Studios Want Jackson to Direct THE HOBBIT!

Since Guillermo Del Toro bowed out of The Hobbit films rumors have run rampant about who will take over the job.  Now, according to Deadline New York, top brass at Warners and MGM are doing their level best to talk Peter Jackson into helming the flix.  Though some little birds have been telling us that this may just be cover for Jackson interest in returning to the franchise, after the disappointing critical and financial performance of The Lovely Bones.

Other directors currently being considered are David Yates, David Dobkin and Brett Ratner.  One of the reason for this underwhelming list is financial.  The project already has much of its gross points accounted for, making it less attractive to true A-Listers.

Singer Signs for X-Men Prequel

At the premiere of Avatar, director Bryan Singer told a reporter:

I just yesterday signed a deal to do an X-Men: First Class Origins picture, which is kind of cool. I’m very excited.

Fans of the series will be glad to have Singer back in the director’s chair, but many remain skeptical about the prequel concept for this film.  Still … Singer … X-men … should be fun.

Source.

Update:  Matthew Vaughn, director of Kick Ass, has replaced Singer on this project.  H’wood is such a strange place.  Kick Ass bombs at the box office.  But, nonetheless, its director lands a top gig.   Failing upwards … and upwards.  We should all be so lucky in our chosen professions.