MGM’s continuing monetary woes have put the latest James Bond installment on hold, the studio’s remake of Red Dawn and the Joss Whedon-produced Cabin In The Woods on the shelf pending funds for their release and have caused Guillermo del Toro to abdicate his position as director of the planned two-film adaptation of The Hobbit in favor of working on previously committed to, and presumably funded, projects.
But all this lack of activity has seemingly not deterred The Hobbit‘s producer, and very probable director, Peter Jackson. Even as he continues on with pre-production work fort he films, the Hollywood Reporter‘s Heat Vision blog is reporting that Jackson is in Los Angeles this week meeting with actors, the first step in casting the films. Reportedly. he will then be going to New York and London for further meetings.
It looks like the fact that the films are a co-production between MGM and Warner Brothers’ New Line Cinema may be what rescues the project from its current limbo. Heat Vision hints that Warners may fund the film themselves, though it would require the approval of the committee of financial stakeholders and creditors that are currently running the studio. They also report that if Jackson does indeed sign on to direct, he will want to fast track production to get them into theaters for 2012 and 2013.
I think with Jackson proceeding as he is, he is definitely looking to be in the director’s chair for this. Here’s hoping it can all come together.
[…] Rich Drees Share and […]