In case you missed the earlier announcement, here it is…
MGM Chairman says Jackson finds it “impossible” to direct this project:
Jackson, the director of the smash hit Lord of the Rings movies, and producer Fran Walsh will executive produce both a Hobbit movie and a sequel, but no decision has been made about who will direct the films, Bob Shaye and Michael Lynne, co-chairmen and co-CEOs of New Line said.
MGM Chairman Harry Sloan, who was credited by all parties for bringing about the deal, said Jackson found it “impossible” to direct the film and meet proposed release dates in 2010 and 2011 due to other projects on which he is now working.”He can’t get it scheduled and he doesn’t want the fans to have to wait for the next two movies,” Sloan said. He said the studios might postpone the films if Jackson changed his mind.
Interesting update; thanks Jeffrey. Well, it looks pretty certain these will get made, the big question being who the helmer would be. Nice to see that Jackson will at least have total creative oversight on the two films.
I’m still crossing my fingers that he’ll Direct this. Perhaps he’ll juggle his schedule and hand off directing duties on projects he has in preproduction now.
Postponement is another logistical snag — especially if they hope to go with Holm and McKellen who are getting up there in years. They are really pushing their luck if they plan on starting principle photography any later than 2009.
There’s a lot at stake with this project, and however MGM/New Line/Wingnut work this out, I know all will be good.
The Writer’s Strike could affect this too. No movie without a script, and I certainly don’t want a Hobbit movie written by some random person off the street. Can you imagine how terrible that would be?