The anvil fell about a week ago that, mostly due to uncertain future of MGM, particularly the inability to get a greenlight and set a starting date, Guillermo Del Toro was forced to leave The Hobbit, a project for which he upended his entire life, both professionally and personally, in order to commit. Nick gave his thoughts on the development here. On my own note, I think Del Toro is an immensely talented filmmaker and his loss on the project might be something that only Peter Jackson himself can remedy. Del Toro promised to comment further on the development, and did so recently at TheOneRing.net forums (I caught it at ComingSoon). His thoughts are below:
So, here I am again. As promised, I am posting a longer message before the week’s end.
I have to thank those of you that have supported me from the start as well as those that converted along the way. And even say farewell to those that never did convert or believed.
I will miss Mr. Crere, the faith of Compa and Sir DennisC, the wisdom of Voronwe, the joy of Grammaboodawg, the support of Kangi Ska and so many, many others
Now, Pasi, et al- that is what is quite uncommon even on big films. Pete and co stuck to LOTR for years, I’ve developed films for years and I have shot many a movie on location… but rarely do you relocate for such massive amount of time specially when you have to do major ironclad agreements to put in deep freeze other contractual obligations with multiple studios.
My commitment to the project demanded enormous sacrifices both in personal and professional terms. The consequences of which will ripple for years. I relocated my entire life and family to New Zealand and first came on board in 2008.
So- while the cited delays, contractual complexities or obstacles, cannot be attributed to a single event or entity – you will simply have to believe that they were of sufficient complexity and severity to lead to the current situation. Trust me on this, Pasi- leaving NZ and the Hobbit crew is extremely painful.
As stated before- a wealth of designs, animatics, boards and sculptures is left behind representing accurately my ideas for Mirkwood, Spiders, Wargs, Stone Trolls, etc, etc and everyone (PJ, FW, PB and myself) has the same goal in mind: to try and ensure the best possible transition of the movie to a new director.
I believe these films will happen. Preproduction continues as we speak. The writing team of PJ,FW,PB and myself will keep moving the screenplays forward.
Perhaps even sooner than we may anticipate we will all look at the finished film and then- I will tear up whenever I recognize a set or a creature or a quirk created under my supervision. Everyone on these boards will get two movies. Me? I will be watching filmic family albums. Photos of my children from far away.
I hope you will understand how delicate the subject is for me.
I will drop by now and then, I will read the boards with interest and do hope to see some of you around at SDCC and many other places.
I am not here, however, to provide a blow-by-blow of what happened, but to assure you, as I have, that it has been the toughest situation of my life.
Beyond that- I am simply no longer an official voice for these projects. Be good, be well- and I invite you all to follow me into the next phase of my filmmaking journey.
Sincerely
GDT
22 comments
Guillermo, Im a paisano, and I am a fan since cronos, I know that better things will come to you. you deserve them.
Stated like a gentleman. Even though it must have been a heartbreaking decision, I'm glad he did it. GDT has too many other great films in him to be tied down for years by the restrictions of another person's franchise. While it would have been interesting to see his take on The Hobbit, my personal desire is to see him direct "At The Mountains of Madness", "Hellboy 3", and several of the other projects he has up his sleeve.
Who read this piece hearing del Toro's accent in their head?
Guillermo, you're a class act. I'd love to see your interpretation of 'Frankenstein'. I think you're the only one who can do it the way it needs to be done.
My desire for GdT is to do his own original work based on the ideas of no one but himself, as those have been his best films.
but now who will put eyes in the hands of every troll, goblin & orc in the hobbit? who?
Good man. Been a fan since Blade 2. Keep on keeping on, Senor Del Toro.
Oh yeah, and to hell with MGM.
Class. Is there a better guy anywhere?
@#3
I totally did.
Hellboy 3 = Hells yes. $75mil domestic gross be damned.
Mountains of Madness = I already have camp set up.
And lastly, please Universal, let GDT play around with your classic monsters catalog. Set him up as the "godfather" of these films and let his vision and creative partners carry them forward. Kinda like what Warners asked Nolan to do (!,?)
Do what Marvel is doing, set them up individually, have 1 or 2 characters to tie them together and go for an all out monster-rama at the end vis-a-vis The Avengers.
@3
I swear he whispering in my ear.
#3: I think it was the slightly broken English that did it, but I definitely heard it in his voice.
Too bad really. But maybe now we can get an even more appropriate mexican director on the Hobbit. One who can do fantasy without it having to be always more or less creepy, and who is even better at letting stories breath and characters come alive: Alfonso Cuaron.
Totally ditto on Alfonso Cuarón — lest nigh we wish for Jackson himself to take the reins. Such a blow to see Del Toro leave.
I'd love to see Del Toro do a remake/reimagining of Creature from the Black Lagoon. I mean, it's inevitable that it's going to happen (if it isn't already in the works) and I can't think of anyone better to helm the project and give it the sort of fantastical, mythological spin it would need to be successful. But, really, I'll follow GDT on anything he does.
I said it once, and I'll say it again: THAT FAT ASS BETTER GET ONWARDS TOWARDS HELLBOY 3!!!
#4: Crap, now I have a new most wanted dream movie.
Still waiting for this guy to make a decent movie that doesn't put you to sleep…
Other films aside, Hellboy 1&2 were insanely bad. Son of Satan is immune to fire, but pappy is not. And those clockwork robots in 2 were an awful villain.
I agree with the above comment – Hellboy 1 and 2 were no good. I'd rather DGT work on original material a la Devil's Backbone and Pan's Labyrinth which were absolutely fantastic.
dont worry pplz, Dont be afraid of the dark is coming out very soon and will be awesome, we just finished the opening titles and they are excellent, another home run coming your way.
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