# Guillermo Del Toro quits The Hobbit **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 31, 2010, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guillermo-del-toro-quits-the-hobbit/541332 "2010-05-31T00:22:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2010, 10:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guillermo-del-toro-quits-the-hobbit/541332/61 "2010-06-03T10:22:42Z")
> [@tr0psn4j](#): > > Maybe it can be a flashback in the form of Gandalf or The Dwarves telling Bilbo a little bit about Smaug’s history. > > Although, anything that isn’t 100% by the book is going to piss off all the fan boys. 🙂 Well, you’d expect a flashback early on, since the whole story about the coming of Smaug is in the first chapter. As for a break, I’d put it a bit earlier. After Bilbo has rescued the dwarves from the spiders but before he breaks them out of the elves’ dungeon. ---
**Author:** ![Baal\_Houtham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baal_houtham/32/13604_2.png) [@Baal\_Houtham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baal_Houtham)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2010, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guillermo-del-toro-quits-the-hobbit/541332/62 "2010-06-03T13:58:17Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > _Entertainment Weekly_ gives the tongue-in-cheek pros and cons of 15 other possible directors: [http://www.ew.com/ew/gallery/0,,20390376,00.html](http://www.ew.com/ew/gallery/0,,20390376,00.html) Of those directors I’d want Tarantino. But I think he’s a guy that picks his own projects, so it’s extremely unlikely to happen. Still, the necessary abilities are extraordinary visual style and the ability not to fuck up a good book. QT has the style and he managed to not fuck up _Jackie Brown_. Beyond that: –I hope Del Toro comes back and finishes. –Don’t make it a two-parter. The book is shorter than any volume of LOTR. –Forget about 3-D. As long as people have to wear the glasses it’s on the same level as Smell-O-Vision (and I don’t think they’ll get rid of the glasses this century). The entertainment industry is casting around for something to sell TVs and movie tickets, but 3-D isn’t it. –Don’t let it be Peter “Dwarve Tossing Jokes” Jackson. ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2010, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guillermo-del-toro-quits-the-hobbit/541332/63 "2010-06-07T20:01:24Z")
GDT posts on TORN: [The One Ring Forums: Tolkien Topics: Movie Discussion: The Hobbit: As promised... (Guillermo)](http://newboards.theonering.net/forum/gforum/perl/gforum.cgi?do=post_view_threaded;post=261703;sb=post_time;so=DESC); Brian ---
**Author:** ![Driver8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5a626/32.png) [@Driver8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Driver8)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2010, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guillermo-del-toro-quits-the-hobbit/541332/64 "2010-06-07T22:33:02Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I don’t get it. There can’t be any possible doubt that this’ll make boatloads of money, so the studios should like it. And between being a less dense book, and being split into two movies, it should adapt at least as well as _The Lord of the Rings_ did. What’s the problem, here? I heard an interesting NPR segment on the radio the other day that posed this exact question: in essence since one of the main players, MGM studios, is in so much trouble even investing in a guaranteed hit could be dangerous. There is the potential for things to be tied up in bankruptcy court, etc. I think some clarity is required before throwing much more money at this project. [The NPR article can be found here.](http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=127374020) ---
**Author:** ![mr.jp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/48db29/32.png) [@mr.jp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mr.jp)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2010, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guillermo-del-toro-quits-the-hobbit/541332/65 "2010-06-07T23:01:56Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > - > > “Good morning!” said Bilbo, and he meant it. The sun was shining, and the grass was very green. But Gandalf looked at him from under long bushy eyebrows that stuck out further than the brim of his shady hat. “What do you mean?” he said. “Do you wish me a good morning, or mean that it is a good morning whether I want not; or that you feel good this morning; or that it is morning to be good on?” > > “Go fuck yourself,” said Bilbo.\* Haha. Ok, we need to do this for all potential directors. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2010, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guillermo-del-toro-quits-the-hobbit/541332/66 "2010-06-15T17:55:11Z")
Update: Rumors are flying that it is coming down to three names. Peter Jackson - I hope so David Yates - I could definitely see this and think it would work. Bret Ratner - Oh, God, please no! [Studios want Jackson](http://www.deadline.com/2010/06/two-studios-trying-to-talk-peter-jackson-into-helming-the-hobbit-films/) [Yates?](http://www.slashfilm.com/2010/06/14/david-yates-for-the-hobbit/) ---
**Author:** ![A\_Dodgy\_Dude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a87d85/32.png) [@A\_Dodgy\_Dude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A_Dodgy_Dude)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2010, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guillermo-del-toro-quits-the-hobbit/541332/67 "2010-06-15T22:31:06Z")
> [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#): > > Or fucking Tom Cruise. Hobbits are fucking Tom Cruise? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2010, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guillermo-del-toro-quits-the-hobbit/541332/68 "2010-06-15T23:49:08Z")
> [@A\_Dodgy\_Dude](#): > > Hobbits are fucking Tom Cruise? 😕 He’s a pervy hobbit-fancier, you know. ---
**Author:** ![TWDuke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e495f1/32.png) [@TWDuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TWDuke)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2010, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guillermo-del-toro-quits-the-hobbit/541332/69 "2010-06-16T00:44:37Z")
> [@Baal\_Houtham](#): > > Don’t let it be Peter “Dwarve Tossing Jokes” Jackson. Wouldn’t it very likely be written by Jackson, is his wife, and, uh, the other one? I know I’m alone on this, but I’d really prefer an all-new team: producer, director, writers, actors, designers, everybody. I loved the “Lord of the Ring” movies, but I’ve already seen them. I want the excitement of seeing the Shire, Rivendell, Gandalf, Gollum, and the rest in different ways. It’s a story of expanding horizons and making discoveries, after all, not treading well-trodden trails. ---
**Author:** ![Private\_Bin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c0e974/32.png) [@Private\_Bin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Private_Bin)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2010, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guillermo-del-toro-quits-the-hobbit/541332/70 "2010-06-16T04:27:09Z")
> [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#): > > Four words: David Lynch’s _The Hobbit_. Beorn: What kind of refreshment do you like to drink, neighbor? Bilbo: Miruvor. Beorn: Miruvor? Fuck that shit! Honey! ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2010, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guillermo-del-toro-quits-the-hobbit/541332/71 "2010-06-21T22:08:58Z")
[Peter Jackson rumored to be puching Neill Blomkamp to direct _The Hobbit_](http://www.avclub.com/articles/peter-jackson-rumored-to-be-pushing-neill-blomkamp,42360/). Blomkamp directed _District 9_ (which was produced by Jackson). ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2010, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guillermo-del-toro-quits-the-hobbit/541332/72 "2010-06-25T19:22:08Z")
Rumors are out that Peter Jackson may indeed be directing them himself. [Peter Jackson in Negotiations](http://www.deadline.com/2010/06/urgent-peter-jackson-negotiating-to-direct-the-hobbit-films/) ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2010, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guillermo-del-toro-quits-the-hobbit/541332/73 "2010-08-16T16:24:15Z")
James Cameron [puts in his two cents](http://www.movieline.com/2010/08/james-cameron-didnt-want-guillermo-del-toro-to-direct-the-hobbit.php#more). ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2010, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guillermo-del-toro-quits-the-hobbit/541332/74 "2010-08-16T19:07:16Z")
> [@ArchiveGuy](#): > > James Cameron [puts in his two cents](http://www.movieline.com/2010/08/james-cameron-didnt-want-guillermo-del-toro-to-direct-the-hobbit.php#more). I just hope he is right and Peter does it. It is rather convenient that Del Toro is now available to direct a movie produced by Cameron, though. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2010, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guillermo-del-toro-quits-the-hobbit/541332/75 "2010-08-29T18:35:31Z")
_Entertainment Weekly_’s August 13 cover issue, on how MGM’s monetary and management woes are endangering the next James Bond movie, includes a sidebar headlined “Other projects in danger”: _New Zealand’s Hobbit [S]hire should be buzzing with life. But with Guillermo del Toro having bailed at the end of May and Peter Jackson still not confirming whether he’ll direct, the location sits empty. MGM and its partner, Warner Bros./New Line, are trying to sort out the issues._ ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2010, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guillermo-del-toro-quits-the-hobbit/541332/76 "2010-09-07T23:04:50Z")
Sounds like Martin Freeman(Tim from the Office) turned down an official offer to be Bilbo. [Agonising Decision](http://www.darkhorizons.com/news/18174/freeman-skips-hobbit-due-to-sherlock-) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guillermo-del-toro-quits-the-hobbit/541332.md?page=3)