After being in talks with Warner Bros./New Line and MGM, Peter Jackson is apparently set to direct the two Hobbit films – he also directed the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Guillermo Del Toro quit the project and other top directors turned down offers to replace him.
Jackson, who is a producer of The Hobbit, is reportedly demanding that the two films, which will be shot back-to-back, be fast-tracked so that he can fulfill his commitments to other studios, including an agreement to direct one of Steven Spielberg’s TinTin movies.
Peter has previously insisted he hadn’t completely ruled out directing The Hobbit. “If that’s what I have to do to protect Warner Bros’ investment, then obviously that’s one angle which I’ll explore,” he told the media. But he added it would be difficult as he had signed writer and director contracts for two other unidentified films.
Jackson also said at the time that he wasn’t anticipating any delay or disruption to pre-production work on The Hobbit and indicated that the films were on track for releases in December 2012 and December 2013. That would mean production would probably have to begin by the end of this year.
