I’m surprised that the news that The Hobbit was officially moving ahead with Guillermo del Toro wasn’t followed fast by a name change for our site back to FilmHobbit.com. We may be reconsidering that when our editor-in-chief notices that TheOneRing.net has already managed to build a good relationship with del Toro, down to the director posting on their message boards.
Since they have such a rapport with the director, the site has already managed to snag an interview about his Hobbit plans. This is good news for people who have wondered just how different a del Toro adaptation of Tolkien will be from a Peter Jackson adaptation. In particular, del Toro talks about his hopes of maintaining some cast members: ”I had the most charming meeting with Sir Ian [McKellen], and all bureaucracy pending, he’s on board, as is Andy Serkis. We will continue giving you progress reports as the occur. It is our intention that we will not lose any of the key elements.”.
McKellen and Serkis are great, but what about Ian Holm as Bilbo? Come on, he was made to look younger for Fellowship. Why can’t it be done for these movies? Sadly, Holm isn’t on the list of previously involved people del Toro says he’s talked to, although composer Howard Shore is, which is just as exciting.
Del Toro wants to use a bit more in the way of practical effects than Jackson did, enhancing them with CG instead of relying solely on computer effects. He also says he’ll be approaching the movie with more of a “golden” palette to create more of a wide-eyed world of wonder.
I’m totally psyched about del Toro handling the reigns on these movies. He was definitely the right man for the directing job and I can’t wait to see what he brings with his movies, especially considering the choice to turn one book into two movies.
