| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| s_wrenn |
Posted - 11/21/2006 : 04:51:40
...Is going ahead without Peter Jackson
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6167972.stm
I'm not a huge Rings fan, but i can understand that this will piss a lot of people off.
|
| 35 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Ktistec.Machine |
Posted - 10/14/2007 : 19:25:17
I would say that The Hobbit could quite possibly survive without Peter Jackson at the helm. The LOTR that he gave us was wonderful, and epic, but there were some minor casting issues in my opinion, and his treatment of Gimli, Boromir, and Faramir departed quite a bit from the books. I'm not crying that Tom Bombadil wasn't in the film, but he did drop the ball with some of his changes and additions, and all told someone else could probably have done just as good a job. When it comes to the Hobbit, it would largely depend first on who does the adaptation, and then who they get to direct!
Please realize that I think Peter Jackson is a great director, excluding Meet The Feebles, and I'm a large fan of his interpretation of LOTR. |
| billgoodman |
Posted - 10/08/2007 : 00:29:30
songs mean a lot, when songs are bought
---------------------------
BF: Mag ik Engels spreken? |
| soundofataris |
Posted - 10/07/2007 : 21:43:17
chops a must. NO BIG HAIR!
---------------------------------------
i try to be mallory but i'm still skippy |
| Carl |
Posted - 10/07/2007 : 14:50:01
Pork chops?
 "In six months, she'll look like Grandma Moses!" |
| floop |
Posted - 10/07/2007 : 09:12:55
quote:
Originally posted by Jefrey
Gandalf the Gay.
Always thought it would be great band name. If only I were younger....and had some chops...
Qu'ils aillent se faire foutre <-- yeah, what he said.
don't give up the dream |
| Jefrey |
Posted - 10/07/2007 : 00:43:53
Gandalf the Gay.
Always thought it would be great band name. If only I were younger....and had some chops...
Qu'ils aillent se faire foutre <-- yeah, what he said. |
| Carl |
Posted - 10/06/2007 : 17:43:00
The Silmarillion isn't gay, just curious.
A couple more things (for whom it may concern):
Charlie Rose - A discussion about the 40th Anniversary of Newline Cinema.
MTV Movies Blog - Sean Astin Willing, But Not Hopeful For ‘Hobbit’ Role.
Yahoo! News - One "Rings" penalty to rule them all. |
| The King Of Karaoke |
Posted - 10/05/2007 : 07:22:35
quote:
Originally posted by floop
i don't want to sound politically uncorrect but isn't THE HOBBIT kind of.. gay?
Extremely
------------------
“As civilizations become more complex, and as the need for invisible government has been increasingly demonstrated, the technical means have been invented and developed by which public opinion may be regimented. With printing press and newspaper, the telephone, telegraph, radio and airplanes, ideas can be spread rapidly, even instantaneously, across the whole of America.” - Edward Bernays |
| Homers_pet_monkey |
Posted - 10/05/2007 : 05:41:55
I doubt it, The Hobbit f*cked your mom.
Now she knows he truly is the Lord of The Rings.
 I'd walk her everyday, into a shady place
|
| floop |
Posted - 10/04/2007 : 22:36:36
i don't want to sound politically uncorrect but isn't THE HOBBIT kind of.. gay? |
| Carl |
Posted - 10/04/2007 : 20:37:53
EW.com - 'The Hobbit': Peace in Middle-Earth?
Not gonna paste this up, 'cos it's five pages long!!
The Hollywood Reporter.
New Line takes its lumps in 'Rings' case
By Leslie Simmons
Oct 4, 2007
New Line won't fight a federal court judge's decision to hit the studio with $125,000 in sanctions for failing to turn over documents in the ongoing legal battle with Peter Jackson and his Wingnut Films.
New Line could have challenged the ruling, but in a three-page response filed Tuesday, the studio's attorney Robert Schwartz wrote, "Mindful that the court's resources are valuable and limited, New Line will neither oppose that award nor seek review" of the order.
Jackson claims that New Line has not properly accounted for income for the first "Lord of the Rings" film, including DVD sales and foreign receipts, and denied his repeated requests to audit "The Two Towers" and "The Return of the King."
The lawsuit has strained relations between Jackson and New Line and any hopes of the director taking on the trilogy's prequel, "The Hobbit."
The studio's decision comes two weeks after U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Stephen Hillman issued a terse 40-page order blasting New Line for ignoring repeated court orders to turn over several different types of documents, including e-mails, memos and internal correspondence, in the ongoing case.
"New Line's repeated and unequivocal certifications that is has fully complied with the court's discovery orders have been seriously misleading and obfuscatory," Hillman wrote.
New Line, however, "firmly believes it acted in good faith and that its positions were supported by the law, the evidence and the court's prior rulings," Schwartz wrote.
The trial is set for January. |
| glacial906 |
Posted - 08/17/2007 : 10:27:56
I too wish that New Line would just suck it up and pay Jackson what he says he deserves. It seems like they'd get their money back when they released an epic, Jackson-directed version of "the Hobbit" instead of turning it over to Sam Raimi. Although I commend Raimi's incredible drive in spending the past five years directing the Spider-Man movies almost back-to-back I don't know that he has what it takes to do the Hobbit justice.
Signature censored by forum moderators. |
| Carl |
Posted - 08/15/2007 : 12:55:41
quote:
Originally posted by Homers_pet_monkey
Yeah boooo! Go see if you can stir things up in the 911 thread instead.
EDIT: Oh you already did and got it locked. Nice one Ric'ardon, nice one ; )
Hahaha!!
"I hate how the reptile dreams it's a mammal. Scaley monster: be what you are!!" - Erebus. |
| soundofataris |
Posted - 08/14/2007 : 16:22:49
And I still think Sean Connery is the perfect choice to play Thorin Oakenshield, King Under the Mountain.
---------------------------------------
i try to be mallory but i'm still skippy |
| soundofataris |
Posted - 08/14/2007 : 16:20:09
quote:
Originally posted by Jefrey
quote:
Originally posted by Homers_pet_monkey
They're remaking Clash of the Titans? Now that could be good.
I'd walk her everyday, into a shady place
Yah, that's the type of project Raimi should be doing.
"Release the Kraken!"
== jeffamerica ==
They recently released a comic book sequel to clash of the titans, suspossedly with Ray Harryhausen's input, called Wrath of the Titans!
---------------------------------------
i try to be mallory but i'm still skippy |
| Homers_pet_monkey |
Posted - 08/14/2007 : 04:54:31
Yeah boooo! Go see if you can stir things up in the 911 thread instead.
EDIT: Oh you already did and got it locked. Nice one Ric'ardon, nice one ; )
I'd walk her everyday, into a shady place
|
| Carl |
Posted - 08/13/2007 : 17:01:45
There's the door, Rico! ;)
"I hate how the reptile dreams it's a mammal. Scaley monster: be what you are!!" - Erebus. |
| Rico Ricardo |
Posted - 08/13/2007 : 16:57:40
Peter Jackson sucks, he's the only director to make me fall asleep through all of his films though, that's some kind of accomplishment.
Live and let live |
| Carl |
Posted - 08/13/2007 : 16:48:58
Peter Jackson in Entourage. |
| Jefrey |
Posted - 08/13/2007 : 15:26:00
quote:
Originally posted by Homers_pet_monkey
They're remaking Clash of the Titans? Now that could be good.
I'd walk her everyday, into a shady place
Yah, that's the type of project Raimi should be doing.
"Release the Kraken!"
== jeffamerica == |
| Homers_pet_monkey |
Posted - 08/13/2007 : 14:00:44
They're remaking Clash of the Titans? Now that could be good.
I'd walk her everyday, into a shady place
|
| Carl |
Posted - 08/13/2007 : 13:46:12
IESB.net.
Raimi and Jackson on The Hobbit!
Written by Stephanie Sanchez
Friday, 10 August 2007
We’ve got a follow up to our story “Sam Raimi Possibly Directing
Clash of the Titans” and it’s a doozie!
All indications from our inside sources are saying that while Raimi was seriously considering the Titans offer, he has a much bigger fish to fry and has possibly chosen to go in the direction of Middle Earth instead.
While we are being told that negotiations are still underway for the prequel and final deals won’t be reached immediately, Raimi is leaning towards directing The Hobbit as his next big project.
Where does this leave the legendary Peter Jackson?
Although New Line’s Bob Shaye and Jackson had a much publicized dispute over “the green,” the LA Times recently spoke with Shaye and he had this to say,
Eager to move ahead with "The Hobbit," New Line has quietly been trying to mend fences with "Rings" filmmaker Peter Jackson, who has sued the company over his share of profits from the first "Rings" films. When asked if it was true that company insiders had been in talks with Jackson's reps, Shaye replied, "Yes, that's a fair statement. Notwithstanding our personal quarrels, I really respect and admire Peter and would love for him to be creatively involved in some way in 'The Hobbit.'"
All sources indicate that although Jackson won’t be back to direct, our source is telling us that Raimi is looking to helm The Hobbit with Peter Jackson attached to produce. Raimi has said in the past that he would not take on the project without Jackson’s blessing. Well, looks like he may have it!
Stay tuned to the IESB for further updates! |
| mr.biscuitdoughhead |
Posted - 08/13/2007 : 12:22:47
ha, "flabbergasted".
It's 1969, okay. |
| Jefrey |
Posted - 08/12/2007 : 23:10:17
I'm flabbergasted that this Shaye guy is still working for New Line. As soon as he said he'd never work with Peter Jackson again while he's in charge, the board should have fired him.
== jeffamerica == |
| Homers_pet_monkey |
Posted - 08/11/2007 : 13:36:52
Sorry getting confused. I meant the crappy looking vampire film that you also linked to with the Halloween one.
I'd walk her everyday, into a shady place
|
| Carl |
Posted - 08/11/2007 : 13:20:44
Eh?! That's Rob Zombie, Homers!!
"I hate how the reptile dreams it's a mammal. Scaley monster: be what you are!!" - Erebus. |
| Homers_pet_monkey |
Posted - 08/11/2007 : 12:45:02
Well now he is wasting it on a Halloween remake, begging the question, 'does he really have that much talent to waste?'
I'd walk her everyday, into a shady place
|
| whoreatthedoor |
Posted - 08/11/2007 : 12:20:59
Funny to see Raimi there, considering both filmmakers' previous works.
It would be great if he does the movie, I'm tired to see him wasting his talent on those crappy spiderman films.
This time we ride roller coasters into the ocean
We feel no emotion as we spiral down to the world |
| Carl |
Posted - 01/14/2007 : 08:20:40
Hi VoVat, Happy New Year. Yeah, I mean The Silmarillion is a load of mini-stories that are connected by the common thread of the stealing of the Silmaril jewels from the creators of the world, and the continuing battles to recover them, etc. It's not a proper story like Rings, and was of course edited together by J.R.R.'s son Christopher from years of notes (dating back to early 1900). It was after the success of The Hobbit that publishers Unwin requested a sequel-Tolkien was disappointed that people didn't want to hear his more epic, mythological stuff, so ended up combining this stuff with the world of The Hobbit. The forthcoming Children Of Hurin contains parts of the writings published in The Silmarillion.
You could probably make another film out of the Appendices at the end of Rings, although you'd need Charles Gray doing his "It's just a step to the left" Rocky Horror schtick with the pointer, except he'd be saying "It's just phonetically pronouced..." ;)
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/movies/la-fi-raimi27jan27,0,7640410.story
Sam Raimi considering 'The Hobbit'
In the wake of Peter Jackson's rift with the studio, the "Spidey" director may be next in line to take over fhe franchise.
By Rachel Abramowitz, Times Staff Writer
January 26, 2007
Good-bye Spidey! Hello Bilbo?
In a move that would have ramifications for several major multi-nationals, and millions of fans, "Spider-Man" maestro Sam Raimi has been telling associates, as well as his corporate masters at Sony, that he is thinking of directing "The Hobbit," the prequel to J.R.R. Tolkien's masterwork, "The Lord of the Rings." At least two top-level insiders – who declined to be named -- have heard the words out of the director's mouth.
A year ago, such a swap of franchises would have been unthinkable, given that Peter Jackson co-wrote and directed the Oscar-winning "Rings" trilogy, but that was before the slugfest erupted between the once-rotund director and New Line honcho Bob Shaye.
Jackson is suing the studio over money he says is owed to him from the the "Rings" films, which grossed more than $3 billion at the box office and another $1 billion on DVD. In the last few weeks, Shaye has declared Jackson persona-non-grata at New Line, stating publicly that, "He will never make any movie with New Line Cinema again while I'm still working at the company."
According to a New Line source, the studio isn't just contemplating one "Hobbit" movie, but two. The prequel tells the story of hobbit Bilbo Baggins and how he first discovers the magical but sinister ring, the very object that drives the action in "Lord of the Rings."
Still, while Raimi might be an irresistable replacement for Jackson, his ascension to the directing chair is far from a sure thing. New Line says it doesn't have a deal with the director, and Raimi hasn't met with Shaye or production president Toby Emmerich. More potentially problematic is the fact that MGM owns the distribution rights to the film. An MGM spokeman insists that MGM remains firmly in the Jackson camp: "We support Peter Jackson, and when the dust settles, we believe he is the one who will be making this movie."
A call to Raimi's office was directed to his agent, Richard Lovett, at CAA. The agency did not comment.
For Sony, losing Raimi – who gave "Spider-Man" its distinctive visual theatrics – would be a blow. Studio chief Amy Pascal has said she wants to make six installments of the "Spider-Man" tale. Just this week, the studio announced it was rehiring David Koepp, who wrote the first film, to write "Spider-Man 4."
So long, Spidey?
Director Sam Raimi on the set of "Spider-Man 2."
(Melissa Moseley / Columbia PIctures)
http://www.premiere.com/features/3522/peter-jackson-vs-new-line.html
Peter Jackson vs. New Line
The king of The Lord of the Rings is snarled in a Kong-sized lawsuit with Rings's studio. The Hobbit hangs in the balance. In this excerpt from March 2007's Notes From the Dream Factory, Tom Roston investigates.
by Tom Roston
New Line's option to make The Hobbit expires in 2009; maybe they don't think Peter Jackson can get the movie made in time. The company is also already turning its attention to another mega-budgeted fantasy franchise, the His Dark Materials trilogy. But the studio's motivations became more clear in January, when New Line co-CEO Robert Shaye couldn't refrain from a retort.
"I do not want to make a movie with somebody who is suing me. It will never happen during my watch," he said, and then referred to Jackson as "misinformed" and "myopic."
Whoa. Such a personal outburst (reminiscent of Viacom CEO Sumner Redstone's public berating of Tom Cruise is surprising, because when hundreds of millions of dollars of potential profit are left on the table over a tiff, you need to weigh the impact on your shareholders (New Line is owned by publicly traded Time Warner). And to think it began with the simple request for an audit.
"Bizarre." That's how director James Cameron refers to New Line's reluctance to submit to the audit (Cameron will be shooting his Avatar at Jackson's elaborate filmmaking facility, which Jackson paid for with his Rings money, in Wellington, New Zealand, this summer). Cameron adds that Fox, the company with which he's had a 20-year history, "has always been very transparent financially. It's almost automatic that you do an audit." Admitting that he's speaking out of turn, Cameron intimates that the easiest explanation for New Line's behavior is that it has something to hide. But when you factor in how much money could be made on The Hobbit and another prequel (there's a span of about 60 years between the book and Rings, which I'd imagine Jackson would have a field day fleshing out), we're talking about hundreds of millions of potential profit, if the previous films are any indication.
Peter "Lord of the Rings" Jackson wanted to make The Hobbit, until his tiff with New Line got in the way.
To read the complete article about Peter Jackson's war over the Hobbits, pick up the March issue of Premiere magazine, on sale now.
*bump*
Los Angeles Times - A midlife crisis at New Line.
Eager to move ahead with "The Hobbit," New Line has quietly been trying to mend fences with "Rings" filmmaker Peter Jackson, who has sued the company over his share of profits from the first "Rings" films. When asked if it was true that company insiders had been in talks with Jackson's reps, Shaye replied, "Yes, that's a fair statement. Notwithstanding our personal quarrels, I really respect and admire Peter and would love for him to be creatively involved in some way in 'The Hobbit.' "
Moving ahead with "The Hobbit" would tie in to another pivotal New Line issue: In an era when Hollywood is deluged with equity money, will Shaye and Lynne make a run at buying back New Line from Time Warner? Shaye's response was worthy of a U.N. diplomat: "We have not expressed that point of view publicly. And if we ever do, [Time Warner chiefs] Dick Parsons and Jeff Bewkes would be the first to know about it."
A lot is riding on whether New Line can reinvigorate itself. It's often the company on the skids that is most willing to take the kind of daring risk that can turn everything around. Staking the company's future on "Lord of the Rings" was one of the great long-shot gambles in Hollywood history. The real question about New Line is: Can lightning strike twice?
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4160162a1860.htmlStuff.co.nz - Hobbit studio sweet-talks Jackson.
British actor Sir Ian McKellen, who played the wizard Gandalf in the trilogy, is in Wellington to perform with the Royal Shakespeare Company.
At a news conference on Thursday, he said there was no doubt that a rumoured reprisal of his Gandalf role in a film version of The Hobbit would be discussed with Jackson and Walsh.
Jackson's spokesman said last night: "Peter and Fran have always wanted to do The Hobbit but whether that happens is yet to be decided." |
| VoVat |
Posted - 01/14/2007 : 05:00:12
But are the ever going to make a movie version of "The Silmarillion"? And more importantly, could they possibly make one that anyone could stay awake throughout?
"If you doze much longer, then life turns to dreaming. If you doze much longer, then dreams turn to nightmares." |
| Carl |
Posted - 01/12/2007 : 18:36:51
New Line boss Bob Shaye never wants to work with Jackson again:
http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?category=0&id=39462
12:00 AM, 10-JANUARY-07
Shaye: New Line Blacklists Jackson
In the latest comment in the controversy surrounding a proposed movie based on J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit, New Line head Robert Shaye told SCI FI Wire in no uncertain terms that the studio won't work with Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson on that film or any other film. Ever. At least not as long as Shaye is in charge.
Shaye's comments marked the first time a New Line executive has commented publicly on the fracas since Jackson announced that he has pulled out of the project and also appears to harden New Line's position against Jackson.
"I do not want to make a movie with somebody who is suing me," Shaye—New Line's chief executive officer—said in an interview on Jan. 5 while promoting The Last Mimzy, a New Line family fantasy that marks his first time in a director's chair since 1990's Book of Love. "It will never happen during my watch."
Jackson had told TheOneRing.net in November that he and partner Fran Walsh were bowing out after New Line, which produced the Rings films and has production rights to The Hobbit, told them the studio was moving ahead with The Hobbit without them. Jackson has said he won't discuss The Hobbit until a lawsuit against New Line over Rings accounting practices is settled.
As far as Shaye is concerned, Jackson is no longer welcome. "There's a kind of arrogance," Shaye said. "Not that I don't think Peter is a good filmmaker and that he hasn't contributed significantly to filmography and made three very good movies. And I don't even expect him to say 'thank you' for having me make it happen and having New Line make it happen. But to think that I, as a functionary in [a] company that has been around for a long time, but is now owned by a very big conglomerate, would care one bit about trying to cheat the guy, ... he's either had very poor counsel or is completely misinformed and myopic to think that I care whether I give him [anything]."
Shaye, who was also an executive producer on the Rings films, added: "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."
Shaye said that many of the Rings trilogy actors "suddenly, because, I'm guessing, of Peter's complaint," have declined to participate in celebrating New Line's 40th anniversary. "I'm incredibly offended," he said. "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. ... Cheers, Peter."
New Line's hardened position against Jackson isn't the end of the story, of course. MGM, which owns the distribution rights to The Hobbit, on Nov. 20 told Variety through a spokesman that "the matter of Peter Jackson directing the Hobbit films is far from closed."
In his own online statement, Jackson said that New Line executive Mark Ordesky, who shepherded the Rings trilogy, argued that New Line is dumping Jackson because the studio has a "limited time option" on the film rights, obtained from Saul Zaentz.
Jackson responds:
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117957128.html?categoryid=13&cs=1
On Wednesday, Jackson issued a statement in response to Shaye's outburst, saying, "It is regrettable that Bob has chosen to make (the argument) 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 addressed the suit by saying: "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 legal action, but the studio left us with no alternative."
As for the anniversary video, Jackson said, "In light of these circumstances, I didn't think it was appropriate for me to be involved in (the video). I have never discussed this video with any of the cast of the 'LOTR.' The issues that Bob Shaye has with the cast pre-date this lawsuit by many years."
A source close to Jackson called Shaye's remarks "a strategy to try and create favor (for New Line) by saying how much money Peter made. The issue isn't what Peter made, it's why Bob and Mike (Lynne, co-chairman of New Line) don't want to talk about what they made. What is it that they don't want us to see?"
Official response from Jackson and Wingnut Films:
http://www.aintitcool.com/node/31211
"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 it's 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." |
| soundofataris |
Posted - 11/29/2006 : 21:41:50
I'd really like to see Sean Connery play Thorin Oakenshield, since John Rhys-Davies already established that dwarves are Scottish, but I doubt he'd ever do it. Shame. I can picture it so vividly.
---------------------------------------
i try to be mallory but i'm still skippy |
| Carl |
Posted - 11/29/2006 : 19:31:59
http://movies.msn.com/movies/hitlist/11-28-06_2?GT1=7701
WHAT 'THE HOBBIT' IS GOING ON HERE?
You'd think over $1 billion in U.S. box office and three Oscars would add up to something right? Not if you're Peter Jackson. The mastermind behind the "The Lord of the Rings" phenomenon is currently in the middle of a bizarre turf war over who controls J.R.R. Tolkien's prequel to the series, "The Hobbit."
Not surprisingly, fans have been salivating at the idea of Jackson returning to helm an adaptation of the beloved novel. It didn't seem to be a real possibility until MGM announced a few months ago it was going to team up with New Line to make the movie. Complicating matters was that MGM has long owned the rights to release any feature adaptation of "The Hobbit," but New Line is currently the only entity who can produce it. Confused? Unfortunately, it gets more complicated.
According to Variety, Jackson sued New Line over its accounting practices for the "Rings" trilogy, claiming he had been denied profits from the mega-moneymaking films. It also seems New Line only controls the production of "The Hobbit" because of a "limited time option" from producer Saul Zaentz. Those rights are close enough to expiring that the studio informed Jackson he would not be directing the project unless he settled his lawsuit against them. Jackson responded by announcing to his kingdom, er, sending a detailed letter of the whole affair to a prominent "Rings" fan site. As you can imagine, that horde wasn't thrilled. Meanwhile, MGM was furious that New Line would set an ultimatum to Jackson without consulting them. An MGM spokesman was quoted as saying, "The matter of Peter Jackson directing 'The Hobbit' films is far from closed."
Needless to say, everyone involved has a lot to lose here. New Line is suffering through a horrible string of box office bombs and probably needs the inevitable "Hobbit" bounty more than anyone else. MGM is trying to rebuild its brand and is counting on a Jackson/"Hobbit" formula to be a part of that. Jackson is sitting pretty with the millions he's made off the original series and "King Kong," but it's clear he isn't thrilled with the idea of another filmmaker playing in his universe. Rumors floated over the holiday weekend that "Spider-Man"'s Sam Raimi had been offered "The Hobbit," but that idea seems as ludicrous as other fan favorites such as Steven Spielberg or Quentin Tarantino directing the flick. There is too much money to be made for it to not work out in the end, but the question is whether Jackson will give on his lawsuit or make New Line (and MGM) sweat it out. The whole drama may just turn into one of the biggest industry stories of ... 2007. |
| Cult_Of_Frank |
Posted - 11/29/2006 : 11:46:38
See, I scooped Elijah. :)
 "Now you're officially my woman. Kudos. I can't say I don't envy you." |
| Carl |
Posted - 11/24/2006 : 09:38:00
Elijah Wood is also disappointed:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?view=DETAILS&grid=&xml=/arts/2006/11/24/nosplit/bfpan23.xml
One thing that's not fine with him is news that a new "Hobbit" film might be made without "Lord of the Rings" director Peter Jackson.
"I haven't spoken to Peter," says Wood, who played head Hobbit Frodo in the acclaimed trilogy. "But I was very disappointed in the news. Peter Jackson is the man who worked over 10 years developing this world. Now, they might move forward on a new project with another director and it won't look or feel the same."
Especially since Wood wouldn't be involved either. He is, in fact, the keeper of "the ring" from Jackson's film trilogy.
"It's in a little pouch in a box tucked away. I don't display it," he says. "It's the ring. It's used to being undercover."
The rights will fall back to Saul Zaenth's company next year, which means New Line haven't got their way yet:
http://derhobbit-film.de/indexengl.shtml
11/17/2006
Producer Saul Zaentz said in an interview with the German movie magazine 'Cinema', The Hobbit surely will be made by Peter Jackson. MGM-boss Harry Sloan meanwhile gives 2008 or 2009 as date.
Translation from the magazine:
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.
BBC report on events:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6173178.stm?ls
More from Elijah Wood:
http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=20036
29 November 2006
Exclusive: Elijah Wood Talks The Hobbit
Frodo on the Rings prequels
When New Line announced several weeks ago that they planned to start work on The Hobbit, a good many Middle Earth enthusiasts were elated. Then New Line informed Jackson that, due to a legal dispute over Lord of the Rings earnings, his services would not be required for that project or a hitherto unknown 'second prequel'. Cue: one disappointed director, and the outrage of thousands of fans.
Keen to find out how those close to the Lord Of The Rings camp feel about the whole mess, Empire sat down with Frodo himself, Elijah Wood, to get his thoughts on the matter. "I feel exactly the same way Peter does."
"I think it's a total shame, primarily for Peter and his team – WETA, and the thousands of people that lent their artistic creativity for ten years to this world of Middle Earth -- to imagine that somebody else would be given that opportunity, and that it essentially wouldn't be made by the same team"
As someone who wouldn't be needed for at least the first of what is increasing looking like two precursor films, Wood has more room to comment than some of the LOTR cast, and spoke candidly. "I can't imagine any of the original actors would want to join it… how can you imagine a prequel that didn't look the same, and didn't have the same continuity after all that work?"
But, like many up to speed on the situation, he's not convinced that the fat Hobbit lady has sung. "At the moment it sounds so definitive, and Peter has said "That's the end of the journey" in a very dramatic way, as Peter is wont to do - but absolute power to him, because I would be equally disappointed if I were him. But I think it remains to be seen, and apparently New Line may lose the rights eventually. If that happens, it would eventually - I think - fall back into Peter's hands. It's just sad that it's ultimately a business decision, and not at all considering the fans."
http://www.mymovies.net/news/news_listing.asp?filmid=5975&sec=news
Elijah backs Jackson in "Hobbit" dispute
29 November 2006
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."
The NY Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/29/movies/29hobbit.html?_r=1&oref=slogin |
|
|
