The Hobbit in July 2007?

[Knight of Gondor]

Very promising!

[MatthewM]

Promising indeed!

[radagastly]

One can only be hopeful that Robert Shaye will not direct The Hobbit himself.

"It took a long time to lick the script, and I guess I was a bit more soulful by the time I got into the director's chair," he says. An "E.T."-like story of two youngsters who find a doll from the future, it's based on an old science-fiction story that Shaye, 68, had read as a child.

That story, "Mimsy Were the Borogroves" by Lewis Padgett copywrited in 1943 may involve children, but it is no E.T. It failed because he can't read. At least not well.

Still, I am hopeful that this is a sign that P. J. will direct The Hobbit, if anyone does. I hope they can get it done before Ian McKellan dies. He's getting up there. It wouldn't be the same with someone else as Gandalf.

[Brinniel]

Originally Posted by radagastly

Still, I am hopeful that this is a sign that P. J. will direct The Hobbit, if anyone does. I hope they can get it done before Ian McKellan dies. He's getting up there. It wouldn't be the same with someone else as Gandalf.

Whoa, before he dies? Yeesh. McKellan is 68 and as far as I know, in good health. While 68 is certainly not young, I wouldn't exactly call that old...especially not to the point where he's ready to croak.

It seems to me that Shaye is a bit embarrassed about his comments about Jackson after seeing how many are backing PJ up. Not to mention, I'm sure he's realising how much New Line could use another hit after all these flops over the past year (though I really am hoping The Golden Compass is good and successful).

I find it rather funny how much imdb.com jumps ahead on movies that have yet to be made. For The Hobbit, Sam Raimi is listed as the director (though they admit it's not confirmed), and the scheduled release date is December 1, 2009. Now I don't care what anyone says, but there is no way that the film could be completed by then...especially since they aren't anywhere close to even starting. If we must speculate on a date, I would say if they can decide on a director within the next year, somewhere between 2011-2013...if the film is made as carefully as LotR. But that's just my guess...

[Elladan and Elrohir]

I would say 2010, if they gave it to PJ tomorrow. That's not likely, though. I think we could well have another year or two before Jackson is finally given the director's job. By that time, New Line may or may not be a part of the discussion. So 2011 or 12 (for a release date, that is) doesn't sound at all unrealistic to me. That would probably fit with PJ's schedule better anyway; he's rather busy right now.

[Sir Kohran]

LOL, looking at the date the thread title seems a little strange...

...anyhow, I've said this before and I'll say it again. Peter Jackson is the only man who can make this work. He understands Tolkien and his stories in a way that all the comic book directors don't.

Whoa, before he dies? Yeesh. McKellan is 68 and as far as I know, in good health. While 68 is certainly not young, I wouldn't exactly call that old...especially not to the point where he's ready to croak.

No, but there's no telling what can happen to people, particularly older people. And the role of Gandalf is going to be demanding.

[William Cloud Hicklin]

Um, you do realize that many, many readers believe that putting another Tolkien work into Jackson's hammy fists would be a bad thing?

Not that anyone else I could think of would be any better. Come to think of it, the ideal situation is that the lawyers keep it tangled up forever and it never gets made.