Hollywood director leaves Hobbit movies

Hollywood director Guillermo Del Toro has quit the double Hobbit movies planned to be filmed in Wellington, based on J R R Tolkien's The Hobbit.

"In light of ongoing delays in the setting of a start date for filming The Hobbit, I am faced with the hardest decision of my life," Del Toro said in an announcement to fan website TheOneRing.net.

"After nearly two years of living, breathing and designing a world as rich as Tolkien's Middle Earth, I must, with great regret, take leave from helming these wonderful pictures."

A spokesperson for Hobbit producer and Lord Of The Rings director Sir Peter Jackson, Matt Dravitzki, told NZPA Del Toro would not be speaking to media today.

The announcement by Del Toro reflected Sir Peter and Del Toro's "full sentiments at this time", he said.

The announcement followed weekend news The Hobbit was `on hold indefinitely' after becoming caught up in negotiations over MGM's future.

Reports emerged late last year that MGM was "teetering on bankruptcy" and Del Toro said due to those issues the Lord of the Rings prequel had been caught in a `tangled negotiation'.

Last month Sir Peter dismissed rumours that the Hobbit movies been delayed due to production problems, insisting the project was still in its early stages.

He told Moviefone.com, "Well, it's not really been delayed, because we've never announced the date. I mean it's sort of interesting because the studio has never greenlit The Hobbit, so therefore The Hobbit has never been officially announced as a `go' project, nor have we ever announced a date."

- NZPA