HONG KONG — One of Peter Jackson’s frequent collaborators says the “Lord of the Rings” director passed the torch to Mexican filmmaker Guillermo del Toro to give the trilogy’s two-part prequel, “The Hobbit,” a fresh look.
Jackson is working on adapting the J.R.R. Tol kien fantasy novel that takes place before the trilogy. But this time, he is producing and working on the script, relinquishing directing duties to Del Toro, whose credits include “Pan’s Labyrinth” and the “Hellboy” movies.
Art designer Richard Taylor says he thinks his friend gave up the director’s chair “probably because he’s spent so long in Middle Earth . . . and probably felt a director such as Guillermo could bring something passionate and unique and original and new to the content.” The Associated Press
