Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh have announced that Guillermo del Toro will be the Director of the next two Hobbit films.

“A true original, Guillermo is a cinematic magician who has never lost his child-like sense of wonder. He understands that the fantastic must be grounded in the real and that all stories are only ever a reflection of ourselves,” Jackson and Walsh said.

“We have long admired Guillermo’s work and cannot think of a more inspired filmmaker to take the journey back to Middle-earth. We are delighted The Hobbit is in such trustworthy hands.”

The two films - the second of which will cover the 60 years between J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit and The Fellowship of the Ring - will be shot back to back

Guillermo will spend the next four years learning to eat fish and chips living in New Zealand.