, I was gutted when I watched the Fellowship and there was no Tom Bombadil and no Barrow Downs (To use just one example)

I'm glad they didn't put Bombadil in there. He's a silly character that totally would've ruined the pacing of the movie.

As for Del Toro, I can understand him wanting to do his other projects-- but I don't think any of them will stack up to the Hobbit. That could be a career defining film remembered for decades, whereas the sound of his other projects just sound forgettable.

And MGM needs to get their together. I want Bond 23!

Originally Posted by Captain Jin

I'm glad they didn't put Bombadil in there. He's a silly character that totally would've ruined the pacing of the movie.

As for Del Toro, I can understand him wanting to do his other projects-- but I don't think any of them will stack up to the Hobbit. That could be a career defining film remembered for decades, whereas the sound of his other projects just sound forgettable.

And MGM needs to get their together. I want Bond 23!

QFT

But at the same time, del Toro has to have a career of his own. A director cannot wait in limbo for several years just to make one movie.

Originally Posted by Captain Jin

As for Del Toro, I can understand him wanting to do his other projects-- but I don't think any of them will stack up to the Hobbit. That could be a career defining film remembered for decades, whereas the sound of his other projects just sound forgettable.

I don't think the man is looking for fame and prestige, he just wants to do projects he enjoys no matter their size and frankly that's an attitude I prefer in an artist.

Originally Posted by Rapax

I don't think the man is looking for fame and prestige, he just wants to do projects he enjoys no matter their size and frankly that's an attitude I prefer in an artist.

Indeed, plus the man has a life. Making the decision to leave your life and live in new zealand for 3 years can be a big one, then when it's almost over being told you have to do it again is in ways a big " you" to del toro.

guy has the right to cut off and do what he wants.

Originally Posted by Captain Jin

As for Del Toro, I can understand him wanting to do his other projects-- but I don't think any of them will stack up to the Hobbit. That could be a career defining film remembered for decades, whereas the sound of his other projects just sound forgettable.

He's defined himself with Pan's Labyrinth which IMO is one of the best films of the decade. If his upcoming projects are anything like it he's not going to worry too much about what he missed with The Hobbit. It's more of a loss for the studio and Jackson then anything else. That said he'd be disappointed that he's not doing it, though looking at his upcoming projects its still looking pretty exciting.

well this makes me lose some interest in this.

Was looking forward to a del toro hobbit. Now.... not so much.

I doubt the films will ever be made now.

Originally Posted by Nikos

I doubt the films will ever be made now.

Pretty much sounds like shelved indefinitely to me, i doubt we will see it anytime soon.

I know, now lets just see if Jackson himself will step in and direct (fingers crossed)

Now that would be depressing, what so Bard can be turn into a self doubting man - 'oh should I use the black arrow, maybe the age of man is over oh what's the use...' and also like drain all the subtle humor out of lake town which will no doubt be made of waddle and daub and where nobody has a comb.

Uwe Boll made In the Name of the King so he's got some fantasy movie experience. Maybe he can direct this.
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What?

There isn't exactly a vast pool of directors with experience in high quality fantasy movies to choose from

It would seem to me a good director is the key who cares about fantasy experience. That's kinda like saying wow we don't want Stanly Kubrick for Doctor Strangelove how much work as he done in darkly sarcastic Cold War doomsday scenario movies...

A great pity. I would love to have seen a Del Toro Smaug.

Honestly kinda glad. Well I like Del Toro movies his artistic style didn't seem to met up with the tolkien world imo.