Guillermo del Toro checked in at the official Hellboy II message board to drop some information about the status of The Hobbit. He's been very careful to let people know that nothing is set in stone yet, and that things can always change, but his latest communique sounds pretty optimistic:

Whew- Not yet. BUT there has been a lot of movement. And for the last few weeks there has been a lot of creative / cast / crew / visual talks and agreements and we have witnessed great progress in areas that I cannot disclose or that have already leaked from other sources.

I am dying to share news but I have to be patient and wait until the papers are done and my attachment is real. Nevertheless- a LOT of progress in defining the films, their cast and crew. And, may I add, we are all happily in synch about all creative aspects so far and all willing and eager to move forth.

I cannot say more but if all´s well the time will come To talk of many things: Of shoes -- and ships -- and sealing wax -- Of cabbages -- and kings --

May Luck be with us

GDT

PD my silnece means nothing more than the fact that we are RUNNING against an impossible deadline on the HBII film, poster, campaign, ADR, VFX, etc I am SWAMPED.

BUT- Expect good things in the next 2 weeks and a nice item at COMICON. See you there-

That sounds like the GDT I know and love - working his ass off to make this movie as perfect as he can. And he's not a bullshitter; if he says that things are progressing well and that people are coming together creatively, it's happening.

We'll keep our eyes and ears open in the next two weeks, as he says, and we'll see what happens.