The writer’s strike has been over for a while now, and it’s about time we got an answer as to the fate of The Hobbit. New Line was all happy to announce during the strike that they were talking with director Guillermo del Toro about taking on the prequel story to the Lord of the Rings series, but with the end of the strike no solid answers have come. Del Toro has stated he wants to direct the movie, but can’t say anything more until all the t’s have been crossed and i’s have been dotted… or can he?

Apparently the director made a pit stop by The One Ring.net earlier today to drop some sort of hint of an answer. Tolkien would probably be proud as the hint comes in the form of a poem – an important element of The Hobbit’s story.

A riddle for you all-

Half familiar, half unknown

A thing it is, ¨It almost is-¨

This thing all things devours:

Birds, beasts, trees, flowers;

Gnaws iron, bites steel;
Grinds hard stones to meal;
Slays king, ruins town,
And beats high mountain down.

The day of the moon will be
when all is revealed to thee

Questions will cease

Answers will please

We´ll learn of the Shire

and all you desire.

At ten minus Three.
Joining to be

Ten minus Eight

Add to the slate

of the two dozen princes

that die without winces.

And add to each day of

the week.

What does it mean? I haven’t the foggiest. I can make out a few pieces that seem to make sense, but (truth be told) I was never very good at riddles. I’m taking it as a good sign, however. Would del Toro put time and effort into something he wasn’t 100% confident was going to come to fruition?

If you’d like to join in on figuring out the answer, head over to The One Ring.net’s forums where del Toro posted the riddle initially and discussion is underway.