It's official. Guillermo del Toro (Pan's Labyrinth) will direct The Hobbit and its currently untitled sequel. The sequel will be an original story detailing the six decade gap in-between The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. I'm excited by the news. Short of Peter Jackson directing these films, this is the best possible choice. Jackson will be one of the producers and may also contribute to the screenplays. The Weta design team will be working on the films as well.

In other del Toro news, his latest film, Hellboy II: The Golden Army, will be out in July. He said that he's open to making a third and final Hellboy film, but it will be at least 2013 before it could be made now that he has the two Tolkien films to direct.

The first season of Joss Whedon's new television show, Dollhouse, went into production this week. Whedon reunites with actresses Eliza Dushku and Amy Acker, veterans of his previous shows, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel. The cast also includes Olivia Williams, Tahmoh Penikett (Helo on Battlestar Galactica) and Harry J. Lennix (who was amazing as Aaron the Moor in Julie Taymor's film, Titus). It's rare that I get excited about a new television show before it actually airs, but I'm excited about this one.

One week to go until Iron Man arrives in cinemas. If it's as good as the previews make it look, it'll be really good.