Mike Fleming at Deadline is reporting that maybe this geek-dream-come-true is so:
EXCLUSIVE: In what amounts to a dream come true for fans of Middle Earth, Peter Jackson has decided to direct two installments of The Hobbit, trusted sources are telling me. His deal is being negotiated right now with Warner Bros , New Line and MGM.
He will shortly take the reins over from Guillermo del Toro, after Jackson extricates himself from other project obligations that caused Jackson and manager Ken Kamins to initially deny he would be the director. While Jackson’s camp has been tight-lipped, I’m told that the case is being made to MGM’s owners to loosen the purse strings and make the movies happen. The impetus for these talks is that Jackson will be the director of both of The Hobbit films, which will be shot back-to-back in his New Zealand backyard.
I do love me some Guillermo del Toro, but Peter Jackson directing The Hobbit really is just too wonderful, too perfect. I hope it’s true.
But there’s another tidbit in the Deadline piece that makes me go Yow!:
While several directors have angled for the job–the most recent rumors focused on David Yates and Jackson’s District 9 protege Neill Blomkamp–no offer was ever made.
The idea of Neill Blomkamp directing The Hobbit makes my toes curl. Imagine Sharlto Copley as Bard the Bowman. That could be very cool indeed…
And now to cast Bilbo…
nerdgasm
Yes!