It looks like Peter Jackson is planning an extended vacation to Middle-earth.
The Oscar-winning "Lord of the Rings" filmmaker is in negotiations with MGM, Warner Bros. and New Line to direct "The Hobbit" and its sequel, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
Guillermo del Toro left the director's chair on May 30.
TheWrap's calls to Jackson's manager, Ken Kamins, as well as New Line Cinema, were not immediately returned.
Kamins initially denied that Jackson would be taking over the reins from del Toro, and directors such as David Yates and Neill Blomkamp were rumored to be taking over the directorial duties.
Now it seems Jackson will be shooting the movies back-to-back in New Zealand.
Jackson has been working on the script with Fran Walsh and Phillippa Boyens, and del Toro also had input on the script while he was developing the project.
It's unclear what this means for Jackson's other projects, including whether he remains attached to direct the sequel to Steven Spielberg's upcoming "The Adventures of Tintin: Secret of the Unicorn." TheWrap's calls to Paramount were not immediately returned. Since "The Hobbit" still hasn't been greenlit yet, Jackson remains committed to the direct the second "Tintin" movie … for now.
