Guillermo Del Toro has once again reached out to fans of "The Hobbit," this time elaborating on his decision to quit the New Line films.

"My commitment to the project demanded enormous sacrifices both in personal and professional terms," he writes on TheOneRing.net. "The consequences of which will ripple for years."

Del Toro, who called the departure "extremely painful," refused to provide a blow-by-blow of what happened but did reiterate what exec producer Peter Jackson said last week: "other contractual obligations with multiple studios" as well as family responsibilities were primary reasons for leaving.

"Rarely do you relocate for such massive amount of time when you have major ironclad agreements to put in deep freeze," he adds.

Del Toro is, of course, referring to his massive deal with Universal, which has the 45 year-old helmer attached to direct remakes of "Frankenstein," "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hide" and "Slaugterhouse-Five."

In the end, it seems Del Toro got tired of waiting around in New Zealand while "The Hobbit" rights-owner MGM tries to resolve its financial crisis. That and the fact that his family, who relocated with him to the foreign country, were ready to leave.

"I believe these films will happen," he reassures "Hobbit" fans, saying "preproduction continues as we speak."

As Andrew Stewart's story Buzz Builds for Sex and the City 2 reported, upscale film circuits are seeing widespread sellouts for the opening weekend of "Sex and the City 2," and even the second weekend at some locations.

Theaters that serve food and drinks are making the film into a social event with themed menus, and bars in L.A., Gotham and across the country tying cocktail promotions into the opening.

Since the Cosmopolitan cocktail might seem a little dated 12 years after the series started airing, mixologists are vying to create new drinks themed around the four friends and their lovers.

BY ANDREW STEWART

With "Sex and the City 2" set to launch nationwide a week from Thursday, Warner Bros. and New Line's femme-driven romp is seeing high advance ticket sales, especially from upscale multiplexes. Pic will benefit from an early Memorial Day weekend opening, making it a five-day weekend.
As with the first installment, femmes are turning the opening into an event, planning Cosmo-soaked escapades for opening weekend.

Gold Class Cinemas has pre-sold approximately 8,000 tickets in the past two months, with some 2,700 tickets for private events. Gold Class is one of several circuits, including ArcLight Cinemas, that will cater (literally) to femme auds when the comedy sequel opens wide May 27.