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Here’s a glimmer of hope for those die-hard fans of The Lord of the Rings (like me) who hope that Peter Jackson will realize the best director for The Hobbit is the one he sees in the mirror each morning. My sources say that nobody has been offered the helming job — yet. Instead, Warner Bros and MGM brass are doing all they can to sell Jackson on the seemingly obvious notion that he should complete the franchise he started with three LOTR films that grossed $2.9 billion worldwide. Particularly since he co-wrote the scripts for the two Hobbit movies and already is producing and can shoot both in his backyard. One of the rumored reasons that prompted one-time director Guillermo del Toro’s recent exit, I hear, was the prospect of transplanting his family to New Zealand, where Jackson has his visual effects factory and is so comfortable shooting. Warner Bros and MGM braintrust will keep pursuing him until Jackson gives a definitive no.
Other filmmakers are interested in replacing del Toro. Sources tell me David Yates, David Dobkin, and the ubiquitous Brett Ratner are among them. One tricky part of the equation is the deal numbers. So much gross already has been committed on the picture that there isn’t much left to give to a top-level director. Sources tell me that gross participants include the JRR Tolkien estate, Jackson, Saul Zaentz, even Harvey Weinstein, who bargained for a 5% gross stake in the original trilogy. (That happened when Michael Eisner refused to finance two LOTR films, and Weinstein gave Jackson a short turnaround window to shop the property. Jackson made the trilogy deal with Bob Shaye at New Line right before that turnaround window closed). No matter who gets the gig, they’ll have to accept a creative deal or the financing studios will be hard pressed to make money.
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Just do it Peter. If Ratner does it, prepare for angry mobs of fan boys to congregate in west Burbank and Century City to burn Warners and MGM to the ground…
if Ratner has anything to do with this besides buying a ticket and seeing it in the theatres I will NEVER EVER watch it!
seriously, if Brett Ratner is allowed to direct this movie, i will burn everything LOTR i have associated with the original trilogy, and off course not see the new films. That guy is one of the most unintelligent and talentless directors. I don’t think he even deserve the title director.
David Yates, another thing entirely, i could see it work, i think he did very well with the two last potter movies and look forward to the next two, i’m just not sure he will get dark enough for my taste of the hobbit. which is admittedly not in every ones taste either.
I actually have second thoughts about PJ, if his hearts not in it, maybe he shouldn’t i do however have complete faith that he will make the right decision
That’s a little bit of an overreaction, surely? Just because you don’t like the potential director for two new Tolkien adaptations, it doesn’t necessarily devalue the Lord of the Rings films. That’s like saying you can’t watch The Godfather because Part III was so crappy.
I think Ratner gets unfairly maligned by people. I liked his adaptation of Red Dragon a lot, and thought when he wasn’t having to tie up Bryan Singer’s loose ends he did a good job with X-Men III.
Come on!
he totally ruined x-men 3, i really wanted to leave the cinema when i watched it, i was so mad, at how he just crushed the storylines into something that took like 5 min.
i liked how part 1-2 took their time with building things up. Ratner just screwed that up completely.
When thats said, i have faith in PJ. at least faith enough that he will keep Brett Ratner away from this.
when you say it can’t devalue the original films, think of starwars. I love the classic trilogy, but the new ones, have pretty much drained my feelings for Star wars. i like the old films still sure. But i hardly every watch them. this is what will happen if ratner takes over – trust me, the guy can’t make a decent movie is his life depended on it.
i hate it when directors have no self critique at all.
if there need to another director, i could see Yates do a good job or Cuaron.
i must say in regards to yates, i thought he rushed most of the scenes in the harry potter movies. the ones before him were put together better and concentrated more on detail throughout each scene. yates did a horrible job, it just seemed better because the story is getting better and more special effects added. i would have no confidence in him to follow through and make a detailed world of tolkien acceptable. he will rush it and cut intrical scenes that are needed for the story. i am going to see the next 2 harry potter films ofcoarse, but im expecting to be dissapointed .
Brett Ratner? LOLOL
This has gotta be the biggest no-brainer since Cameron’s Terminator 2. Give Jackson whatever he wants. Give the man whatever he wants.
Brett Ratner for director of the Hobbit movies? If any LOTR fans want a prequel that bad, let’s just do a theatrical re-release of the animated Hobbit movie from the 70′s.
It wasn’t bad, and anything would be better than Jackie Chan as Gandalf and Chris Tucker as Bilbo Baggins.
That said, my betting money is on a Hobbit movie directed by Peter Jackson within the next 4 yrs.
It’s Jackson’s franchise. I bet even the late J.R.R. Tokien would be gagging at the idea of Bret Ratner. (although Chris Tucker might make a great Gollum…)
As Nancy and Ron said just say NO.
Six years is a long time.
- In six years you could remake Bleak House, A Tale of Two Cities, Moby Dick and even a bond film if they let you.
- In six years you could write 24 screenplays with rewrites
-In six years you could look like Gary Grant.
- In six years you could have been 1/3 of the way through a child hood.
Don’t do it.
MOBY DICK has recently been remade with William Hurt, Ethan Hawke, Gillian Anderson and Billy Boyd
This is a job for David Lynch, who hasn’t directed in a while. Think Orcs with the temperament of Frank Booth in Blue Velvet, hobbits like those bright-eyed American kids who are always getting into trouble in his movies, and a Gandalf who has the world-weary manner of Richard Farnsworth in the Straight Story. Now there’s a Hobbit I’d like to see.
But Peter Jackson will do in a pinch!
I’m sold. Lynch for Hobbit!
Bilbo: You’re so fucking suave, Gandalf!
DAVID DOBKIN?!! I don’t understand how the director of Wedding Crashers and Fred Claus is constantly being linked with all these big WB projects. Is there something about his directing talent that I’m just not seeing? I mean I enjoyed Wedding Crashers and his other work but he seems a bizarre choice for The Hobbit.
David Yates to me seems a much more sensible, if uninspired, choice for the director’s chair. If you ask me (the massively underrated IMHO) Francis Lawrence seems an ideal choice. He could start when Water For Elephants wraps. He has the experience with big projects and could bring his own style to the films.
And I can confirm that MGM are indeed talking to Peter Jackson. They are stumbling up to him on the street and asking him if he has any change.
Agreed. Lawrence is an excellent choice.
regardless of who gets the Directed By credit, jackson will inevitably be the de facto director. and since the only objective is to deliver an acceptable minimum box office, not to make a good movie, then he’s the perfect choice.
Are you kidding me? The Lord of the Rings Trilogy was a GREAT movie! I’m sure that box office considerations were NOTHING like they are now, especially if the film wasn’t even an option for many studios at the time…they originally passed on the film. Jackson pulled a rabbit out of his @$$ and made LOTR the new cash cow on the block for New Line Cinema.
Anyways, Peter’s the obvious choice, but something tells me this isn’t going to happen. I’d love it to, but I refuse to get my hopes up, especially where Hollywood’s involved.
If Jackson refuses, he is quite simply a moron.
Only Spielberg should be considered as a serious replacement.
David Dobkin?? David Yates, who directed the shitty Potter flicks?? Brett Ratner. Only of WB wants to commit suicide.
Hey Pete, just making the mofo-ing films already. Stop dicking around with things no ones gives a shit about (Lovely Bones, Tin Tin).
Finish what you started, and don’t be a pussy.
You seem to be saying that he wont direct them because he doesnt want to. No ones persuing Jackson or selling the idea to him to direct the hobit because hes contractually obligated to Tintin and its got nothing to do with convincing convincing to direct. Del Toro said in his statements that he couldnt commit to an extended 6 years in NZ so its not exactly a rumour is it?
@warnerborg: Dobkin has a deal at WB. That’s why.
Remember the bomb threats @ the MGM building a couple years ago? Those were a hoax. If they hire Ratner, you can rest assured they will be real this time. NOT ME but there are plenty of fanboys who would burn Century City to the ground if that came to pass.
i think peter has nothing to lose. the trilogy is beloved and if another director takes it over and sinks it, peter will be to blame. and logistically, six years in new zealand will be alot easier for peter than anybody else. it’s alot harder to move your family to a new country youve never been to and i think he’ll waste a lot of time looking for one when he’s the best man for the job already.
Brett Ratner is entirely capable of delivering a great Hobbit movie. Give the guy a break. He is friends with Peter Jackson, and many other talented directors who like and respect his work – like Coppolla, Polanski, Olver Stone and Bryan Singer. I am tired of all the Ratner bashing. Give the guy a chance. Everyone bitches about X-Men 3. It was the studio that messed that up. Ratner did the best he could with 8 months to deliver the movie on a studio mandated release date. And let’s not forget it made the most money of all three X-Men movies.
If Kenneth Branagh gets out of Asgard in time I’d like to see him take on Middle Earth
GDT already transplanted his family when he began extensive work on the project, and that was two years ago, when they expected to be filming by now. So no, that wasn’t a big issue. The issue was with his previously delayed contracts, and likely their rights timeframes.
As much as I’d love for Peter to helm, this bombardment technique sounds like a good way to piss a guy off. I think Peter knows what the fans want, but he also does not like bowing to studio pressure by any means. Re: how he essentially got carte blanche on the Hobbit in the first place with the whole nasty Bob Shaye debacle.
Jackson is the only one besides Del Toro that has any business directing this. A lot of the prep work has already been done, Del Toro has done a lot of script work on the project. Seems like a no-brainer for Peter.
Give it to Sam Raimi.
David Dobkin? WTF?! “The Hobbit Claus Gets Married”
Peter has to do it. There is no one out there that could ever hope to do it justice like he can. DO IT FOR THE FANS, PETE!
Anybody who thinks Peter Jackson would choose Dobkin or Ratner to helm the prequel movies to one of the most-loved fanboy franchises of all time, clearly knows zip about geek mentality.
I’d stake good money it’ll end up being Jackson. Comments from him seem to already be steering it that way. Let’s face it: NONE of Del Toro’s movies suggested he was particularly capable of doing it.
BRETT RATNER!? Seriously? That’s beyond moronic.
The obvious choice is “District 9″ director Neil Blomkamp. He has a good relationship with Peter Jackson (who produced D9) and has shown a flair for big screen visuals and action sequences while maintaining a character driven narrative.
No doubt Brett Ratner thinks he can do it, the rest of the world on the other hand…
Can someone please explain details of how Harvey worked 5% of the gross?! I want him to adopt me…
if the odd chance in the end Peter decides just to produce the film.s then by all that is right in holly wood David should get the job. other wise Warner’s and Mgm better have their fire insurance and fire fighters on stand by when fans start torching every thing in site if the execs dare to give the Hobbit to Bret ratner