After countless delays, Guillermo del Toro has decided to throw in the towel on directing the movie version of J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Hobbit.” The story was set to become a two part prequel to New Zealand filmmaker Peter Jackson’s blockbuster trilogy ‘Lord of the Rings.’
The Mexican director made a statement on a Lord of the Rings fansite according to PopEater:
“In light of ongoing delays in the setting of a start date for filming The Hobbit, I am faced with the hardest decision of my life,” del Toro said.
“After nearly two years of living, breathing and designing a world as rich as Tolkien’s Middle Earth, I must, with great regret, take leave from helming these wonderful pictures,” he said, noting the film still hadn’t been given the green light by MGM, the struggling Hollywood studio.
This is more terrible news for a film that is so highly anticipated that it makes me wonder if it will ever make it to the big screen?!
The Pan’s Labyrinth director will still continue to write the screenplay alongside Mr. Jackson, his wife, Fran Walsh, and Philippa Boyens.
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