Sir Ian McKellen spoke with Empire Online where he pretty confirmed his involvement as Gandalf in "The Hobbit" and the planned sequel for New Line and MGM. Guillermo del Toro will be directing both pictures which are slated for a holiday 2011 and 2012 release....(more)

Variety confirms what everyone has been suspecting already: Guillermo del Toro will be directing "The Hobbit" and its sequel for New Line Cinema and MGM. Peter Jackson and partner Fran Walsh will be exec producing along with New Line president Toby Emmerich, and Mary Parent, newly named chief of MGM’s Worldwide Motion Picture Group....(more)

It was widely rumored and speculated that Sam Raimi would be at the helm, but The Hollywood Reporter announces today that Guillermo del Toro will helm "The Hobbit" and its sequel for New Line Cinema and MGM. "Lord of the Rings" director Peter Jackson is exec producing the project....(more)

MTV Movies Blog recently spoke to Elijah Wood about his thoughts on Peter Jackson coming to terms with New Line Cinema on "The Hobbit," and reaching an agreement for Jackson to exec produce "The Hobbit" and a new, original prequel to "Lord of the Rings." Says Wood, “I haven’t spoken to him directly about it [but] I’ve e-mailed him, and as far as I know the two films that they’re doing, one will be ‘The Hobbit’ and another will take place between the 60 years that happened between ‘The Hobbit’ and ‘The Lord of the Rings....(more)

New Line Cinema has released a statement announcing that all differences with Peter Jackson have been put aside and that the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy director will be producing "The Hobbit" and its sequel, tentatively scheduled to be shot back-to-back in 2009 for a 2010 and a 2011 release. Click on the link below for the full press release....(more)

Entertainment Weekly recently spoke to "Spider-Man 3" director Sam Raimi, who talked about possibly taking on "The Hobbit" after New Line announced that "Lord of the Rings" director Peter Jackson will not be invited back to direct "The Hobbit" after Jackson filed a lawsuit against the studio. Raimi's name has been circulating the Net as a possible replacement on the project....(more)

"I don't care about Peter Jackson anymore. He wants to have another $100 million or $50 million, whatever he's suing us for....(more)

With news that Peter Jackson has been ousted from doing "The Hobbit" and a rumored second "Lord of the Rings" prequel in the works, it's no surprise that New Line would be considering other directors. TheOneRing....(more)