It's Jackson vs. Yates to Direct The Hobbit

After Guillermo Del Toro pulled out of directing The Hobbit due to MGM's continued financial hardships, the next obvious question was who would replace him. With MGM having spent so much money on the production of the film already, they don't have much choice but go full steam ahead. Peter Jackson was the logical choice given his LOTR experience and the fact that he co-wrote the script, but he has already established that his previous commitments could throw a monkey wrench into those plans(specifically TinTin with Steven Spielberg). Now Deadline is reporting that a frontrunner has emerged: David Yates.

Yates is probably best known as the director of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, as well as the sequels that followed. He's definitely got the chops for a massive project like this. If he can handle the rabid fans of Harry Potter, The Hobbit should be child's play. Order of the Phoenix might be my favorite of the Potter films, but Half-Blood Prince left a lot to be desired. I still think Yates is a good choice. Probably better than Jackson in a way, because it might be beneficial to see another person's take on it. We already know what Jackson would do.

Deadline also notes that a couple of names are also on WB's list, one of which will have LOTR fans rending garments and gnashing teeth if it comes to pass: David Dobkin(Wedding Crashers), and the great Brett Ratner(X-men: The Last Stand, Rush Hour).  Talks haven't progressed enough that any contracts have been sent out, but just the idea of Ratner working on The Hobbit is disturbing. Maybe he'll turn it into a Bilbo/Tom Bombadil buddy comedy?

Warner Brothers is still pushing hard for Jackson to take over, but his asking price will be steep, and given the number of producers on the film(including Jackson himself) there isn't much loot left to give up.