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Guillermo Del Toro to 'push envelope' for Hobbit dragon

13/11/2008

Director Guillermo del Toro has said he wants to make film history with the design of Smaug the dragon for his upcoming adaptation of The Hobbit.

The Pan's Labyrinth helmer is currently travelling between the US and New Zealand to work on the script for the JRR Tolkien film with Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson, his partner Fran Walsh and their co-writer Philippa Boyens.

Speaking at the Los Angeles launch of the Hellboy II: The Golden Army DVD, Oscar-nominated Del Toro explained the adaptation of Tolkien's 1937 novel is proving to be a constantly challenge.

"Literally, like every week, what you discover writing the two movies, writing the two stories, it changes," he told ComingSoon.net.

"So, every week there's a discovery, and anything we say this week would be contradicted next week."

However, he was able to shed more light on the planned special effects for The Hobbit, which is to be adapted into two films, set for release in 2011 and 2012.

"We want to do a muscle-driven, radio-controlled suit for a couple of things," he said. "I already started that with Wink [the cave troll] in Hellboy II.

"Wink was pushed as far as we could within the time limits and the budget limits of the movie and we're going to take what we learned and apply it."

And in Del Toro's eyes, some entirely original techniques could be used in realising the character of Smaug the dragon, who guards the treasure under the Lonely Mountain sought by Bilbo Baggins and his dwarf companions.

"The way Tolkien wrote [Smaug], already, is magnificent. It's already a fantastic character.

"In my mind, what we're going to attempt on the design of this creature and the creation of this creature needs to push the envelope beyond anything you've ever seen on that kind of creature."

He added: "Smaug has certain characteristics that make him unique already. I am bursting at the seams about spilling the beans, but I won't because I would be shot."

The two Hobbit films are to be shot simultaneously, similar to Jackson's adaptation of The Lord of the Rings.