From IMDB As Lord of the Rings fans mounted a protest following word that New Line had dropped Peter Jackson from consideration as director of The Hobbit and another Lord of the Rings prequel, producer Saul Zaentz has given assurances that Jackson will indeed direct the two films. A German website, Elbenwald.de, posted an interview with Zaentz, who acquired the rights to the works of the late Rings writer, J.R.R. Tolkien, in 1976 (the Saul Zaentz Company owns Tolkien Enterprises), in which Zaentz says, "It 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, in contrast, he knows that he will be paid fairly and artistically supported without reservation." (The preceding quotation is a translation that appeared on TheHobbit-Movie.com from the German interview posted on Elbenwald.de.) That has to be the greatest news I have ever heard...Ever! Just goes to show you what the power of the fans can achieve. Edit: Unlocking for new news. Yvette Edit: More unlocking
Awesome. This sorta made my day. I can't imagine the Hobbit being directed by anyone else, except maybe George Lucas.
There is a problem with this whole thing. The rights don't fall back to that company for a year. Meaning if New Line wants to they could start principal photography with a new director and maintain those rights.
If it's from IMDB, I would keep researching and check theonering.net. That's where Jackson sent the letter to begin with that he wouldn't be making the film.
It's been posted at TORN, too...here. I guess it could go either way at this point...though I'm hopin' that this second report comes true, as it wouldn't be the same without PJ and crew.
Well, this producer guy seems to just be assuming PJ will get on board with him. So I'll take this will a grain of salt. Good to know though.
[image=http://www.darthblade.com/images/Helmet/rotjpic3.jpg] Don't underestimate the power of the fanboys!
Exactly. Once New Line starts making the movie without Peter Jackson, this company won't be able to get the rights back.
Peter is the ONLY one who will do this right...of that I am sure. Of course, I find it slightly hard to be TOO excited for the Hobbit...its like getting the Pea Soup after the T-Bone Steak.
Wow. It's obvious Peter and this other guy are trying to make New Line look evil in the maagzines, etc. I can't get too excited for the Hobbit, either. I'm more excited about that LOTR preque; film. It would be cool to get characters like Aragorn, Sam, Gandalf, etc back on the screen again, and show people what they were all doing before the LOTR trilogy began.
