8 Months Ago, California Chronicle says (in Director Del Toro Calls Fantasy Faith) G4 TV
 CA
My first movie, "Cronos," was about vampires, and "Blade 2" is a big vampire action film. I've collected vampire mythology since I was a kid. I think I read my first vampire book at age 7. I have hundreds of books on vampire lore and literature. ...
FILM - TheOneRing.net

And eTaiwan News says (in Del Toro's gory vampires are anything but lovable) G4 TV
 Taiwan
Blade II" and the "Hellboy" movies, has spent the past seven months in New Zealand preparing to make two films based on JRR Tolkien's "The Hobbit." He took a break to promote the book, the first of a planned trilogy on the vampire legend. ...
FILM - TheOneRing.net

And Bloomberg says (in Del Toro's Gory Vampire Tracked by Pawnshop Owner, Billionaire) “Blade II” and the “Hellboy” movies, has spent the past seven months in New Zealand preparing to make two films based on JRR Tolkien's “The Hobbit.” He took a break to promote the book, the first of a planned trilogy on the vampire legend. ...
Del Toro takes a stab at vampires Canoe.ca