Hobbit in the running for superhero flick direction

Lord of the Rings star Sean Astin is planning to make his directing debut on a Marvel comics adaptation of the Fantastic Four - but he’s still waiting for studio bosses to give him the go-ahead.

Lord of the Rings star Sean Astin, who played hobbit Sam Gamgee, is planning to make his directing debut on a Marvel comics adaptation of the Fantastic Four - but he’s still waiting for studio bosses to give him the go-ahead.

The 32-year-old star hopes to film the long-awaited adaptation despite competition from Traffic director Steven Soderbergh, who has George Clooney as Fantastic Four leader Reed Richards.