Guillermo del Toro Will Direct "The Hobbit"

jagermeister101 tips us to news that Peter Jackson and the Lord of the Rings production team have officially selected Guillermo del Toro to direct the upcoming Hobbit film and its sequel. del Toro's resume includes films such as Pan's Labyrinth, Hellboy, and Blade 2. This confirms rumors which began after the controversy between Jackson and New Line Cinemas was resolved last year.

Re:What's the draw?

[ChinggisK]

You, sir, are brave.

Re:What's the draw?

[johannesg]

Honest question. With so much actual literature out there, what's the fascination with the second rate fantasy of Tolkein?

Let me put it in a way you might understand: if Tolkien were a car, then the Lord of the Rings would be a big, shiny Rolls Royce. And The Hobbit would be a cute little Smart.

(for the humor impaired, look at the parent posters' username...)

Re:What's the draw?

[Psychotria]

Well, this is so subjective it's not funny. But, personally, I enjoy David Eddings and Raymond Elias Feist. I don't mind The Hobbit, but I found the LOTR trilogy difficult to get through.

Sequel?

[mashuren]

"...to direct the upcoming Hobbit film and its sequel." Its sequel? You mean "Lord of the Rings"? Again?

True to the source...

[SanityInAnarchy]

Yes, because any version of LOTR which doesn't stay true to the source, and have a dancing, singing Tom Bombadil, isn't worth watching.

Re:What's the draw?

[gbobeck]

I think a more accurate analogy would be the following...

if Tolkien was a network, then the Lord of the Rings would be Tolkien Ring. And The Hobbit would be 10 Base T.

Re:Good

[Anonymous Coward]

Being from Mexico i'd be happy to see that Mexican film directors are becoming successful worldwide with films that suck less than Amores Perros and Babel among others

Re:What's the draw?

[Secret Rabbit]

But, if it's anything like Blade 2...

Re:Sequel to the Hobbit

[Rogerborg]

1. There.
2. And Back Again.

Re:What's the draw?

[Anonymous Coward]

If you can't spell his name correctly, I question your ability to criticize his work.

I'm dyslexic, you insensitive cold!

Re:What's the draw?

[Anonymous Coward]

"The books are pretty damn good for something written, when, like in the late 40s-early 50s?"

What? You say that like most old books use to be crappy before the invention of hi-def printing and surround sound grammar.

Re:What's the draw?

[KGIII]

Hell yeah! Just look at what it did to the web.

Re:What's the draw?

[dbIII]

That's only because most modern fantasy is not well written and is just a Tolkein effort.

Adam Sandler to direct The Hobbit

[David Gerard]

HOLLYHELL, Monday - In an admirable display of synergy between hard-headed business sense and sensitivity to artistic rightness, New Line Cinemas has hired Adam Sandler to direct The Hobbit, the prequel to The Lord Of The Rings.

"Peter Jackson may have made us three billion dollars and paved our goddamn driveways with Oscars," said a spokesdroid, "but when he dared question the three nickels and a gum wrapper payment, well. We knew we just couldn't work with someone so risibly unprofessional."

Sandler is likely to be working under renowned producer Uwe Boll. "Okay, here is what I am thinking, ja? Your Bilbo Baggins will be a WOMAN in Nazi Germany. A naked woman. And the One Ring will not show up. And she gets raped by Hitler! Gandalf will be played by Keanu Reeves. I AM THE DIRECTOR! I mean programmer. PRODUCER."

Jackson has lost weight, shaved his feet and gone back to his roots to make a warmhearted New Zealand-based family film in the style of his earliest works, under the working title Zombie Cancer Bukkake Pus-Nodules, with a budget in the range of over forty New Zealand dollars.

Work at New Line continues. "We at New Line are convinced that Professor Tolkien would have agreed with us that Adam Sandler will realise her artistic vision eleventy-one percent. We've bought three years' worth of shark futures."

Re:What's the draw?

[jollyreaper]

What? You say that like most old books use to be crappy before the invention of hi-def printing and surround sound grammar.

Scratch-n-sniff porn. There's just no going back.

Re:What's the draw?

[somersault]

Moorcock ... pumping out stuff

Doesn't really sound very family friendly - I'm not surprised he is unknown in today's climate ;)

Re:What's the draw?

[Culture20]

Quenya and Sindarin, though very impressive [...], even with considerable circumlocution, could be used for few areas of daily human life.

Then it's a good thing they were used in daily elven life.

Re:What's the draw?

[Anonymous Coward]

I can't read, you insensitive clod!

Re:What's the draw?

[hansamurai]

Just don't read that pop-up book about two girls and a cup.

It makes perfect sense

[DrXym]

After all Guillermo del Toro is more or less the non-union Mexican equivalent of Peter Jackson.

That reminds me

[Mateo_LeFou]

Where are all the white women at?

Re:Phew

[sm62704]

I have been drinking tonight and it shows, but I will agree del Toro is superior in directing and even a LORT [wikipedia.org] fan will agree.

Well I'm no LORT fan but I'll agree you've been drinking!

Re:What's the draw?

[Lobster Quadrille]

I'm with you. I'm not into "period" novels. Somebody needs to write a book about middle-earth today, with all the technical advancements of the dwarves and elves over the last 50 years.

Elves with lasers.

It would be awesome.