Peter Jackson dropped from The Hobbit - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Ace_O_Spades · 11-21-2006, 12:58 PM

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15821905/

Quote:

WELLINGTON, New Zealand - Peter Jackson says he will not be directing a movie based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s novel “The Hobbit” or a planned prequel to “The Lord of the Rings.”

In a letter posted on Theonering.com., Jackson and partner Fran Walsh said an executive from New Line Cinema had called to tell them the studio was moving ahead with “The Hobbit” without him.

“Last week, Mark Ordesky called Ken (Kamins, Jackson’s manager) and told him that New Line would no longer be requiring our services on ‘The Hobbit’ and the LOTR ‘prequel,”’ the 45-year-old New Zealand director wrote.

“This was a courtesy call to let us know that the studio was now actively looking to hire another filmmaker for both projects,” he said.

Robert Pini, a New York-based representative for New Line Cinema, said Tuesday the studio had no comment.

New Line Cinema holds the rights to produce “The Hobbit” and Metro-Goldwyn-Meyer has the rights to distribute it.

Jackson, who shepherded Tolkien’s Middle-earth saga to the screen in a series of three films, won a best-director Oscar for 2003’s “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.” The trilogy also includes 2002’s “The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers” and 2001’s “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.”

A spokesman for Wingnut Films, Jackson’s production company in Wellington, who spoke on his standard condition that he not be named, confirmed Tuesday the letter was genuine.

The announcement came amid an ongoing dispute between Wingnut Films and New Line Cinema over the amount Jackson was paid for “The Fellowship of the Ring,” including DVD payments.

While Jackson hasn’t said how much he believes he was underpaid, The New York Times last year quoted his lawyers as saying it was as much as $100 million. He is suing New Line Cinema over the shortfall.

The Dominion Post newspaper quoted Jackson as saying that because he and Walsh didn’t want to discuss upcoming movies “until the lawsuit is resolved, the studio is going to have to hire another director.”

“We are very sorry our involvement with ‘The Hobbit’ has ended this way,” the pair added.

Plans for Jackson to make a $128 million movie version of the sci-fi video game “Halo” were also scrapped this month after backers 20th Century Fox and Universal Pictures pulled out.

Jackson’s “Lord of the Rings” trilogy grossed nearly $3 billion at box offices worldwide.
© 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Thoughts? This kinda disappoints me because I was a fan of the LOTR trilogy... I hope they don't get a hack, or that the peasants will rise up and reinstate Peter Jackson...

What do you all think of this move? It's kinda shady that it's about the lawsuit... but typical.

Hey, what's 100 million between friends anyway?

Charlatan · 11-21-2006, 02:21 PM

New Line is cutting off their nose to spite their face.

MexicanOnABike · 11-21-2006, 02:41 PM

it's too bad but i think it will still be a great movie if they keep the same actors. (gandalf etc.)

n0nsensical · 11-21-2006, 03:22 PM

netcraft confirms it, the hobbit film is going to suck ass. as many complaints as i have about jackson's two towers and return of the king, i highly doubt anyone else in hollywood could do a better tolkien adaptation.

hopefully this is just some cock jousting and everyone will come to their senses before the thing gets made.

ktspktsp · 11-21-2006, 03:23 PM

When I first saw a link to this news item, the title said something about 'Jackson won't be making hobbit'. My first reaction was to wonder why Michael Jackson could possible even have been considered for that...

Willravel · 11-21-2006, 03:31 PM

I won't be seeing the Hobbit, which I was considering seeing until they dropped Jackson. I never planned to see the prequels. What a stupid idea.

cyrnel · 11-21-2006, 03:53 PM

It's a single movie this time. The public is already sold. It's the last in the series so we don't have to worry about building loyalty. And after all, what real impact does a director have on a film? We can probably splice together LOTR cutting-room trash, add a few bluescreens of Elijah in old hobbit makeup and we'll still net $300M (Says the bean-counting negotiator. *cough*)

stevie667 · 11-21-2006, 04:11 PM

This could suck...

Ch'i · 11-21-2006, 04:20 PM

I'm waiting for the day when a majority of mainstream film makers prioritize making a good film over making a good profit.

Terrible idea.

kurty[B] · 11-21-2006, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cyrnel

We can probably splice together LOTR cutting-room trash, add a few bluescreens of Elijah in old hobbit makeup and we'll still net $300M (Says the bean-counting negotiator. *cough*)

Why would Elijah need to be in this version? His character wasn't even born in "The Hobbit". I'm disappointed they're dropping Peter. I couldn't stand Peter's portrayal of the "ghost army" in Return of the King, but he nailed Fellowship perfectly! I'm interested to see where this goes.

No matter how great or horrible the movie is the books are simply astounding!

Lizra · 11-21-2006, 05:40 PM

I'll go see a film version of the Hobbit no matter what!

That old cartoon one was sooooo bad, anything will be an improvement. It could be done by someone other than Jackson....FoTR was GREAT, but someone else could maybe steal the good ideas (set of the shire) yet make it a little different. Ian Mc should still be Gandalf....the older the better

but they would need a new actor for young Bilbo, and I could do with a different Elrond myself.

Rivendell shouldn't be so grand either....just the last homely house, with some really silly elves.....
I thought some of Jackson's LoTR humour was so so....and the Hobbit has some pretty funny bits, so I'll hold judgement. Still, as someone said....he'll probably end up doing it. This kind of hype is just what the studios like......

cyrnel · 11-21-2006, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kurty[B]

Why would Elijah need to be in this version? His character wasn't even born in "The Hobbit".

Come on man, think! Elijah has hobbit draw. His last few films have tanked so he's available cheap. Call him "Young Bilbo" and we get all the kids & women without two frames of continuity!

-The Studio Ass

MexicanOnABike · 11-21-2006, 11:17 PM

it's amazing how so many ppl saw the 1st lotr without really knowing if it'd be good or not and now just because jackson is not there, you're not gonna see it!? what? i loved the book so i'll see it! i dont care who directs if it's good.

Bill O'Rights · 11-22-2006, 05:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ch'i

I'm waiting for the day when a majority of mainstream film makers prioritize making a good film over making a good profit.

Then, obviously, you plan on living to be a very, very, very old Ch'i.

Derwood · 11-22-2006, 07:43 AM

I'll be honest. I recently reread The Hobbit and thought "this would make one truly boring movie". The amount of things that happen (and the importance of said things) pales in comparison to LOTR. It's a cute little side story, but you're not going to get me excited about Bilbo looking for some treasure after seeing 12 hours of "destroy the ring or the world ends"

kurty[B] · 11-22-2006, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Derwood

I'll be honest. I recently reread The Hobbit and thought "this would make one truly boring movie". The amount of things that happen (and the importance of said things) pales in comparison to LOTR. It's a cute little side story, but you're not going to get me excited about Bilbo looking for some treasure after seeing 12 hours of "destroy the ring or the world ends"

I think the interaction with the dragon, and gollum, and all will be interesting. I could see someone pulling this off. I dig a good dragon story, most movies with dragons in them nowadays are awful. I think it could make a great movie, much better than that past cartoon like has been said before.

Sorcha · 11-22-2006, 09:41 AM

Part of what made The Lord of the Rings great was Peter Jackson's directing, imo. The LOTR story didn't suck me in until the movies, and while I admit the book trilogy was good, I too was bored by The Hobbit. Jackson could have redeemed it, but I'm not sure I'll be seeing it now. I'll be quite interested to see what poor guy has to fill Jackson's shoes. He's gonna get so much flack if the movie does badly.

kutulu · 11-22-2006, 09:58 AM

The Hobbit is so vastly different from the LOTR in so many ways that a new director might be a good thing.

Ch'i · 11-22-2006, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill O'Rights

Then, obviously, you plan on living to be a very, very, very old Ch'i.

Sure, why not?

Seaver · 11-25-2006, 09:45 PM

Quote:

after all, what real impact does a director have on a film?

Watch X-Men 1 and 2, then watch X-Men 3.

THAT is the impact a director has on a film.

Charlatan · 11-26-2006, 12:23 AM

Good point Seaver.

The other thing to consider is that with Jackson comes New Zealand and Weta Digital and ALL the costumes, etc. that were created for LOTR.

I wonder if anyone else can make it on the kind of budget Jackson did and still have it look a good?

Willravel · 11-26-2006, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charlatan

Good point Seaver.

The other thing to consider is that with Jackson comes New Zealand and Weta Digital and ALL the costumes, etc. that were created for LOTR.

I wonder if anyone else can make it on the kind of budget Jackson did and still have it look a good?

Maybe Speildberg? Michael Mann? Aronofsky? Jackson is massively talented, maybe one of my 10 favorites of all time, but he's not the only massively talented director.

Of course, the stuido isn't willing to shill over the green for a good director, so it'll probably fall to one of the idiots like Brett Ratner or Keenen Ivory Wayans (Marlon Wayans will play Bilbo).

CSflim · 11-26-2006, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by willravel

Maybe Speildberg? Michael Mann? Aronofsky? Jackson is massively talented, maybe one of my 10 favorites of all time, but he's not the only massively talented director.

Of course, the stuido isn't willing to shill over the green for a good director, so it'll probably fall to one of the idiots like Brett Ratner or Keenen Ivory Wayans (Marlon Wayans will play Bilbo).

I vote for Uwe Boll.

Seaver · 11-26-2006, 04:41 PM

http://www.mania.com/52876.html

Quote:

According to TheOneRing.net, New Line is apparently looking for another big name director to helm the directorless Hobbit franchise and it seems they have turned to Spider-Man's Sam Raimi.

Nice, the director who did Army of Darkness and the Spiderman's has been picked. I think he'll do a good job, he's no where near as epic as Jackson... but he developes characters pretty well and has a good sense of humor to boot.

Bossnass · 11-26-2006, 07:33 PM

Regarding Raimi directing:

I would rather like to see Bruce Campbell as Beorn or maybe Bard the bowman.

I was a little torn about Jackson on the Hobbit. The hobbit has a much different feel to it than Lotr; I was concerned that Jackson would have taken it too seriously.

Kalnaur · 11-27-2006, 02:07 PM

I will wait to see what it looks like, but this information grieves me.

mrklixx · 11-30-2006, 12:04 PM

Looks like PJ is on again again.......for now.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2...550342,00.html

Quote:

Jackson is Lord of Tolkien again

November 28, 2006

LORD OF THE RINGS director PETER JACKSON WILL direct the highly-anticipated prequel, The Hobbit.

There was uproar last week when New Line Cinema bosses told the King Kong director he was "no longer needed" in the making of The Hobbit and another unnamed Lord Of The Rings prequel.

Jackson - originally given the boot due to legal disputes over royalties - now has the thumbs up thanks to film producer SAUL ZAENTZ (One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest).

Zaentz, who owns the screen rights to Tolkien Enterprises, said: “(The Hobbit) will definitely be shot by Peter Jackson.

“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, he knows that he will be paid fairly and artistically supported without reservation.”

jth · 11-30-2006, 04:37 PM

yeesh hollywood can't make up their minds eh.

I'll just wait for it to be released so I can go see. I think either PJ or the other guy would be fine... it's JRRT damn it!!

11-21-2006, 02:21 PM	#2 (permalink)
Charlatan Getting it. Super Moderator Location: Lion City	New Line is cutting off their nose to spite their face. __________________ "My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars." - Old Man Luedecke

11-21-2006, 02:41 PM	#3 (permalink)
MexicanOnABike Location: up north	it's too bad but i think it will still be a great movie if they keep the same actors. (gandalf etc.) __________________ - Movie Reviews - Ratings-

11-21-2006, 03:53 PM	#7 (permalink)
cyrnel Adequate Location: In my angry-dome.	It's a single movie this time. The public is already sold. It's the last in the series so we don't have to worry about building loyalty. And after all, what real impact does a director have on a film? We can probably splice together LOTR cutting-room trash, add a few bluescreens of Elijah in old hobbit makeup and we'll still net $300M (Says the bean-counting negotiator. cough) __________________ There are a vast number of people who are uninformed and heavily propagandized, but fundamentally decent. The propaganda that inundates them is effective when unchallenged, but much of it goes only skin deep. If they can be brought to raise questions and apply their decent instincts and basic intelligence, many people quickly escape the confines of the doctrinal system and are willing to do something to help others who are really suffering and oppressed." -Manufacturing Consent: Noam Chomsky and the Media, p. 195

11-21-2006, 04:11 PM	#8 (permalink)
stevie667 Too Awesome for Aardvarks Location: Angloland	This could suck... __________________ Office hours have changed. Please call during office hours for more information.

11-21-2006, 05:40 PM	#11 (permalink)
Lizra Insane Location: rural Indiana	I'll go see a film version of the Hobbit no matter what! That old cartoon one was sooooo bad, anything will be an improvement. It could be done by someone other than Jackson....FoTR was GREAT, but someone else could maybe steal the good ideas (set of the shire) yet make it a little different. Ian Mc should still be Gandalf....the older the better but they would need a new actor for young Bilbo, and I could do with a different Elrond myself. Rivendell shouldn't be so grand either....just the last homely house, with some really silly elves..... I thought some of Jackson's LoTR humour was so so....and the Hobbit has some pretty funny bits, so I'll hold judgement. Still, as someone said....he'll probably end up doing it. This kind of hype is just what the studios like...... __________________ Happy atheist

11-21-2006, 03:22 PM	#4 (permalink)
n0nsensical Junkie Location: San Francisco	netcraft confirms it, the hobbit film is going to suck ass. as many complaints as i have about jackson's two towers and return of the king, i highly doubt anyone else in hollywood could do a better tolkien adaptation. hopefully this is just some cock jousting and everyone will come to their senses before the thing gets made.

11-21-2006, 03:23 PM	#5 (permalink)
ktspktsp Addict Location: Reykjavik, Iceland	When I first saw a link to this news item, the title said something about 'Jackson won't be making hobbit'. My first reaction was to wonder why Michael Jackson could possible even have been considered for that...

11-21-2006, 03:31 PM	#6 (permalink)
Willravel ... a sort of licensed troubleshooter.	I won't be seeing the Hobbit, which I was considering seeing until they dropped Jackson. I never planned to see the prequels. What a stupid idea.

11-21-2006, 04:20 PM	#9 (permalink)
Ch'i Artist of Life	I'm waiting for the day when a majority of mainstream film makers prioritize making a good film over making a good profit. Terrible idea.

11-21-2006, 11:17 PM	#13 (permalink)
MexicanOnABike Location: up north	it's amazing how so many ppl saw the 1st lotr without really knowing if it'd be good or not and now just because jackson is not there, you're not gonna see it!? what? i loved the book so i'll see it! i dont care who directs if it's good. __________________ - Movie Reviews - Ratings-

11-22-2006, 07:43 AM	#15 (permalink)
Derwood Who You Crappin? Location: Everywhere and Nowhere	I'll be honest. I recently reread The Hobbit and thought "this would make one truly boring movie". The amount of things that happen (and the importance of said things) pales in comparison to LOTR. It's a cute little side story, but you're not going to get me excited about Bilbo looking for some treasure after seeing 12 hours of "destroy the ring or the world ends" __________________ "You can't shoot a country until it becomes a democracy." - Willravel

11-22-2006, 09:41 AM	#17 (permalink)
Sorcha Tilted Location: South Carolina	Part of what made The Lord of the Rings great was Peter Jackson's directing, imo. The LOTR story didn't suck me in until the movies, and while I admit the book trilogy was good, I too was bored by The Hobbit. Jackson could have redeemed it, but I'm not sure I'll be seeing it now. I'll be quite interested to see what poor guy has to fill Jackson's shoes. He's gonna get so much flack if the movie does badly.

11-22-2006, 09:58 AM	#18 (permalink)
kutulu Junkie	The Hobbit is so vastly different from the LOTR in so many ways that a new director might be a good thing.

11-26-2006, 12:23 AM	#21 (permalink)
Charlatan Getting it. Super Moderator Location: Lion City	Good point Seaver. The other thing to consider is that with Jackson comes New Zealand and Weta Digital and ALL the costumes, etc. that were created for LOTR. I wonder if anyone else can make it on the kind of budget Jackson did and still have it look a good? __________________ "My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars." - Old Man Luedecke

11-26-2006, 07:33 PM	#25 (permalink)
Bossnass Détente Location: AWOL in Edmonton	Regarding Raimi directing: I would rather like to see Bruce Campbell as Beorn or maybe Bard the bowman. I was a little torn about Jackson on the Hobbit. The hobbit has a much different feel to it than Lotr; I was concerned that Jackson would have taken it too seriously.

11-27-2006, 02:07 PM	#26 (permalink)
Kalnaur Psycho Location: Portland, Oregon	I will wait to see what it looks like, but this information grieves me. __________________ PC: Can you help me out here HK? HK-47: I'm 98% percent sure this miniature organic meatbag wants you to help find his fellow miniature organic meatbags. PC: And the other 2 percent? HK-47: The other 2 percent is that he is just looking for trouble and needs to be blasted, but that might be wishful thinking on my part.

11-30-2006, 04:37 PM	#28 (permalink)
jth Insane Location: HRM	yeesh hollywood can't make up their minds eh. I'll just wait for it to be released so I can go see. I think either PJ or the other guy would be fine... it's JRRT damn it!! __________________ "A real leader faces the music, even if he doesn't like the tune." - unknown quote