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Writer-director Guillermo Del Toro says things are moving forward on the production of film The Hobbit, despite the fact he still has not signed a contract to direct the movie.
During an interview about about his upcoming film Hellboy II: The Golden Army, Del Toro told Entertainment Weekly he has been in extended negotiations over his role.
"There have been a lot of discussions of cast and crew, agreements on the direction the movies would go, and if and when I come on board, he said.
"Other than that, frankly it's all immaterial until everything is signed and put on paper."
The recent folding of New Line Cinemas - the makers of The Lord Of The Rings movies - into Warner Bros caused a slight delay according to Del Toro, but he said the sheer size of the production was more to blame for holding up progress.
"The movie is a huge endeavour. It's about a half-a-decade of commitment," he told the magazine.
"It's two movies back-to-back that are massive. So a lot has to be sorted out. All I can say is, creatively we are all in sync and eager to commit and move forward."
Dell Toro, known for his helming of Oscar-nominated film Pan's Labyrinth, as well as Hellboy, Blade 2 and The Devil's Backbone, says the script is one detail that has been decided on.
"I will be involved, and so will the original team in some capacity."
When pressed, he confirmed the 'original team' referred to Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens, but would not comment on specifics.
Last year Del Toro told EW The Hobbit was the only book of author J.R.R. Tolkien's he had read.
"I tried my best to read Lord of the Rings, the trilogy. I could not. I could not. They were very dense. And then one day, I bought The Hobbit. I read it and I loved it. So it would be a privilege."
