The Hobbit

[jovian]

http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=16424

[Jax]

pretty vague, ins't it!!

[j7wild]

The Hobbit and Bond 22, that's the only thing I am interested in out of that whole article!!

[jluckhurst41]

yeah, since casino royale seems to be kicking some mighty a**e this november bond 22 is high on my list after that.

have a bad feeling about hobbit, though, if it's gonna be pushed on peter jackson. i think he should push his own projects instead. sort of like an auteur.

terminator 4? no, 1-3 were pretty good all of them, but it wont work another time.

[Mithrandir01]

source: TheOneRing

Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh Talk THE HOBBIT
Xoanon @ 10:32 pm EST

Moments ago we received this email from Peter Jackson and his crew down in New Zealand, take a look...

Dear One Ringers,

As you know, there's been a lot of speculation about The Hobbit. We are often asked about when or if this film will ever be made. We have always responded that we would be very interested in making the film - if it were offered to us to make.

You may also be aware that Wingnut Films has bought a lawsuit against New Line, which resulted from an audit we undertook on part of the income of The Fellowship of the Ring. Our attitude with the lawsuit has always been that since it's largely based on differences of opinion about certain accounting practices, we would like an independent body - whether it be a judge, a jury, or a mediator, to look at the issues and make an unbiased ruling. We are happy to accept whatever that ruling is. In our minds, it's not much more complex than that and that's exactly why film contracts include right-to-audit clauses.

However, we have always said that we do not want to discuss The Hobbit with New Line until the lawsuit over New Line's accounting practices is resolved. This is simple common sense - you cannot be in a relationship with a film studio, making a complex, expensive movie and dealing with all the pressures and responsibilities that come with the job, while an unresolved lawsuit exists.

We have also said that we do not want to tie settlement of the lawsuit to making a film of The Hobbit. In other words, we would have to agree to make The Hobbit as a condition of New Line settling our lawsuit. In our minds this is not the right reason to make a film and if a film of The Hobbit went ahead on this basis, it would be doomed. Deciding to make a movie should come from the heart - it's not a matter of business convenience. When you agree to make a film, you're taking on a massive commitment and you need to be driven by an absolute passion to want to get the story on screen. It's that passion, and passion alone, that gives the movie its imagination and heart. To us it is not a cold-blooded business decision.

A couple of months ago there was a flurry of Hobbit news in the media. MGM, who own a portion of the film rights in The Hobbit, publicly stated they wanted to make the film with us. It was a little weird at the time because nobody from New Line had ever spoken to us about making a film of The Hobbit and the media had some fun with that. Within a week or two of those stories, our Manager Ken Kamins got a call from the co-president of New Line Cinema, Michael Lynne, who in essence told Ken that the way to settle the lawsuit was to get a commitment from us to make the Hobbit, because "that's how these things are done". Michael Lynne said we would stand to make much more money if we tied the lawsuit and the movie deal together and this may well be true, but it's still the worst reason in the world to agree to make a film.

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. We assumed that our lawsuit with the studio would come to a natural conclusion and we would then be free to discuss our ideas with the studio, get excited and jump on board. We've assumed that we would possibly get started on development and design next year, whilst filming The Lovely Bones. We even had a meeting planned with MGM executives to talk through our schedule.

However last week, Mark Ordesky called Ken and told him 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.

Ordesky said that New Line has a limited time option on the film rights they have obtained from Saul Zaentz (this has never been conveyed to us before), and because we won't discuss making the movies until the lawsuit is resolved, the studio is going to have to hire another director.

Given that New Line are committed to this course of action, we felt at the very least, we owed you, the fans, a straightforward account of events as they have unfolded for us.

We have always had the greatest support from The Ringers and we are very sorry our involvement with The Hobbit has been ended in this way. Our journey into Tolkien's world started with a phone call from Ken Kamins to Harvey Weinstein in Nov 1995 and ended with a phone call from Mark Ordesky to Ken in Nov 2006. It has been a great 11 years.

This outcome is not what we anticipated or wanted, but neither do we see any positive value in bitterness and rancor. We now have no choice but to let the idea of a film of The Hobbit go and move forward with other projects.

We send our very best wishes to whomever has the privilege of making The Hobbit and look forward to seeing the film on the big screen.

Warmest regards to you all, and thanks for your incredible support over the years.

We got to go there - but not back again ...

Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh

Xoanon here, this is a big blow to the LOTR community. I feel like there has been a death in the family...there are a LOT of questions that will remain unanswered for the time being. Why couldn't New Line come to an agreement with PJ? Is there really a time option on the film rights for New Line? Who will they get to direct? Those are some massive shoes to fill if you ask me. I hope that whoever they get to direct will not try something 'new' with the look and feel of PJ's Middle-earth...and what is this LOTR 'prequel' project?

There have been rumors about The Hobbit being split into two films, will this prequel project then become the third film in another trilogy? Who knows...

I'm sure Peter and Fran aren't going to want to talk more about this, but that doesn't mean we won't be begging for a sitdown and chat! Stay tuned for more...

Have does really not hope already?

[st39.6]

was just about to announce it. man, that sux. I might even not be seeing this without´em

[Jax]

This is sad news but not necesarily bad, if Jackson would make The hobbit everyone will think it needs to resemble and feel like LOTR but infact if you read the book it's very much different to LOTR. The Hobbit is more like a fairy tale and alot more suited for children. In the book there are only a handfull references to LOTR and except for the ring they don't mean alot in the book.
There are alot of good directors and producers out there, peter jackson is not the only one who can make good fantasy.

[Gaumont]

Good. Ive always felt that LotR was good despite of Jackson.

[striderdemme]

As long as Weta is still involved, it should be a good film. Sad to see PJ go, but will still see the movie if it's made.

The main concern I have is that "LoTR prequel" but. WTH is that supposed to be? Please don't ruin LoTR!

MAJOR EDIT: The Hobbit (2009)

[Mithrandir01]

Read this:

Saul Zaentz, the owner of Tolkien Enterprises, and ultimate holder of the film rights to The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings was very recently interviewed about the Hobbit and Peter Jackson's involvement. His comments accord with what we learnt from Jackson and Walsh's open letter to the fans - New Line's right to produce the Hobbit will expire next year.

and this:

Saul Zaentz, the owner of Tolkien Enterprises, and ultimate holder of the film rights to The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings was very recently interviewed about the Hobbit and Peter Jackson's involvement.

The interview has since been posted on German Rings site Elbenwald. You can read it here.

It's in German, so here's a translation of his comments.


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.

source: TheOneRing.net



... but there's something more:

The New Director of 'The Hobbit' is.....?

Word from a reliable source indicates that Sam Raimi has been approached to direct THE HOBBIT. Since Peter Jackson's (Middle-)earth shattering news that he is off the project, it seems the Spider-Man director may step into his place. Raimi was born on October 23rd, 1959 in Royal Oak, Michigan. His first big hit was 'The Evil Dead' but he really gained cult status with 'Evil Dead II'. It is his amazing work on the Spider-Man series that has propelled Raimi to the mainstream. His latest film 'Spider-Man 3' is due out this May.

While there is no word on Raimi accepting the invitation, it remains to be seen who, if anyone, will be replacing Peter Jackson!

I know you guys like Sam Raimi, but for me this is disaster... try to understand me.

[Jean-Pierre Bazinet]

You may be celebrating that Saul Zaentz has said he wants Jackson to direct. But New Line is not going to waste what it has going right now.
Since it's rights are up next year, you know they're going to do everything they can to get something going before they lose it.
Jackson or not, with the smash hit that LOTR was, they stand to make millions with The Hobbit no matter who directs it.
The other bad news is, if they do make one without him, and it's even remotely successful, I doubt Jackson will do another anytime in the future.

[Mithrandir01]

You may be celebrating that Saul Zaentz has said he wants Jackson to direct.

I hope you are right.

The other bad news is, if they do make one without him, and it's even remotely successful, I doubt Jackson will do another anytime in the future.

That's true, that's why I hope you're right again

BTW. I think all those letters, calls and news on the net... this is only "war" between PJ and New Line. PJ will direct The Hobbit and there will be no tie settlement of the lawsuit.

[st39.6]

if someone else than PJ, then be it raimi. They have both same film history, Raimi was even workin on zealand and main - he never screwed any of his projects. He´s a bet for the best

[Mithrandir01]

he never screwed any of his projects.

I know you kill me, but I'm not sure about Spider-Man.

[st39.6]

you arent, I am, whats more to say