Del Toro Quits 'The Hobbit'

[Morthoron]

Originally Posted by Mithalwen

I really hope that a completely fresh approach is given. It is long enough now - after all there is a generation of children who weren't born when LOTR was released who are now the perfect age for a children's movie of The Hobbit - would it be such a bad thing if it were made as such rather than as a prequel to Jackson's LOTR?

No, it would not be a bad thing; in fact, it may be the right thing to do over the long-term.

*Snickers*

Granted, 'long-term' and 'Hollywood' are mutually exclusive.

But how many generations of children have grown up and bequeathed a copy of the Wizard of Oz movie to their children and they to their children? As a book, The Hobbit is generational -- the movie could be a classic in the same manner. But like in the Wizard of Oz, monkeys may be flying out of some aperture better not named.

Originally Posted by Ibrîniðilpathânezel

I also have to wonder if Del Toro left because he wanted to be more faithful to the book, and the studio hated it....

Sigh....

I had wondered the same thing. GdT had dropped by the TORn site many times to discuss his ideas on the making of The Hobbit, and he was quite reverential of the text and the humor suffused throughout. Based on his candor, I assumed he was definitely intent on keeping things to scale and within the parameters of Tolkien's original storyline. PJ, as we all know, overscales everything, and although he is producing this time around, I am wondering how heavy-handed he is in the scriptwriting. He is certainly prone to go too far afield in his fan-fic inventions and frivolous flights of fancy.

My take? Certainly del Toro's time investment got to be too much; he had been at it since 2008, but now there are rumors that the film will not be released until 2013 and perhpas even 2014. Six years is a bit much for a full-time investment in a film, but given the high profile nature of the movie, its staunch fandom and the inherent wonder of the tale, one has to think that perhaps del Toro felt that he would not get the scope necessary to make it 'his film' and that PJ was holding the reins a bit too tightly on someone of GdT's stature (and it could be argued very convincingly that over their careers GdT has had a far better track record than PJ).

Look for PJ to either eventually take the reins himself (no matter what his 'manager' says, PJ may be too hands on to resist), or merely get a 'hired gun' like Sam Raimi to act as PJ's henchman.

[Inziladun]

Originally Posted by Morthoron

Look for PJ to either eventually take the reins himself (no matter what his 'manager' says, PJ may be too hands on to resist), or merely get a 'hired gun' like Sam Raimi to act as PJ's henchman.

Maybe he'll give it to Michael Bay. After all, a director who bastardises characters he didn't create in the interests of making a film treatment more 'accessible' ought to be right up PJ's alley.

[Andsigil]

Originally Posted by Inziladun

Maybe he'll give it to Michael Bay.

Or Uwe Boll?

[Mister Underhill]

Now you're just tempting fate.

[Morthoron]

Originally Posted by Andsigil

Or Uwe Boll?

Originally Posted by Mister Underhill

Now you're just tempting fate.

Would you prefer Manute Bol or Uwe Blab?

Speaking of Uwe Boll, I had no idea there are several sites that are actually petitioning to stop Mr. Boll from making any more films. Boll has been referred to as 'the new Ed Wood, except with better funding and less talent.'

[morwen edhelwen]

So, does anyone here think the film is going to be made or not? Opinions?
-Morwen

[Inziladun]

Originally Posted by morwen edhelwen

So, does anyone here think the film is going to be made or not? Opinions?
-Morwen

Oh, I'm pretty sure they'll find a way to get it done. It's been in the planning stages for too long, and they know what a money-maker it has the potential to be.

[Mister Underhill]

Harsh! I have my criticisms of Jackson's treatment of LotR, but comparing him to Michael Bay is hitting below the belt.

Also, I imagine if there were creative differences which were that profound, GDT would have been gone a long time ago. Jackson doesn't appear to me to be the tyrant he is sometimes imagined to be. For instance, he's pretty much single-handedly helped Neil Blomkamp have a career. He produced District 9, and that film is unmistakably Blomkamp's.

Of course it's easy to be cynical when ninety-nine times out of a hundred these "amicable departures" are exactly -- and pretty transparently -- the opposite, but in this case the official story seems like just the obvious truth. GDT is tired of cooling his heels on a project which may not get off the ground for months, maybe years, maybe not at all. There's only so many artists renderings and storyboards and maquettes you can futz around with before you start to think, I'm ready to make a film already.

[Inziladun]

Originally Posted by Mister Underhill

Harsh! I have my criticisms of Jackson's treatment of LotR, but comparing him to Michael Bay is hitting below the belt.

Well, I've gotten better over the years, but sometimes my restraint gives way.

As penance I'll write "Even the smallest person can change the world" 100 times in sidewalk chalk outside my house.

Really though, even though the story of The Hobbit is generally more lighthearted and childlike in tone than LOTR, it could still be cheapened by trying to make it 'contemporary'. I hope they can find someone who will respect the source material enough to avoid that.

As a fan of the first two X-Men movies, I wonder what someone like Bryan Singer could bring to the project.