“There and Back Again” seems appropriate to mention the opening line of the book here as that is what this merry-go-round of this production has been like. It was just yesterday we reported that veteran Harry Potter director, David Yates was on the short list to direct The Hobbit after del Toro’s exit. It seems though as good as a resume Yates brings to the table Warner Bros. and MGM want Peter Jackson to return to Middle Earth.
Deadline New York is reporting that both studios are trying to persuade Jackson to direct The Hobbit. The site is reporting that the studios haven’t offered the job to anyone as of yet, and it was said that they will keep trying to convince Jackson to direct the two planned films for The Hobbit, “until Jackson gives a definitive no.” The site claims that one of the rumored reasons del Toro left the project was he didn’t want to move his family to New Zealand, where Jackson’s visual effects house Weta is based and where the film will be shooting.
Jackson mentioned earlier last week that he’d be interested in directing the film only if the studios couldn’t find anyone and he didn’t have any contractual obligations on his other projects that would interfere.
There are other directors interesting in replacing del Toro as well, with the site mentioning Yates, David Dobkin and dare I even write his name – Brett Ratner. I hope Jackson comes back to Middle Earth or Yates directs the project. If Brett Ratner gets the job I will never see this movie. I mean Ratner? Warners and MGM have got to be smoking the Middle Earth weed from Gandalf’s pipe to even have him in the conversation. I see Ratner’s version now, Chris Tucker as the dragon, Jackie Chan as Bilbo Baggins, and a ____ load of bad stuff.
