I've never heard of anything like this... ever. A new article in this evening's Variety details various projects for Mexican director Guillermo del Toro, which reports that he's officially "booked" until 2017. Can you imagine that? Knowing you're going to be working your arse off for the next decade, making millions of dollars and having no worries in the world? Sounds like a dream! But you can't say he didn't earn it. Inside you'll find the article, which reveals some new projects on the horizon.
Many top film directors have no idea what their next movie is. But Guillermo del Toro is now booked through 2017. And maybe beyond, reports Variety.
Universal — which has a three-year first-look deal with the helmer inked in June ’07 — and del Toro are making a long-term commitment by setting up four directing projects, including remakes of FRANKENSTEIN, DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE and SLAUGHTERHOUSE-FIVE.
The fourth project is an adaptation of DROOD, a Dan Simmons novel acquired by U that will be published in February by Little, Brown.
Of course, del Toro’s first priority is New Line and MGM’s "The Hobbit," to which he has committed the next five years. He has begun writing "Hobbit" with Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens, collaborating via video conferencing and trips to New Zealand every three weeks.
While it’s difficult, if not impossible, to plan projects five years into the future, at this point U execs think DROOD is the most likely to be del Toro’s first post-"Hobbit" directing vehicle.
If both sides have their way, the helmer will belong to Universal after "The Hobbit" wraps.
In addition to the four pics, the studio still has its sights set on del Toro’s pet project, an adaptation of H.P. Lovecraft’s AT THE MOUNTAINS OF MADNESS.
As if that is not enough to keep him busy, U also has on the horizon an adaptation of David Moody’s apocalyptic novel HATER that del Toro will produce with Mark Johnson but not direct, and CRIMSON PEAK, a gothic romance spec script by del Toro and his "Mimic" collaborator Matthew Robbins, which del Toro will produce but not direct.
While he busies himself with "Hobbit," del Toro will outline the other projects and hire writers. The pics will be supervised at del Toro Prods. by his manager, Gary Ungar, who’ll be exec producer of the films and will oversee the slate with development director Russell Ackerman and U exec Scott Bernstein.
"No one expected ‘The Hobbit’ to come about; it was the most marvelous monkey wrench tossed into my life," del Toro said. "I consider (the new deals) the renewal of my marital vows with Universal."
U production prexy Donna Langley said the helmer’s "Hobbit" hiatus will only delay plans to dive into the del Toro business.
"We came out the other side of some tough conversations with a stronger bond and sense of long-term commitment," Langley said. "Guillermo is in the most prolific time of his life … Joe Johnston on ‘The Wolf Man’ showed us the importance of entrusting the Universal franchise monsters to experienced filmmakers with voices. That was a big impetus for our decision to go with Guillermo to put his creative stamp on these properties."
Langley said she is intrigued by "Drood," in which Simmons supposes that survival from a catastrophic train crash changed author Charles Dickens, plunging him into the depths of London depravity and possibly turning him to murder before he wrote his final novel, "The Mystery of Edwin Drood."
"It’s the fantasy and gothic horror world Guillermo finds comfortable," Langley said. "It feels like a great fit for where (we expect) Guillermo will have evolved as a filmmaker five years from now."
Frankenstein represents a longtime fascination for del Toro, who has made his home a memorabilia shrine to the Karloff monster from the 1931 U film.
"To me, Frankenstein represents the essential human question: ‘Why did my creator throw me here, unprotected, unguided, unaided and lost?’ " del Toro said. "With that one, they will have to pry it from my cold dead hands to prevent me from directing it."
On "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde," del Toro wants to stick more closely to Robert Louis Stevenson’s prose and explore the addictive high the repressed Jekyll experienced as his murderous alter ego.
Del Toro plans to provide a more literal interpretation of "Slaughterhouse-Five" than in the 1972 film adaptation, hewing closely to the Vonnegut novel about a prisoner in a German WWII POW camp who travels through time and space.
"There are ways that Vonnegut plays with and juxtaposes time that was perhaps too edgy to be tackled on film at that time," del Toro said.
Meanwhile, del Toro is awaiting word on whether U will embrace a follow-up to "Hellboy 2: The Golden Army." The big-budget film opened in the heat of summer and fell short of blockbuster status in the U.S. but has performed well overseas.
"I think they’ll decide when the last euro hits the piggybank," del Toro said. "We laid the groundwork to have a magnificent third act. I’d like to return to an action franchise with 60-year-old actor Ron Perlman, because he’ll be scratching at that age when I get to it."
Langley said the studio is interested and may work with del Toro to add a TV series and online segments to broaden the following before making the series finale.
Wow! I'd love to see Del Toro's take on "Slaughterhouse 5." And of course, "The Hobbit."
Another great thing about this guy? He's just the nicest, most humble guy you could ever meet. Good for him.
AWESOME!! Del Toro is fantastic, i think along with Tim Burton he is one of the best visionary directors and creator in a long while. Just got a chance to watch HellBoy2 last night and it was fantastic, such cool style. Looking forward to all his projects and its a shame HellBoy 2 did not perform so well in the US, but bring on all the goodies!!
The problem is most his US stuff has been pretty average (saw Hellboy 2 last night and while visually entertaining it’s pretty damn cheesy) but he's certainly shown some real talent through the years so fingers crossed as there’s some v exciting projects there
H666 Hellboy was an existing property, if you thought it was cheesy it was because that is the nature of Hellboy. Del Toro did a magnificent job setting the scenes and characters
No Hellboy 3? :(
I love Del Toro but the only projects I truly would love to see from him next would be either Hellboy 3 or, even better, Mountains of Madness.
Man I'm having a shitty day at work right now - I wish I was in Del Toro's shoes. But good for him, he did earn it. One more thing; why does no one every remake The Creature From The Black Lagoon. Where's the love for the gill-man?
appleOFdiscord: i know Hellboy already existed, I’m a huge fan of the comics, but Del Toro moved away from the source material (and in my mind completely missed the personality of the main character). The comics have a very different tone and aren't cheesy at all (ie no love interest etc), he also wrote/directed part 1 setting up the whole film franchise.
It sounds like del Torro could make the first faithful adaptation of Mary Shelly's novel, 'Frankenstein'? Let's hope so, I‘m in the middle of reading it for a college class and it is far superior to any of the film adaptations to date. I love Guillermo del Torro, the man truly is a lover of the fantastical and he seems like one of the nicest human beings you'd ever meet. I'm so glad he's successful now, God knows he has had to jump through all kinds of hurdles to get to where he is today. Hopefully, the best years of his career are still to come.
SLAUGHTER HOUSE FIVE WAS PRETTY GOOD WHEN I SAW IT WAY BACK, A HELLBOY T.V SHOW??????? THAT WOULD BLOW BUFFY OUT OF THE WATER, SPEAKING OF WICH HOWS ABOUT A COMIC CROSS OVER BETWEEN HELLBOY AND BUFFY? OFCOURSE I'D ALSO LIKE TO SEE A HELLBOY SUPERNATURAL AND X-FILES COMIC CROSS OVER
Coldblood...
The Creature From the Black Lagoon IS being remade. I'm pretty sure there is nothing more than a script, and a few creature designs right now. But it is happening.
And this news is awesome, love Del Toro, can't wait to see Frankenstein, and Dr. Jekyll done with today's film capabilities.
"In addition to the four pics, the studio still has its sights set on del Toro’s pet project, an adaptation of H.P. Lovecraft’s AT THE MOUNTAINS OF MADNESS." - My heart just went pitter patter! Sweet Merciful Zeus... this may be the first guy I trust to do an HP Lovecraft adaptation.
i'm a HUGE Del Toro fan, I saw The Devil's Backbone and I was hooked. He is the only director out there right now I would trust with these remakes, with Halloween and Mirrors and Shutter(didn't even see that one, was so pissed they tried to remake this period, especially with the guy from Dawson's fucking Creek) all pretty much stinking it up out there. I'd also love to see a tricked out Frankenstein, love the novel & old school movies about him.
oh yeah & I didn't even mention H.P. Lovecraft's stuff, That stuff is out there the director will have to create a whole new world & make you believe it.
Del Toro is great i enjoyed his earlier work also anyone remember Cronos? or the Devils Backbone? sweet movies. Im kinda excited for the Lovecraft adaptation.
"Cronos" is the only film of his I don't own, and haven't seen for that matter. I just can't seem to find it. It's not available on Netflix and I've never ran into it at a video store or anything.
He's been talking about "At the Mountains of Madness" for years, I was hoping to hear that would be his next project after "The Hobbit" dammit. I have no doubts when he does make it it'll be his greatest work yet, just wish I could get a timeframe for when he might!!!!
Oh man, he's remaking Frankenstein, thats going to be fantastic!! So good to hear!
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Many top film directors have no idea what their next movie is. But Guillermo del Toro is now booked through 2017. And maybe beyond, reports Variety.
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