Guillermo del Toro could just end up being an honorary Torontonian.

The Mexican film director, screenwriter, producer and novelist, who helped bring a terrifying Spanish short to the big screen as the thriller Mama, opening Friday, says he’ll spend the next two years working here “with a little bit of luck.”

In an interview with the Star, del Toro talked about how he helped nurture a “scary as hell” short by Andrés Muschietti and his sister Barbara Muschietti to its feature-film finish. Del Toro produced Mama with Andrés Muschietti directing.

Why didn’t del Toro direct the film? “I love producing almost as much as I love directing,” he told the Star. “I hate to use the phrase because it sounds corny, but you’re giving back. I would love to be produced the way I produce the young directors. I think it’s very nice to see a new voice in the genre.”

So aside from possessing the heralded Canuck trait of being a nice guy, what can help complete the Oscar-winner’s Hogtown assimilation?

He loves us.

Mama was shot at Pinewood Toronto Studios’ massive complex south of Commissioners St. The hotly anticipated alien attack sci-fi blockbuster del Toro directed, Pacific Rim, landing in theatres July 13, was also shot at Pinewood.

“I love Pinewood. I shot Pacific Rim there and with a little bit of luck I’ll be shooting here in July, a TV series called The Strain” —based on the vampire series he wrote with Chuck Hogan for U.S. cable channel FX — “and at the end of the year, a ghost story called Crimson Peak that I’m directing. I plan to be in Toronto, with a little bit of luck for two years and if I can, more.”

Why does he love us?

“I love the city, I love the (film) crews first of all. I love the people and then I love the city.”

What’s to love?

“I think it’s the most livable city. The food is amazing, the cultural life is amazing, the urban life is amazing and what is great is it’s a city, a proper city. It’s not a big town or a wannabe. I love this city.”

Paging Mr. del Toro.

“There are great bookstores here. Sadly some of them are disappearing.”

Let’s do dinner.

“I love the restaurants here. Beerbistro, Luma, there are so many . . . Sen5es.”

Let’s do lunch. Or better, breakfast.

“I love Cora’s. I love the Sunset Grill. It has a great breakfast. The Beach one. The fried egg sandwich. . .”

Why producing is like mom saying, “Clean up your room!” Or not.

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“I’m there to support Andy (Mama director Andrés Muschietti). I’m there to make sure the movie comes out great. But (it’s like) the difference between your mother being concerned about your room being such a mess and your mother putting away your comic books. I’m a concerned parent.”

Where’s Hellboy III?

“I don’t think anyone has come forward with the financing. The two movies made money but not enough money to finance the third one. It’s much bigger, double. It’s too much.”