[Pirate]

LOTR Actors Weigh In on "The Hobbit" With No Jackson:

Elijah backs Jackson in "Hobbit" dispute
Sir Ian McKellen has already voiced his dismay at New Line Cinema‘s decision to drop director Peter Jackson from their movie of "The Hobbit" and its apparent sequel as, according to Jackson, New Line have refused to consider him for the project as they are currently embroiled in a legal battle over DVD royalities. And this week Middle Earth hero Elijah Wood, Frodo Baggins in Jackson‘s "The Lord Of The Rings" trilogy, told us in London of his concern over the situation.

"If [Peter] ultimately doesn‘t come back because of what New Line has done I think it would be a great tragedy. I think it‘s ultimately quite foolish for New Line to move forward assuming they can create an equally wonderful film without Peter…and I think for that for fans that‘s tragic," Elijah told us, adding "For a long time I never kind of imagined that these movies would ever be made, so if they do get made I think they should be made by Peter."

However the star doesn‘t think we‘ve heard the last of this, saying "I don‘t think it‘s ultimately over though, I think the arguments still up in the air. There‘s talk that New Line will ultimately lose the rights to ["The Hobbit"] and that the rights will fall to the Saul Zaentz company, which is what Saul Zaentz is now saying, so who knows? I think it remains to be seen ultimately what will happen, but it makes me nervous."

McKellen disappointed at Jackson snub
Sir Ian McKellen has issued a statement, expressing his disappointment that Peter Jackson won‘t be behind the camera for the live action movie of the "The Hobbit". "I‘m very sad as I should have relished revisiting Middle Earth with Peter again," the actor, who played Gandalf in the epic "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, wrote on his website. "It‘s hard to imagine any other director matching his achievement in Tolkien country," McKellen added.

According to Jackson the powers–that–be at New Line Cinema, the studio behind the movie, have apparently refused to consider him for the project, as the two are currently at loggerheads about supposed profit payments the director claims he is due.

New Line don't want Jackson for "The Hobbit"
It looks like Peter Jackson‘s on–going law suit with New Line Cinema has cost the Oscar–winner the chance of directing "The Hobbit", should the "Lord of the Rings" prequel ever be filmed. Jackson is suing New Line for supposed unpaid profits he‘s due from the blockbuster trilogy, and he‘s told fansite TheOneRing.net that it would appear the lawsuit has come at a high cost.

"Several years ago, Mark Ordesky told us that New Line have rights to make not just "The Hobbit" but a second "LOTR prequel", covering the events leading up to those depicted in "LOTR". Since then, we‘ve always assumed that we would be asked to make "The Hobbit" and possibly this second film, back to back, as we did the original movies."

"However last week, Mark Ordesky called Ken and [said that] New Line would no longer be requiring our services on "The Hobbit" and the LOTR "prequel". This was a courtesy call to let us know that the studio was now actively looking to hire another filmmaker for both projects."

http://www.mymovies.net/news/news_li...=5975&sec=news