The Hobbit

[MJZ]

Peter Jackson not involved:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6167972.stm

[esc]

that is unbelievable. does anyone know what Jackson is asking for from New Line ? how much did he and Wingnut get paid originally? New Line should just pay him off (he did make the studio 3 Billion dollars), with the exception that he has to take a smaller fee for the 2 Hobbit movies than he may have been expecting.

IF the Hobbit movie(s) ever get made now they will have a toally different visual style and maybe different actors, if the new director didn't like the performances or something. I wonder if WETA will do the effects without Jackson attached.
And I can totally see Christopher Lee not doing the project without Jackson.

[ganthc]

Originally Posted by esc

And I can totally see Christopher Lee not doing the project without Jackson.

Why would Christopher Lee be in the Hobbit? Saruman is not a character in that story. Do you mean Ian McKellan?

Personally, I hope the issue is resolved between Peter Jackson and New Line. New Line can't gamble on the loss of audience attendance due to Jackson not being on the project. Plus they have to know that it will be a gold mine when it comes out, especially if the story is broken out into a well detailed trilogy or two parter of some sort. I think execs there really need to wake up and take the hit on the income. I think Peter Jackson has shown what he can do, even in a stinker like King Kong he made boatloads of money.

[cherno]

No director would be crazy enough to jump on board and try to take over what jackson did with the originals. Regardless of whether you thought they were good or not, there is only one person that the fans will accept to do a continuation of the story, that is Jackson.

Criticism of Jackson was high and doubt as to whether he could even pull if off. Now a new director would not only have to live up to the expections for the movie, but also how to be at least equal to the task that Jackson performed. I hope they take a long hard look at the extra features for LOTR before deciding what they want to get themselves into time and commitment wise.

New Line is very foolish for going this route.

[plissken99]

More than just Jackson, I doubt Ian McKellan would return as Gandalf without him, and there is no other Gandalf, none.

[Monrozombi]

so let me get this straight:

New Line hires Jackson to make LOTR

Jackson makes LOTR

LOTR makes New Line $3,000,000,000.00 dollars

New Line tells Jackson he can't do the "Hobbit"

well that all makes sense, if your head was up your ass like New Line's is

[Hockey Mask]

Originally Posted by Monrozombi

so let me get this straight:

New Line hires Jackson to make LOTR

Jackson makes LOTR

LOTR makes New Line $3,000,000,000.00 dollars

New Line tells Jackson he can't do the "Hobbit"

well that all makes sense, if your head was up your ass like New Line's is

You forgot...

New Line doesn't give PJ his fair share on $3,000,000,000.00.

PJ calls New Line on it.

[raptors661]

i think PJ needs to take a break from the big movies for a while. he should make little, lower budget movies for a few years.

[Monrozombi]

Originally Posted by Hockey Mask

You forgot...

New Line doesn't give PJ his fair share on $3,000,000,000.00.

PJ calls New Line on it.

yeah New Line really showed us how to bite the hand that feeds you $3 billion dollars

[umainebearman]

No Jackson means

no Andy, no Ian (McKellan or Holm), no Weta, and on and on and on....

Basically no movie. Yes yes yes go on tell us that someone else can make it and of course you're right. However it won't even come close to what it should be. If any one who loves the Hobbit and know the story story knows that it just won't happen without PJ and the rest.

[esc]

Originally Posted by ganthc

Why would Christopher Lee be in the Hobbit? Saruman is not a character in that story. Do you mean Ian McKellan?

no I mean Christopher Lee. I know its confusing because I don't think Saurumon is in the story, but I have specifically heard Peter Jackson or one of the producers in an interview talking about wanting Lee for The Hobbit.

Originally Posted by cherno

No director would be crazy enough to jump on board and try to take over what jackson did with the originals.

are you kidding? you'd have newbie film school grads lining up around the block to PAY new line for the oppertunity to direct The Hobbit(s).

any director that gets attached with receive instant fame and tenure in hollywood.

I always wondered what Zemekis would have done with the LOTR trilogy. I think there would have been better effects for one thing ... and more shots involving mirrors :p

[umainebearman]

Originally Posted by esc

any director that gets attached with receive instant fame and tenure in hollywood.

Yes but who get the direct to video rights in that deal?

[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

[ganthc]

It is curious, because you would think that New Line would not mess with success. Oh well...I guess they can come out with Freddy vs Jason 2 and see if they can get people to come to that.

[Hockey Mask]

Originally Posted by ganthc

It is curious, because you would think that New Line would not mess with success. Oh well...I guess they can come out with Freddy vs Jason 2 and see if they can get people to come to that.

We will.

[ganthc]

Originally Posted by Hockey Mask

We will.

I know...I will too, but I was just being provacative.

[MJZ]

Things seem to have gotten worse:

Originally Posted by Cinema Blend

The whole controversy between Peter Jackson and New Line Cinema is spinning even further out of control. The victims? You, me, and anyone who had hoped to see a good version of The Hobbit on screen. Moviehole reports that New Line head Robert Shaye is throwing a crazed hissy fit, and has completely banned Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson from New Line’s lot. Permanently.

Shaye tells SciFi.com, “He got a quarter of a billion dollars paid to him so far, justifiably, according to contract, completely right, and this guy, who already has received a quarter of a billion dollars, turns around without wanting to have a discussion with us and sues us and refuses to discuss it unless we just give in to his plan. I don't want to work with that guy anymore. Why would I? So the answer is he will never make any movie with New Line Cinema again while I'm still working for the company.” Notice he doesn’t say they’ve paid Peter what they owed him, he just thinks they’ve paid him enough. Well buddy, the amount doesn’t matter. You owe him what you owe him.

Peter Jackson won’t work for New Line as long as Shaye does? Then somebody need to fire him. Seriously, what kind of company pisses off and bans the guy who made them more money than any director has in history? The guy who made New Line Cinema one of the real big players? How many Oscars did Peter Jackson win again? Maybe Robert Shaye should count them. If you’re the New Line board of directors, don’t you give someone like Robert Shaye the heave-ho? The guy’s petty personal feelings are now costing you money. Worse, he’s about to screw up your next big movie.

As if to get revenge on PJ, New Line Cinema is now rushing their version of The Hobbit into production without Peter. If you thought dollar signs were a bad reason to make a sequel, how about blind revenge? Yes, let’s rush The Hobbit and put a shitty version of it out there, just to show Peter Jackson. Does Robert Shaye really believe that’s in anyone’s best interest? It doesn’t sound like he cares. Shaye rants, “I don't care about Peter Jackson anymore. He wants to have another $100 million or $50 million, whatever he's suing us for. He doesn't want to sit down and talk about it. He thinks that we owe him something after we've paid him over a quarter of a billion dollars.”

So for any of you who had hope that Peter might make up with New Line and get The Hobbit done, forget it. The only hope we LOTR fans have now is that New Line’s board realizes who badly Shaye is screwing them over and kicks him out, or that MGM (who owns the North American rights to the film) plays tough with New Line and refuses to let them make it. If they delay them long enough, the rights to back to Saul Zaentz, who has vowed to give the movie to PJ. But, that seems unlikely to happen. MGM doesn’t want to lose the rights to Zaentz any more than New Line does, they’d miss out on a lot of money. They’re likely to let New Line screw the whole thing up, in the hopes that they’ll make a quick buck off their rush-job, revenge pic travesty. The Hobbit is well and truly screwed.

http://www.cinemablend.com/new/New-L...Life-4257.html

Originally Posted by Cinema Blend

If you missed the story from earlier today, New Line Cinema head honcho Bob Shaye publicly blasted Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson. Shaye told SciFi.com he will not work with Jackson, who is currently suing New Line over an issue of accounting for Fellowship of the Rings (and presumably the other two LotR films as well). Shaye stated that Jackson will not be involved in any film for New Line as long as he is still working for the company, and thus crushed all fanboy hopes of a Jackson led Hobbit adaptation.

Well, Jackson and WingNut films have replied to Shaye’s public tirade. As usual, Jackson and company reply with a focused voice that attempts to state the facts rather than dive into personal remarks like banning someone from future company endeavors. Courtesy of Ain’t It Cool News, WingNut’s official response is:

"Our issue with New Line Cinema has only ever been about their refusal to account for financial anomalies that surfaced from a partial audit of The Fellowship of the Ring. Contrary to recent comments made by Bob Shaye, we attempted to discuss the issues raised by the Fellowship audit with New Line for over a year but the studio was and continues to be completely uncooperative. This has compelled us to file a lawsuit to pursue our contractual rights under the law. Nobody likes taking legal action, but the studio left us with no alternative.

For over two years, New Line has denied us the ability to audit The Two Towers and The Return of the King, despite repeated requests. Film auditing is a common and straightforward practice within the industry and we don't understand why New Line Cinema has taken this position.

In light of these circumstances, I didn't think it was appropriate for me to be involved in New Line Cinema's 40th Anniversary video. I have never discussed this video with any of the cast of The Lord of the Rings. The issues that Bob Shaye has with the cast pre-date this law suit by many years.

Fundamentally, our legal action is about holding New Line to its contractual obligations and promises. It is regrettable that Bob has chosen to make it personal. I have always had the highest respect and affection for Bob and other senior management at New Line and continue to do so."

Jackson’s remarks about the LotR cast members stems from Shaye’s remark that Jackson and the cast refused to work on a project celebrating New Line’s 40th anniversary. This shouldn’t come to anyone as too surprising who has been following this developing story. Several of the cast members have publicly gone on record with loyalty toward Jackson directing The Hobbit. The idea that they would side more with him than New Line makes perfect sense, regardless of whether Jackson told them to or not.

This story is certainly far from over. Eventually this lawsuit will be settled and New Line will almost certainly have to open the books for that to happen – which seems to be what Jackson really wants. Whether Shaye will still be standing when that ends and whether he’ll stick to his guns about the Jackson ban or not will be interesting to see.

http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Peter...Line-4260.html

[Damian]

I'm amazed at the arrogance of Bob Shaye. Before Peter Jackson and Lord of the Rings came along, the only big movies New Line is responsible for are the Elm Street movies and Rush Hour 1 and 2. Sure there are a few semi-big hits sprinkled in there, but for the most part. Everything they churn out bombs.
Maybe he's really thinking Rush Hour 3 will pull in the numbers Lord of the Rings did.

[Enron]

While I'm disappointed that Jackson won't be directing The Hobbit, perhaps whoever takes on the project will be able to match or even surpass the bar set by Jackson with LOTR.

[ganthc]

Originally Posted by Enron

While I'm disappointed that Jackson won't be directing The Hobbit, perhaps whoever takes on the project will be able to match or even surpass the bar set by Jackson with LOTR.

Yeah, and maybe Michael Bay really has made a great Transformers movie. Both could be true, but I'm not holding my breath.

[Vonner]

More Hobbit rumblings.

The Hobbit in 2009?
Source: The New York Times
February 18, 2007


Despite his falling out with "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy director Peter Jackson, who sued New Line regarding "The Fellowship of the Ring," New Line founder and co-chairman Robert K. Shaye is pressing ahead and eyeing a 2009 release for The Hobbit.

The New York Times interviewed Shaye last week and said:

And he would not comment on reports in the news media that the "Spider-Man" director Sam Raimi had been asked to direct "The Hobbit." He said, however, that although there was no workable script yet for the film, he intended to release it in 2009.

Will Sam Raimi, or another director come on board? Stay tuned for more news as it comes in regarding the high profile project.

Source: http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=18994

[Damian]

Robert Shaye is an idiot. No script yet he announces he wants to release the movie in 2009? The type of movie that typically takes two solid years to make?
Yep..idiot.

[skywalking_sith]

They obviously don't realize what a huge role Jackson and Co. played in making those movies so successful in the first place...they just think that people liked them because they're fantasy...and that's why everyone's buying up every fantasy series in existence...It was the love and knowledge of the stories that made them so good and I can almost guarantee that can not be duplicated with people who don't have an iota of the dedication they put in to Lord of the Rings...

Hollywood executives are morons...

[Hockey Mask]

I would rather have PJ back then not BUT he laid such a groundwork for MiddleEarth that I expect whoever the director is will do a pretty good job.

[Keith]

As a huge LOTR fan it's slightly painful to me seeing how the Jackson/New Line relationship crashed and burned. So much for that warm and fuzzy story about Jackson pedaling his vision to every studio in Hollywood and being turned down left and right until New Line came to the rescue. Oh well..at least the movies got made and the end result is great.

I agree with others here..The Hobbit looks like a trainwreck waiting to happen.

[MJZ]

"Raimi Says No Hobbit Without Jackson"

http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Raimi...kson-6667.html

[umainebearman]

New Lines had there heads to far up there asses for too long to pull it out now. They will have to fire Bob Shea and hire someone that will let PJ direct before it actually happens.