Peter Jackson not to make The Hobbit

[Dr_Evil_Mouse]

What the hell are they thinking?

Peter Jackson dropped from ‘The Hobbit’

WELLINGTON, New Zealand - Peter Jackson says he will not be directing a movie based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s novel “The Hobbit†or a planned prequel to “The Lord of the Rings.â€

In a letter posted on Theonering.com., Jackson and partner Fran Walsh said an executive from New Line Cinema had called to tell them the studio was moving ahead with “The Hobbit†without him.

“Last week, Mark Ordesky called Ken (Kamins, Jackson’s manager) and told him that New Line would no longer be requiring our services on ‘The Hobbit’ and the LOTR ‘prequel,â€â€™ the 45-year-old New Zealand director wrote.

“This was a courtesy call to let us know that the studio was now actively looking to hire another filmmaker for both projects,†he said.

Robert Pini, a New York-based representative for New Line Cinema, said Tuesday the studio had no comment.

New Line Cinema holds the rights to produce “The Hobbit†and Metro-Goldwyn-Meyer has the rights to distribute it.

Jackson, who shepherded Tolkien’s Middle-earth saga to the screen in a series of three films, won a best-director Oscar for 2003’s “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.†The trilogy also includes 2002’s “The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers†and 2001’s “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.â€

A spokesman for Wingnut Films, Jackson’s production company in Wellington, who spoke on his standard condition that he not be named, confirmed Tuesday the letter was genuine.

The announcement came amid an ongoing dispute between Wingnut Films and New Line Cinema over the amount Jackson was paid for “The Fellowship of the Ring,†including DVD payments.

While Jackson hasn’t said how much he believes he was underpaid, The New York Times last year quoted his lawyers as saying it was as much as $100 million. He is suing New Line Cinema over the shortfall.

The Dominion Post newspaper quoted Jackson as saying that because he and Walsh didn’t want to discuss upcoming movies “until the lawsuit is resolved, the studio is going to have to hire another director.â€

“We are very sorry our involvement with ‘The Hobbit’ has ended this way,†the pair added.

Plans for Jackson to make a $128 million movie version of the sci-fi video game “Halo†were also scrapped this month after backers 20th Century Fox and Universal Pictures pulled out.

Jackson’s “Lord of the Rings†trilogy grossed nearly $3 billion at box offices worldwide.

[zero]

Sounds like they may have backed out of the Halo deal because he got a rep as a trouble maker.

And what's the fucking deal with movies based on video games. I read a screenwriter the other day who got offered the Doom job and he asked 'what's the story?' the executive responded 'what's the difference?'.

[Tenenbaum]

who needs another part to the LOTR franchise? Bring on Meet the Feebles II!!

[Cully]

I think that he should do a Fraggle Rock movie...

[MamaPink]

who needs another part to the LOTR franchise? Bring on Meet the Feebles II!!

OMG - please NO! I remember watching that movie a long time ago and nearly puking on myself.

How about Dead Alive II?? I know he doesn't kill ALL the zombies at the end...

[bradm]

I think that he should do a Fraggle Rock movie...

Only if they get the right theme song.

Aloha,

Brad

[bradm]

It turns out that Jackson might/will be making "The Hobbit" after all. Apparently the movie rights to the book go back to Tolkien Enterprises next year, and according to an interview

Q: What is with the long anticipated Hobbit-adaption?

A: It will definitely be shot by Peter Jackson. The question is only when. He wants to shoot another movie first. Next year the Hobbit-rights will fall back to my company. I suppose that Peter will wait because he knows that he will make the best deal with us. And he is fed up with the studios: to get his profit share on the rings trilogy he had to sue New Line. With us in contrast he knows that he will be paid fairly and artistically supported without reservation.

Aloha,

Brad

[zero]

That's a somewhat unsurprising turn of events. Jackson is one of a small small group of directors that can write their own ticket these days (the Wachowski bros. are another irrespective of what gender Larry is).