There is still no sign of a grand signing ceremony where Peter Jackson rides triumphantly into the MGM offices on the back of a mighty steed and scrawls his name on a contract declaring him as the director of The Hobbit with a sword dripping with the blood of Sauron.

While still awaiting this marvellous event, The Hollywood Reporter's Heat Vision blog is claiming that the director, who has all but been confirmed to be taking over helming duties from Guillermo del Toro, has been circling the globe to find the cast for the upcoming Hobbit(s).

Jackson is said to have been in London, New York and LA this week meeting actors to flesh out the cast of the Lord Of The Rings prequels. This may also be an indication that the ownership of MGM, which has been one of the issues holding back production, may finally be resolved soon. Fingers crossed!