Despite rumors yesterday of David Yates being approached, it appears that the studios are still holding out hope that Peter Jackson will return to the fantasy adventure he knows so well.
Nikki Finke at Deadline says..
My sources say that nobody has been offered the helming job -- yet. Instead, Warner Bros and MGM brass are doing all they can to sell Jackson on the seemingly obvious notion that he should complete the franchise he started with three LOTR films that grossed $2.9 billion worldwide.
Jackson has already said that he wouldn't like to direct
The Hobbit movies, but of course that was when Del Toro had the reigns and the two were working so closely together. Apparently the films budget will not extend to hiring another top level director to take over now either. Could Jackson reconsider now that the films production has been left in the lurch? He has already made a statement saying that if no one else could be found that he would step in..I really hope thats the case, because Finke also says..
Other filmmakers are interested in replacing del Toro. Sources tell me David Yates, David Dobkin, and the ubiquitous Brett Ratner are among them.
Could you imagine Brett Ratner directing these films? C'mon Peter, get back in there my son, you know it makes sense!
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About The Author:
Mark Cassidy is a writer, photographer, amateur filmmaker, and Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic from Dublin, Ireland.