James Cameron Advised Del Toro to "Get Out" of The Hobbit Project

James Cameron Advised Del Toro to "Get Out" of The Hobbit Project

Before Guillermo Del Toro's eventual departure from The Hobbit, James Cameron had been telling his long-time friend (and new production partner) to defer to Peter Jackson and "just stay in your corner."

By TheBoxOfficeWatchmen - Aug 14, 2010 10:08 PM EST
Filed Under: Fantasy
Source: The Herald Sun

James Cameron may have a bit of outspoken fanboy in his blood, too.

Of course, I say that in jest. Whether you are a fan of his work or not, there is no denying that James Cameron is one of the more powerful and influential directors in our era, especially within the sci-fi and fantasy genres. Backed by his track record in film-making, he seems to never be short on opinions or advice.

In an interview with Australia's Herald Sun, Cameron speaks briefly about his newly-formed partnership with Guillermo del Toro. In May, del Toro announced his departure from The Hobbit, which being produced by Peter Jackson, auteur of The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Two months later, del Toro announced that he will be taking the helm of the film adaptation of HP Lovecraft's At The Mountains Of Madness, with Cameron producing.



Cameron mentions that he had been waiting a while for Del Toro to become available. The Hobbit had been mired in messy delays due to MGM's difficulty to find financing for the LOTR prequel. Cameron reveals that he had been "telling him for a long time to get out of [The Hobbit] because there is only room for one captain on the ship" Cameron goes on to say, "Instinctively I knew that Peter was going to take over and do the movie."

Here is the excerpt from the interview:

"I was telling him for a long time to get out of that thing because there is only room for one captain on the ship," Cameron says. "Instinctively I knew that Peter was going to take over and do the movie.

"Guillermo, to his credit, didn't listen to me and wanted to do continue and had some great designs - and I have seen all the designs. Of course he would have done a spectacular job, but don't we want to see Peter do it? He should do it and Guillermo should do his thing.

"That's what I told both of them - you should just stay in your corners."



Although del Toro did not immediately take heed of Cameron's advice, it turns out it may have been the best decision for everyone affected.

But it's easy to read too far into the subtext of Cameron's interview. While del Toro proponents may point to the interview as evidence that Jackson may have squeezed del Toro out, it seems more likely that creatively, it just makes more sense for del Toro and Jackson to focus on their own unique visions.

Jackson, of course, exploded into Hollywood with the 10-figure grossing trilogy of The Lord of the Rings, capping it off with the Best Picture-winner, The Return of the King. However, patrons and critics were not as kind to his latest entry, The Lovely Bones. Whether the disappointment of the latter work had any influence on del Toro's departure seems highly unlikely, although not out of question. Nonetheless, it just made more sense for Jackson return to the familiar territory of the high fantasy of The Hobbit.

Del Toro, on the other hand, will likely have a little more creative room -- and less scrutiny from the trilogy's fans -- to implement his trademark hauntingly-beautiful characters and set pieces. While del Toro is certainly one of the more respective creative directors in the industry, his flavor on The Hobbit could have soured LOTR's devotees. Signing on board to direct The Hobbit ostensibly put del Toro in an tricky and onerous position: should he attempt to put his own stamp on the mega-franchise prequel by changing a tried-and-true recipe? Or should he merely take pages out of Jackson's handbook and appease the trilogy's fans, but risk derision for lack of originality?

Now that del Toro has "listened" to Cameron, we'll never have to know.
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ViperXX79
ViperXX79 - 8/14/2010, 10:36 PM
James Cameron hasn't done anything since T2. Avatar was a 3D propaganda filled movie with a plot stolen from other movies. Who cares what he thinks.
NERO
NERO - 8/14/2010, 11:14 PM
Hated Avatar for the very reasons you site Viper, but I have to agree with Cameron here; Peter needs to do The Hobbit. I like Del Toro and would willingly remove my eyes and hand them over to him after seeing him make a Doctor Strange flick, but I was alittle iffy on him making the Hobbit, mainly due to the gothic overtones of his style when compared to Jackson.
antonio
antonio - 8/14/2010, 11:42 PM
people say chris nolan is in james camerons level.fcuk you!!!!!james cameron should be in chris nolans level.

i could give 2 friggin shits what cameron thinks.
Matador
Matador - 8/14/2010, 11:56 PM
Well at least he'll be free-er for Hellboy 3 & forgive me I'm durnk.
Radsavage1
Radsavage1 - 8/15/2010, 12:24 AM
I agree with Guillermo Del Toro leaving The Hobbit. But not because I would like to see Peter Jackson direct it. H.P Lovecrafts In The Mountains Of Madness would be the best move for him. The story is from one of the best underappreciated writer's of AMERICAN history, plus Jame's Cameron will produce it with his revolutionary 3D technology(even though Avatar sucked).
Radsavage1
Radsavage1 - 8/15/2010, 12:26 AM
I am drunk too. All hale to the alcoholics!!!!
GreenieGobbie
GreenieGobbie - 8/15/2010, 1:10 AM
@ViperXX79
He hasn't directed since Titanic before Avatar, but I do see your point. Although Avatar wasn't a bad film at all, it just wasn't the greatest.
Protonite
Protonite - 8/15/2010, 2:52 AM
James Cameron is a slightly better version of Michael Bay. That is all he is.
marvel72
marvel72 - 8/15/2010, 3:31 AM
i would love to of seen del toro vision of the hobbit,but i do agree that peter jackson should direct the the hobbit.

he would of been my first choice.

as for james cameron,his made a few great movies.

1.aliens
2.the terminator
3.terminator 2 judgement day
4.avatar
5.the abyss
6.true lies

because his made the biggest grossing film of all time,he think his bigger than the film industry.

someone should tell him the difference between having a massive prick & being a massive prick.
jazzman
jazzman - 8/15/2010, 4:54 AM
@deadpool72

wouldnt Titanic be his great movie aswell lol

marvel72
marvel72 - 8/15/2010, 6:38 AM
@ jazzman

only the ending (SPOILER ALERT !)when the ship hits the iceberg & sinks.
jazzman
jazzman - 8/15/2010, 6:42 AM
@deadpool72

spoiler alert for Titanic now thats funny LOL

Jawesome
Jawesome - 8/15/2010, 6:46 AM
I hate all of del toro films except for pans labyrinth


@antonio Nolan is really reallly good he may end up being the director of this generation
marvel72
marvel72 - 8/15/2010, 6:50 AM
@ jazzman

thanks,man.

i was laughing to myself,when i thought of it.
kyle
kyle - 8/15/2010, 9:29 AM
del toro is one of my favorite directors, and i knew from the start that this was a bad idea. peter jackson won awards for all three films, and for del toro to come in and change a lot of middle earth shocked me. considering that now some will only be used in the films when jackson finally states he's doing it. if he does it then the film goes green lit, cus imagine how much money will be made. tho, jackson did state he wants a new feel, but u cud think that on the second film he'd be mad and that the gothic feel mite not suit well with fans
kyle
kyle - 8/15/2010, 9:31 AM
frankenstine, hellboy 3, and saturn and the end of days will be made
JoshWilding
JoshWilding - 8/15/2010, 11:22 AM
With all that trouble over at MGM, I doubt we'll see The Hobbit for a long time. Regardless, I'd have been happier with Del Toro directing Doctor Strange but it's not the end of the world that he's doing something else IMO!

Guys, check out my GREEN LANTERN Fan Cast! Just click the link!!! :)
CaptainAmerica
CaptainAmerica - 8/15/2010, 4:31 PM
@Erickz, your right, the only reason people hate him is cuz they are butthurt TDK fanboys. They cant stand the fact that TDK was beaten by 2 of this guy's movies.
thunderforce
thunderforce - 8/15/2010, 5:11 PM
lol personally i hated tdk i want to go to the theater and come out feeling good after watching tdk I came out and felt bad , just too much dark in the dark night . But you know i dont hate the guy that made it , I loved avatar and aliens but i would never watch titantic not my cup of tea , but Cameron you cant deny makes movies people want to see , if not they wouldnt make so much money .
HotHead
HotHead - 8/16/2010, 5:41 PM
lol cameron has no real life.
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