Sad news for fans of the famous J.R.R. Tolkien novel: Guillermo Del Toro will not be directing two The Hobbit films. The news was announced yesterday (May 30) on the official website, The One Ring.
Del Toro released a communiqué stating: "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."
The director isn’t making a clean break, however, because he co-wrote the script with Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh and Phillipa Boyens.
Peter Jackson, the film’s producer, added: "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 Hobbit still has not received the green light due to the uncertain situation at MGM. The studio was put up for sale last November and has not yet been sold. MGM co-finances the project with New Line. For the moment, no shooting date has been officially announced and no other director has been approached by the studio.
Guillermo Del Toro has other projects coming down the pipe. He has first right to look at some Universal remakes, including Frankenstein and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.