Guillermo Del Toro to Direct The Hobbit

After months of speculation, Variety announced that Guillermo Del Toro is going to sign a contract to direct the next two Hobbit films.

The announcement was made this week by executive producers Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh, the president of New Line, Toby Emmirich, and MGM’s president, Mary Parent.

After having completed Hellboy2, the Mexican filmmaker will be spending the next four years in New Zealand to work with Peter Jackson and his team. The two films will be shot at the same time, just like the trilogy The Lord of the Rings.

60 years separates the story of The Hobbit and the first film of the trilogy, The Fellowship of the Ring.

New Zealand is becoming the new Middle Earth. This time, the adventure of Bilbo Baggins unfolds as he takes the mystical ring to Gollum.

The cast has not yet been chosen, but we know that Ian McKellen is eager to resume his role as Gandalf.