31-May-2010 - GDT Will Not Direct THE HOBBIT
by Parker Lyons
What started as a three year commitment, turned into a six year commitment - and for that reason, Guillermo will pass on the directing duties for THE HOBBIT to someone else and depart the production.
The following is from a press release posted by TORN:
“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”, says Guillermo. “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. I remain grateful to Peter, Fran and Philippa Boyens, New Line and Warner Brothers and to all my crew in New Zealand. I’ve been privileged to work in one of the greatest countries on earth with some of the best people ever in our craft and my life will be forever changed. The blessings have been plenty, but the mounting pressures of conflicting schedules have overwhelmed the time slot originally allocated for the project. Both as a co-writer and as a director, I wlsh the production nothing but the very best of luck and I will be first in line to see the finished product. I remain an ally to it and its makers, present and future, and fully support a smooth transition to a new director”.
If there was any doubt as to the reasons for Guillermo leaving, Peter Jackson made it perfectly clear: Guillermo has other long term commitments for other projects and just could not continue to wait.
“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”, says Executive Producer Peter Jackson. “The bottom line is that Guillermo just didn’t feel he could commit six years to living in New Zealand, exclusively making these films, when his original commitment was for three years."
There are not hard feelings it appears, as Guillermo had kept Jackson "in the loop" as to his commitments and intentions. GDT will continue to write and polish the remaining script work for THE HOBBIT for several more months. Jackson added, "Guillermo is one of the most remarkable creative spirits I’ve ever encountered and it has been a complete joy working with him. Guillermo’s strong vision is engrained into the scripts and designs of these two films, which are extremely fortunate to be blessed with his creative DNA”.
The previous long term commitments referred to above could include his five picture deal with Universal (FRANKENSTEIN, SLAUGHTERHOUSE 5, DROOD), but he also has commitments to Disney for the DOUBLE DARE YOU films (TROLL HUNTERS).
No announcement at this time as to what his picture might be.
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