It worked! Rather than stand idly by while Brett Ratner cast Jackie Chan as Bilbo or something, Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson has decided to helm both Hobbit movies himself, taking over for Guillermo del Toro, says Deadline’s Mike Fleming. Jackson’s deal is allegedly being ironed out now between Warner Bros., MGM, and New Line, and an official announcement will come after he “extricates himself from other project obligations.†Perhaps this means he won’t direct that second Tintin movie? It definitely scotches all hopes for a Lovely Bones sequel anytime soon. Yay!
URGENT: Peter Jackson Negotiating To Direct ‘The Hobbit’ Films [Deadline]