Official The Hobbit thread

[matrix_ghost]

That's just it isn't it. I mean i could see Hobbit being strectched into two movies although a standalone movie could work just fine.

But if the secon prequel will connect hobbit with the second movie , to be honest i have no idea who from the LOTR will need to return.
As i said above Weaving and Holm wil return , but McKellen might not .
Same goes for certain "cameo characters who might be introduced in Hobbit and then their roles will be expanded in LOTR " such as Viggo Mortensen , John Rhys Davies and of course Andy Serkis. All of them might be a problem to be cast cause they are all loyal to Pete.




The whole loyalty thing is the big hurdle.
The Main actors would rather work with Peter. Peter ( i think) owns Weta and even though Weta really doesn't Peter Jackson to survive , i still think they might ditch the project to support him.
And now comes the tricky part. The VFX can be done by other studios , the massive software is not something that Weta now exclusively can use BUT Weta was responsible for the creation of Gollum. And other studios will really really have a hard time to create Gollum. And of course Serkis's performance was vital in creating Gollum.


MGM really can't do anything here. As i also said before , money talks and no party is about to give in. Peter wants more money and New Line won't give it to him. Unless it is proven that New Line did in fact report false numbers in order to give Pete less money OR Peter Jackson himself was wrong in assuming that New Line reported false numbers , i really don't see what MGM can do in this matter.

 

[Rac]

Snopes.com about internet petitions

Yeah, I know, I know.

 

[FaT_tONle]

McKellen "sad" that Jackson may not make "Hobbit"
Wednesday November 22 5:15 PM ET


Sir Ian McKellen, who played the wizard Gandalf in the smash hit "Lord of the Rings" movies, said on Wednesday he is sad director Peter Jackson may not make a film based on author J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Hobbit"

"I'm very sad as I should have relished revisiting middle Earth with Peter again as team-leader. It's hard to imagine any other director matching his achievement in Tolkien country," McKellen wrote in a posting on his Web site, mckellen.com.

Jackson wrote to fan Web site theonering.net this week and said New Line Cinema, the Hollywood movie studio that backed the "Rings" films, had decided to move forward on "The Hobbit" without him. Fans had expected Jackson would direct "The Hobbit" because of the "Rings" films' success.


Jackson said he and his production company, New Zealand's Wingnut Films, have refused to discuss a "Hobbit" movie because they are currently embroiled in a lawsuit with New Line over 2001's "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring."

A New Line spokeswoman declined to comment on Jackson's letter, citing company policy.

The "Rings" movies raked in nearly $3 billion in worldwide ticket revenues. The trilogy includes 2002's "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers" and one year later, "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" which won 11 Oscars including best picture and best director for Jackson.

Fans have called for a boycott of New Line's movies and are signing a petition telling the studio to resolve matters with Jackson. The operators of theonering.net have listed names and addresses of executives at New Line and its parent, Time Warner Inc, to whom to write.

McKellen's Gandalf is a key role in the trilogy and the 67-year-old actor, for one, is hopeful things will work out.

"We will have to await developments but being an optimist I am hoping that New Line, MGM and Wingnut can settle outstanding problems so that the long expected 'Hobbit' is filmed sooner rather than later," McKellen wrote.

Film studio MGM, along with New Line, owns some rights to a "Hobbit" film.



Looks like Mckellen my still be in the mix to reprise his role... but without Jackson I don't think it will work...

 

[logansoldcigar]

MGM really can't do anything here. As i also said before , money talks and no party is about to give in. Peter wants more money and New Line won't give it to him. Unless it is proven that New Line did in fact report false numbers in order to give Pete less money OR Peter Jackson himself was wrong in assuming that New Line reported false numbers , i really don't see what MGM can do in this matter.

At the time of the LOTR trilogy, New Line owned the rights to make the hobbit (and unnamed prequel), and MGM owned the distribution rights (I dont know if MGM's rights included unnamed prequel)., so a deal needed to be struck with New Line and MGM.

The common sense approach would be, IMO, that they strike a deal that involves split production costs and split distribution costs (as with Titanic) and both a say on the hire policy. The noises coming out of MGM suggest that they have some sort of say in the affair.

Obviously, we dont know what deal had been struck with MGM and New Line, if any. But i doubt that they have absolutely no say in what goes on.

 

[Rac]

Saul Zaentz speaks:

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.

This is indeed interesting debate.

 

[Electrix]

Seems like New Line want to get things done before they lose the rights. Jacksons legal case is costing time so they want to go forward with another director just to get the movie made before their rights are lost.

 

[Electrix]

Peter Jackson Will Direct The Hobbit?
Written by Robert Sanchez
Friday, 24 November 2006

In what has become a high stakes game of poker, it looks like New Line may lose it's upper hand. So what are the odds that Peter Jackson will get the chance "To Go There and Back Again?" Saul Zaentz owner of Tolkien Enterprises has also now gone on record supporting Peter Jackson as the director of The Hobbit.

It what might be a twist of fate it is possible that New Line Cinema will lose all rights to The Hobbit by next year. Saul is confident that Peter will be returning to Middle Earth that in a recent interview he said that "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."

This latest "Hollywood Drama" just shows how nasty things could get in this industry. What really surprises me is that this studio would so blatantly try to screw Peter and Fran over. Don't they get it? Peter and gang have done more for New Line/Time Warner then any other filmmaker ever has. Time Warner has never had a movie franchise that has been loved by the world over and has made it so much money. I give New Line/Time Warner no more than a month before it comes back to Peter with a public apology and settlement involving his law suit. Wouldn't surprise me if some exec over at New Line loses him job over this. Stey tuned to the IESB for the news from Middle Earth

http://www.iesb.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=755&Itemid=99

 

[BloodyWolverine]

Wow New Line has to be feeling stupid with trying to get adirector when they can't fully make a film. I think this guy and MGM will stall New ine until the contract runs out or New Line will feel pressure to chnage there minds in order to save face with the bigger New Line/Time Warner executives.

 

[green]

http://www.aintitcool.com/node/30937

J.R.R. Tolkien's great grandson weighs in on the whole PJ/HOBBIT situation!

Before Peter made Lord Of The Rings, all i knew of his work is that he made films that i really enjoyed. That all changed a few years ago. He's now not just a filmmaker, he is someone that i trust and respect.

Before the films were made i held massive reservations and fears that JRRT and LOTR would be used as merely a tool in producing revenue and ultimately a substandard film. But it's different now, and it's different because of Peter.

3 weeks ago those feelings returned. Without him, and without question, The Hobbit will become what i feared LOTR was to become.

To find a new director after the time and dedication Peter and all his people put in would not just be wrong, it would also be a bad decision.

Now i know and understand that some purists would disagree with me, and whilst i again understand and agree with their right to have an opinion, just imagine how bad it could have been without Peter at the helm. Peter didn't just direct a film, he brought together a team.

Think about the different elements of his team: The thoughtfulness and professionalism of Richard Taylor and everyone at Weta who realised the complex detail needed to make it believable; The beautiful music of Howard Shore that compliments and binds the film; The wonderfully detailed concepts of Alan Lee and John Howe whose insight helped craft the feel of the film; The fabulous costumes of Ngila *****on; The photography and vision of Andrew Lesnie and not to forget New Zealand, a country that lends itself perfectly to Middle Earth with its breathtaking and varied landscapes... and many many more elements that he brought together not just as a filmmaker, but as a team leader.

How could a different director do what Peter has done. How would they find a similar team of people who have the knowledge, passion and understanding of a world they helped create.

Surely that doesn't make any sense when Peter already holds the key.

I do understand and agree with Peters position, although i only know on the surface what must be a very difficult, and frustrating decision for him.

I know it's not simply a matter of saying yes, there's a mountain of issues that lie between New Line and Peter, but there must be some way to resolve this.

I imagine there's been an awful lot of letters and conversations between both camps, heels have been dug in and hair pulled out. If only there was some way to sort out the stalemate between them and find that common ground and resolution which is needed to do justice to such an important book.

Whilst i don't know the inner relationship between New Line and Peter, what i do know is that they backed him, all those years ago, to produce LOTR. For that part and many more they played, i'm forever grateful.

When i saw the end result on screen, knowing that everyone had played a part in putting it there; and were all united in putting it there; it made me smile. I'm sorry but has everyone forgot those simple smiles. Isn't that what making films is all about.

If Peter hadn't made LOTR with the respect he showed to my Great Grandfather, i'd not have felt compelled to voice my opinion

Royd Tolkien.

 

[Killgore]

Damn straight.

 

[jrpstarwars]

Okay.

Someone makes some movies that earn over a billion dollars and you don't want him to do it again??? Someone is going to be fired.

 

[LastSunrise1981]

I definitely don't want anyone attempting to recreate what Jackson did for LOTR. Jackson is the one who bought Lord of the Rings to life and the films are critically acclaimed.

Jackson HAS to do the Hobbit. That's all there is to it.

 

[livrule]

Jackson WILL make this.

Its only a matter of when ....

 

[Rac]

t:

 

[green]

ooooo it's getting ugly.

http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?category=3&id=39462

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 project without them. Jackson has said he won't discuss The Hobbit until a lawsuit against New Line over Rings accounting practices was 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.

 

[Gonking]

Fire Shaye!!!

 

[Hunter Rider]

Damn this is gonna be a Battle of the Pelenor Fields size war

 

[Erundur]

^^Yeah, Fire Shaye.

t:

LMFAOD

 

[AssMan]

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," said Shaye

Owned

 

[Marvolo]

Shaye is such an ungrateful ass! The Lord of the Rings trilogy is one of the biggest grossing pictures for New Line in this decade.

 

[Hunter Rider]

http://www.aintitcool.com/node/31211


Wingnut and Peter Jackson respond to Bob Shaye's tongue-lashings!!


Ahoy, squirts! Quint here again with the response out of Wingnut about this whole mess that Bob Shaye made when he publicly attacked Peter Jackson today. This is all starting to get into a side of the business that I really hate and AICN rarely covers. I felt comfortable posting the Bob Shaye comments because that seriously affected the future HOBBIT movie. I'm posting this because it's only fair to print Jackson's response, although I don't think he needed to respond. I think Bob Shaye did more damage than good for himself with his comments.

Some pretty crazy ****'s going down. I had a theory that I posted in the talkback to the previous article and reading the below makes me believe it even more.

Someone sued Paramount over COMING TO AMERICA in which the books on that film were opened and audited. That lawsuit resulted in Eddie Murphy, having nothing to do with the lawsuit, getting a crazy amount of money and never having to go to court. The studio was cheating everybody, so they were forced to pay everybody, not just the person who sued.

It sounds to me like New Line isn't risking just having to pay Jackson what they owe him, but if the books on all 3 movies are made public, they could owe so many more people money. Or they could have completely fulfilled their contractual obligations to everybody, but then why would they deny access to a contracted party? And why would they do everything they could to make it go away, roll it in with that deal for Jackson to direct HOBBIT? It's looking more and more like New Line cooked the books a bit and shortchanged at least Jackson, if not more we don't know about.

The seedy underbelly of Hollywood... I hate dwelling on this stuff, so unless any further comments are directly related to Middle Earth, or a kiss and make-up party happens, this'll be the last I post on this topic.

Here's the official statement from Wingnut:

"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."

 

[Poetic Chaos]

Jackson sounds like a real *****e.

 

[The_Raven]

Jackson sounds like a real *****e.

So do you.

 

[The Dark Defender]

Shaye is such an ungrateful ass! The Lord of the Rings trilogy is one of the biggest grossing pictures for New Line in this decade.

One of the biggest of the decade...are you kidding?

New Line has never come close to that profitability...ever.

 

[porchmonkey408]

Rob Marshall would pwn at filming fights.

I would be better. Let me direct it.