The Hobbit in July 2007?

[radagastly]

One can only be hopeful that Robert Shaye will not direct The Hobbit himself.

"It took a long time to lick the script, and I guess I was a bit more soulful by the time I got into the director's chair," he says. An "E.T."-like story of two youngsters who find a doll from the future, it's based on an old science-fiction story that Shaye, 68, had read as a child.

That story, "Mimsy Were the Borogroves" by Lewis Padgett copywrited in 1943 may involve children, but it is no E.T. It failed because he can't read. At least not well.

Still, I am hopeful that this is a sign that P. J. will direct The Hobbit, if anyone does. I hope they can get it done before Ian McKellan dies. He's getting up there. It wouldn't be the same with someone else as Gandalf.