A representative for Harry Potter moviemaker David Yates has shot down reports he's signed up to direct troubled Lord Of The Rings prequel The Hobbit.
Speculation has been rife about who will take over from Guillermo Del Toro, who quit the project last month (May10) because of the ongoing delays.
Yates has recently been linked to the role - but the rumours have been dismissed by officials at the Creative Artists Agency.
The director's rep tells TheWrap.com the reports are "not true at all".
The Hobbit, based on J.R.R. Tolkien's first book, has been thrown into jeopardy due to ongoing financial problems at MGM Studios, which was put up for sale in 2009 after falling heavily into debt.