Del Toro Quits 'The Hobbit'

[Mister Underhill]

Peter Weir's name was frequently brought up in speculative lists even in the original director search. Based on his resume, I never quite got why he was so often suggested. I have a sneaking feeling that it's based mainly on the fact that he was one of the first to employ Billy Boyd after LotR.

I think Weir is an interesting director, but I would judge the odds of him getting involved with The Hobbit as extremely slim. He does films for grown-ups, complete with smoldering sexuality, ambiguity, and restrained understatement -- all qualities which aren't really in the Peter Jackson playbook. Besides, I've never seen that sense of humor and whimsy from him that I think a director really needs to have to do credit to Tolkien's novel. Also, Weir's more of an artist than a gun-for-hire (Green Card notwithstanding). He'd definitely be the type of guy who would want to make the project his own if he were to come on to it.

You know whose name I'm surprised I've never seen on any of these lists, especially the original search? Brad Silberling. I thought he did a fine job with the Lemony Snicket movie. I thought that should have been a bigger hit, but I guess it had a particular sort of humor which might not have translated well overseas. And now, well, let's face it, the crime against cinema known as Land of the Lost has probably relegated him to the B- or C-list for the foreseeable future. You don't want that stink on The Hobbit.

[Morthoron]

Originally Posted by Mister Underhill

You know whose name I'm surprised I've never seen on any of these lists, especially the original search? Brad Silberling. I thought he did a fine job with the Lemony Snicket movie. I thought that should have been a bigger hit, but I guess it had a particular sort of humor which might not have translated well overseas. And now, well, let's face it, the crime against cinema known as Land of the Lost has probably relegated him to the B- or C-list for the foreseeable future. You don't want that stink on The Hobbit.

But wasn't Peter Jackson a B or C list director prior to the filming of LotR? I seem to recall saying 'Who?' when a friend told me PJ was named as LotR director. The friend then rattled off a few movies that PJ had directed, and I again replied 'Who?'

Honestly, it would appear to me that the Lord of the Rings movies were Jackson's shining moment, because I have not been enamored of his projects prior or since. King Kong? Meh...I prefer the 1933 black & white classic. PJ offered nothing new to the film. And 'Lovely Bones'? Again, nothing really to get all worked up about. I certainly wouldn't go out and buy the DVD for my collection. I saw it on cable and have no interest in seeing it again.

Oh, and I really enjoyed Lemony Snicket, but you are right, Silberling should be consigned to the ninth circle of cinema hell for Land of the Lost.

[PrinceOfTheHalflings]

Originally Posted by Morthoron

But wasn't Peter Jackson a B or C list director prior to the filming of LotR? I seem to recall saying 'Who?' when a friend told me PJ was named as LotR director. The friend then rattled off a few movies that PJ had directed, and I again replied 'Who?'

Not exactly. "Heavenly Creatures" (1994) got an Academy Award nomination and it also got other awards and nominations. It was more that he was an independent director working in a small country that meant that he wasn't so well known.

He was working outside of the Hollywood system, so notions of "A list" or whatever don't really apply. He still doesn't work in Hollywood, BTW.

[Mister Underhill]

Yes, Heavenly Creatures was nominated for an Oscar for the screenplay, and got some other awards attention.

More importantly, though, Tolkien wasn't a multi-billion dollar franchise when New Line decided to take a big gamble on Jackson. As Bob Dylan once said, things have changed.

Jackson has his virtues. I mean he's not soulless like Bay, or clueless like Boll. I heartily agree that the original Kong is awesome, a landmark film of its time, like Star Wars, that fired the imaginations of a generation of filmmakers and still holds up today. Still and all, I thought there was some nice work in Kong. I agree overall though that he's not the "New Spielberg" he was hailed as when the LotR was breaking the bank.

[Andsigil]

Originally Posted by Mister Underhill

Yes, Heavenly Creatures was nominated for an Oscar for the screenplay, and got some other awards attention.

More importantly, though, Tolkien wasn't a multi-billion dollar franchise when New Line decided to take a big gamble on Jackson. As Bob Dylan once said, things have changed.

Jackson has his virtues. I mean he's not soulless like Bay, or clueless like Bole. I heartily agree that the original Kong is awesome, a landmark film of its time, like Star Wars, that fired the imaginations of a generation of filmmakers and still holds up today. Still and all, I thought there was some nice work in Kong. I agree overall though that he's not the "New Spielberg" he was hailed as when the LotR was breaking the bank.

Has anyone beside me seen Jackson's 1996 film, "The Frighteners"? I thought it was quite entertaining and very well-made.

I especially enjoyed the cameo by R. Lee Ermey. That was a touch of genius.

[Thinlómien]

I was really disappointed when I heard this a few days ago. Maybe it's like Nogrod says - Del Toro was too good for this. It would've just been very interesting to see his Middle-Earth: I think he's the kind of director who has enough vision of his own that he could "save" the jacksonified Middle-Earth. I'm not expecting that from any random blockbuster/fantasy movie director...

[Mithalwen]

Originally Posted by Mister Underhill

Peter Weir's name was frequently brought up in speculative lists even in the original director search. Based on his resume, I never quite got why he was so often suggested. I have a sneaking feeling that it's based mainly on the fact that he was one of the first to employ Billy Boyd after LotR.

I think Weir is an interesting director, but I would judge the odds of him getting involved with The Hobbit as extremely slim. He does films for grown-ups, complete with smoldering sexuality, ambiguity, and restrained understatement -- all qualities which aren't really in the Peter Jackson playbook. Besides, I've never seen that sense of humor and whimsy from him that I think a director really needs to have to do credit to Tolkien's novel. Also, Weir's more of an artist than a gun-for-hire (Green Card notwithstanding). He'd definitely be the type of guy who would want to make the project his own if he were to come on to it.

I am one of the Peter Weir advocates but nothing to do with Billy Boyd, I just love his films but to be honest I think I really would have wanted him to do the Rings or something form the Silmarilllion - I can really see him handling Tuor, Idril and Maeglin in Gondolin brilliantly. He really understands the tension of enclosed societies and I can only dream of the more sophisticated LOTR he might have produced. This is the man whose director's cut of Picnic at Hanging Rock is shorter than the released version! Ah well ....

[Morthoron]

Personally, I think someone like Terry Gilliam would be a brilliant choice. No one does fantasy (Adventures of Baron Munchausen, Brazil, The Fisher King, 12 Monkeys) or period comedy (The Holy Grail, Time Bandits, Jabberwocky) like him. And talk about creepy forests -- anyone who watched The Brothers Grimm will know what astounding work Gilliam could do with Mirkwood.

But, alas, I think Gilliam is far too much a free spirit to conform to a prewritten script or having PJ hover about him like a large New Zealandish bat. Too bad, as he certainly has English humor down cold -- even if he was originally from Wisconsin. But don't tell John Cleese, as I don't believe anyone has informed him.

[Ibrîniðilpathânezel]

Originally Posted by Morthoron

Too bad, as he certainly has English humor down cold -- even if he was originally from Wisconsin.

And this is a bad thing? (Says she who was born and still lives in the aforementioned state. ) Living here, one develops some kind of a sense of humor as a defense mechanism, against the crazy politics and mosquitoes, if nothing else.

[Morthoron]

Originally Posted by Ibrîniðilpathânezel

And this is a bad thing? (Says she who was born and still lives in the aforementioned state. ) Living here, one develops some kind of a sense of humor as a defense mechanism, against the crazy politics and mosquitoes, if nothing else.

I suppose it is rather fitting that the person with the most bizzare sense of humor in Britain's most famous oddball comedy troop (or would that be troupe?) would be from Wisconsin.

And I think Michigan shares Wisconsin's mosquitoes, Ibrin. They seem to be multitudinous this year. My daughter and I made an ill-fated hike into the woods last weekend, only to be turned back within a half-mile.

[skip spence]

Originally Posted by Morthoron

Personally, I think someone like Terry Gilliam would be a brilliant choice.

I agree emphatically that would be a brilliant choice and that he would be an extremely unlikely choice. Too bad.

[Fordim Hedgethistle]

Oh what the hell, I'll direct it.

[Inziladun]

Originally Posted by Fordim Hedgethistle

Oh what the hell, I'll direct it.

I trust you more than PJ.

[PrinceOfTheHalflings]

Originally Posted by Morthoron

Personally, I think someone like Terry Gilliam would be a brilliant choice. No one does fantasy (Adventures of Baron Munchausen, Brazil, The Fisher King, 12 Monkeys) or period comedy (The Holy Grail, Time Bandits, Jabberwocky) like him. And talk about creepy forests -- anyone who watched The Brothers Grimm will know what astounding work Gilliam could do with Mirkwood.

But, alas, I think Gilliam is far too much a free spirit to conform to a prewritten script or having PJ hover about him like a large New Zealandish bat. Too bad, as he certainly has English humor down cold -- even if he was originally from Wisconsin. But don't tell John Cleese, as I don't believe anyone has informed him.

Gilliam's not from Wisconsin, he's from Minnesota. However, I imagine that John Cleese believes that he's from Barcelona.

[Tuor in Gondolin]

Minnesota was also the home of much of the mst3000 crew.

In September 1988, Hodgson enlisted Twin Cities-area comedians Trace Beaulieu and Josh Weinstein, and producer Jim Mallon, to help him shoot a pilot for the show. The robots and the set, in their crudest format, were built overnight by Hodgson.

And Mike Nelson grew up in Wisconsin and was working in the
Twin Cities before joining mst3000.

[Morthoron]

Pffft...the only difference between Wisconsin and Minnesota is that one has more vowels than the other. Both have 9 letters total and both have a lot of cows. Seriously, there's cows everywhere. And they are devious. Even now they are plotting bovine domination.

*knock, knock*

Oh, just a moment, there's someone at the door.

MOOOOOOWAHAHAHA!

Arrrrrgggghhhh!

[Gothbogg the Ripper]

This movie isn't going to happen, is it? They'll just keep coming up with excuse after excuse and it will languish in development Hell until being utterly forgotten.
For Gods sake, just do the movie or don't do it.
Don't keep toying with the fans like this.

[Elerrina the Fair]

Oh no! That's really quite suckish. I was looking forward to The Hobbit with all of my heart. Guess I will have to content myself with the book and my imagination. *sadness*

[Tuor in Gondolin]

Be afraid. Be very afraid.

Be prepared for way over the top cgi of
especially Smaug, Beorn, and the Giant Spiders.

[Mister Underhill]

So Del Toro, in a heart-wrenching decision for both himself and Tolkien fans, decides to drop out of The Hobbit.

Bummer.

But surely he must have had some completely awesome project calling to him, something that put him in that Sophie's choice position of having to pick between it and TH. Maybe that At the Mountains of Madness adaptation he's had waiting in the wings for years.

Oh goody -- he's announcing his new project at ComicCon!

And it's...

Huh? Say that again? A redo of Haunted Mansion? Say that again, I think there's something wrong with my internet because it looks like he jumped from The Hobbit to adapt a Disney theme park ride.

[Inziladun]

That Del Toro would abandon The Hobbit to do that really is amazing. TH has a built-in fan base, and is nearly guaranteed to be a huge success, at least from a financial standpoint. I think it really must speak volumes about the dissatisfaction and frustration surrounding the project in general.