Guillermo del Toro is no longer directing the two-film adaptation of The Hobbit — citing the “mounting pressures of conflicting schedules†— though he will still co-write the two screenplays.
“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.
Executive producer Peter Jackson said that, in light of the project’s continued delays, Del Toro was no longer able to commit to spending six years living in New Zealand: “We feel very sad to see Guillermo leave The Hobbit, but he has kept us fully in the loop and we understand how the protracted development time on these two films, due to reasons beyond anyone’s control, has compromised his commitment to other long-term projects.†Sadly, this means we may also never get to see del Toro’s “monster†acting debut.
[theonering.net via First Showing]