You talkin' to me Bilbo?

Reuters

ONE RING: Who will direct the two Hobbit films?

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The race is on to find a director for The Hobbit movies. Tom Cardy looks at some possible candidates.

Fans of Peter Jackson and JRR Tolkien around the world have been doing a merry jig the past two days since it was announced that the Wellington film-maker will be involved in The Hobbit.

Jackson and his screenwriting partner Fran Walsh will be executive producers on The Hobbit and a second Hobbit film and preproduction work will begin in Wellington next month.

Whether JRR Tolkien's story will be spread over the two films, or the second will be based on some of his other material is still unclear.

So is who will actually direct the films. Jackson is reportedly too busy.

Over the past 12 months Spider-Man director Sam Raimi has been mentioned as a contender, as well as Pan's Labyrinth director Guillermo del Toro. At this point it could be open to all.

Jackson could choose an unknown protege – as he has with Kiwi Christian Rivers directing Dambusters, or a well-known name.

Alfonso Cuaron, who directed the excellent Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and Children of Men is already on several fans' wishlists.

Or maybe it will be left-field choice, such as Kiwi veteran Geoff Murphy, who, as a second unit director on The Lord of the Rings, captured some of its best action scenes.

But imagine if some of the world's best known and idiosyncratic directors sat down with Jackson over a few beers and convinced him to give them the job – and complete creative control.

How different will it be?

Francis Ford Coppola
Career highlights: The Godfather Parts I and II, Apocalypse Now.
Best scene: Smaug the dragon attacks Lake-town, seeking to destroy its inhabitants. Explosions and fires engulf the town, bodies are everywhere. The dragon breathes deeply through his nostrils and declares: "I love the smell of hobbits in the morning."

Quentin Tarantino
Career highlights: Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, Kill Bill
Best scene: Bilbo and his dwarf companions try to escape three man-eating trolls while far into the Lone-lands. At first Bilbo and dwarf Thorin use fire logs to hold them back. Gandalf arrives. "I'm Superfly T.N.T., I'm The Guns of the Navarone," he roars, as he whips a 12 gauge shotgun out from under his wizard's robe and shoots the first troll through the stomach. A fountain of blood sprays his companions. Bilbo reaches for a sword and cleanly chops off a troll's arm. Chopping and shooting ensue. The Kiss song Crazy Crazy Nights erupts on the soundtrack.

Martin Scorsese
Career highlights: Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, Goodfellas.
Best scene: Bilbo confronts the dragon Smaug in his Lonely Mountains lair. Bilbo has become so stressed on his journey, he's shaved his curly hair into a mohawk and has begun wearing old military shirts. When Smaug utters a riddle, Bilbo turns, a gun whizzes out from underneath his arm and he yells while blasting away: "You talkin' to me? You talkin' to me? Then who the hell else are you talking to?"

George Lucas
Career highlights: American Graffiti, Stars Wars Episodes IV-VI.
Best scene: When Gollum discovers Bilbo has stolen his precious ring he corners the hobbit on the edge of a canyon. Gollum whips out a glowing sword, Bilbo responds by whipping out his own glowing sword. They battle and Gollum manages to slice off Bilbo's hand that's holding the ring. Gollum then tries to persuade Bilbo to come over to "the dark side". "I'll never join you," screams Bilbo. "But Bilbo," croaks Gollum. "I am your father."

Sam Raimi
Career highlights: The Evil Dead, Spider-Man trilogy.
Best scene: Bilbo wakes to find himself tied down by a giant spider. He cuts himself loose and kills the spider with his sword Sting. A couple of days later he discovers he can climb walls, that all his senses have been magnified and he can shoot giant webs from his arms. Now all orcs shudder at the very mention of: Spider-Hobbit.

Ridley Scott
Career highlights: Alien, Blade Runner, Gladiator.
Best scene: Bilbo finds the One Ring of power and is smugly walking out of the goblin tunnels when he is suddenly struck by searing pain. He falls to the ground, looks down at his chest to see something pushing through his skin. Suddenly his chest rips open, blood goes everywhere to reveal Gollum has been inside his body! "At last!," Gollum screams as he rips the ring from Bilbo. "I have my precious!"