1583 replies to this topic

[Goose]

"The Lord of the Rings" fansite TheOneRing.net has received an official statement from Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh about The Hobbit. The two have made it clear that New Line has passed them up, due to Wingnut Films' lawsuit against the studio regarding "The Fellowship of the Ring," and that the studio is looking for a new director to take on The Hobbit and a mystery second "Lord of the Rings" prequel. Here's a clip:

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.

More Here...
http://www.theonerin...ew/8/1163993546

[JohnC]

Yeah, I saw that on Digital Spy when the forum was down. Any chance of them patching up their differences and going with Jackson again?

Also, hadn't heard of that other movie set between The Hobbit and LotR.

[Mogster]

It's going to be The Phantom Menace all over again isn't it?

[Goose]

Well I first heard that The Hobbit would be in two parts.

Next thing was that there'd be one Hobbit movie based obviously on the book and PJ & Co were going to write new material that joined The Hobbit with Fellowship Of The Ring, filling in the missing time between the books.

Then we got 2 Hobbit movies and 1 LOTR prequel.

But I think it was all pure speculation/idea from Peter Jackson, MGM or New Line.

I can imagine once the backlash really kicks in New Line will find a way to make peace. I think the lawsuit is about profits owed to Wingnut but Jackson wasn't going to discuss any future projects until that was resolved. I think New Line are using that as a way to get Jackson off the project but make it look like it's possibly his fault he's not doing the movies (there's mention of time constraints and NL only having the rights for so long, something which Jackson apparently only just found out) because he won't talk about future projects until the lawsuit is resolved.

It's a bit crazy in that if New Line hadn't had the LOTR trilogy they probably wouldn't be in business today.

It gets more complex because I think New Line own the rights to make a movie of The Hobbit but MGM own the rights to release a movie of The Hobbit. MGM may well want to move forward with Jackson (it was them that initially bandied around a Jackson Hobbit movie) and they may in some way be able to convince NL to hang on and rethink.

Basically. I might be wrong a bit here and there because I've not really followed the story too closely.

[Cocky]

It's going to be The Phantom Menace all over again isn't it?

Hopefully not. There is plenty of LOTR material to use without making up adventures about Aragon and Arwen.

A Mirkwood/White Council film would be pretty sweet.

[Goose]

A further thought or two - as far as I know none of the cast were ever contracted for further movies/prequels so whoever decides to take the job on might find himself having to recast a number of the roles. Given how long they all filmed for and the friendships that had been formed, it might feel like a betrayal if one of the original casts decides to play his/her character in a non-Jackson Hobbit/LOTRP set of movies.

I've seen some people say it's a good thing, fresh blood in the writing/directing but I think people would much rather see Jackson direct a movie in the same cinematic universe he created with his movies (note I said cinematic - I know the Tolkien invented it all but Jackson put his own vision of Middle Earth up there) than watch someone bring in a whole different style & look - especially if they're trying to create one epic series. Which beggers the question...if you're not veering too far from that look/style, why not just get Jackson involved...

I wasn't even a big fan of them to be honest, but I appreciated and respected the monumental task of filming such an epic set of movies.

[Alex W.]

I'm not sure Jackson's particular OTT epic feel would've suited The Hobbit, personally. It could do with being subtler and I'm not sure that Jackson could resist padding out the film with 15-minute CGI action sequences involving thousands of trolls kickboxing or something.

That said word of a non-Hobbit prequel has me scared. They might base it on the Silmarillion, which wasn't so much a book as a recipie for disaster.

[fragglerock]

I don't think the hobbit has more than one film in it does it?

[alan_cummings]

There is so much material that could be used for a 'second prequel'. Most of it is very bare-bones stuff though, not a lot of dialogue or characterisation to go on if they are going to try and bring the fall of numenor or the war of wrath to the screen.

[Redsquirrel]

all sounds a bit dodgy to me!!

[Big Loud Mouth]

Jackson's direction was the only thing that kept me interested in the Lord of the Rings, so I can only imagine how shit The Hobbit will be without him on board. JRR Tolkien was a hack - the Lord of The Rings & The Hobbit are a load of bobbins.... let it die, please!

[FishyFish]

Franky, I think it would be madness to make the film(s) without Jackson at the helm. Bringing in a new set of ideas on how it all should be done might have the effect of destroying a set-up that was nigh-on perfect.

It really needs Ian McKellen back as Gandalf to carry any weight, and probably Ian Holm as Bilbo too

[c-cat114]

I'm of the opinion that this'll end up being done by PJ... the actors won't come back without him I dare say, the fan pressure will be pretty immense and I seem to remember Saul Zaentz (sp?) being a champion of the LOTR films as well... I don't agree thatJackson isn't the one to direct it either: Heavenly Creatures, Frighteners and King Kong all show the ability to mix up the output depending on tone needed (as does Bad Taste but shall leave that one there) and I would LOVE to have seen his version of the battle of the Five Armies...

Regardless of the rights or wrongs of New Lines position concerning the lawsuit this just seems like a huge shot it the foot. New Line aren't the face of the cinematic LOTR films: PJ is (well, the round one is anyway). They're taking on the fanboys and when that replica orcish armour is donned I reckon they'll have to capitulate pretty damn quick.

[Mogster]

Hopefully not. There is plenty of LOTR material to use without making up adventures about Aragon and Arwen.

Yeah I know, I was talking in terms of quality alone.

[Monkeyboy]

Brett Ratner's probably by his phone right now, waiting for that call.

[Goose]

Ratner's turned it down so they're offering it to a small known director with big ideas. His last movie, still waiting to be released/finding a distributor is much better than the entire LOTR trilogy anyway.

It's name?
In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale

His Name?
Boll. Uwe Boll.

[Cocky]

I'm pretty sure no one has a licence for any Silmirilian material and never will do as long as Christopher Tolkien is alive and well.

[Ryan]

Lay of Turin'd make a pretty good movie. Maybe. Or a play. It's all very Hamlet/McBeth

But there are loads of myths/fairy tales that would also make good movies.

[bcass]

Tom Bombadil.

[Nick R]

Hopefully not. There is plenty of LOTR material to use without making up adventures about Aragon and Arwen.

A Mirkwood/White Council film would be pretty sweet.

Tolkien's "Unfinished Tales" features a sequence removed from The Lord of the Rings in which Gandalf explains how all the events of The Hobbit was all organised by the White Council to put them in a stronger position for the main battle with Sauron in LOTR. If the filmmakers (whoever it ands up being) are aiming for as much continuity with the Lord of the Rings trilogy as possible, they'd probably include that somewhere.


But I've got a feeling this is all going to end up development hell for a long time.

[Goose]

Sam Raimi Offered The Hobbit?
Source: TheOneRing.net
November 23, 2006


We're pretty doubtful this will happen, as Sony Pictures will probably want him back for a fourth "Spider-Man" movie, but TheOneRing.net has posted an interesting scoop that director Sam Raimi has been offered to helm The Hobbit.

This update comes shortly after the news that "Lord of the Rings" trilogy director Peter Jackson said he won't be returning to the franchise because of his lawsuit against New Line Cinema for "The Fellowship of the Ring" earnings.

We assume that if Raimi was to direct a fourth Spidey film, he would be starting on it fairly soon after the third film is released on May 4, 2007. Plus, there would be the added pressure of stepping into the Jackson-created world.

It will be interesting to see if anyone else would take on the project, or whether MGM (which owns the distribution rights) will succeed in bringing New Line and Jackson back to the table.

[Nick R]

Sam Raimi Offered The Hobbit?
Source: TheOneRing.net
November 23, 2006
We're pretty doubtful this will happen, as Sony Pictures will probably want him back for a fourth "Spider-Man" movie, but TheOneRing.net has posted an interesting scoop that director Sam Raimi has been offered to helm The Hobbit.

Well, as long as he does it after his adaptation of Terry Pratchett's The Wee Free Men. That should always come first.

[JohnC]

McKellen says he is "very sad"
http://www.digitalsp...le/ds39775.html

[bcass]

But probably not sad enough to turn down the role if it's offered to him again.

[Goose]

Jackson back in once the rights revert back?

Zaentz Rings in Jackson for Prequels

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.)

[Goose]

Raimi sounds interested but only with the blessing of Jackson. Jackson might respect Raimi (he bloody should!) but given the choice I imagine he'd want to do the movie himself. The rights are still with New Line who need to have a film in proper production before 2008 IIRC or the right revert back to Saul Zaentz, who is more than happy to wait for Peter Jackson. New Line are still stuck in hell with Jackson over monies owed for the DVD sales of LOTR (not sure if its one part or the whole trilogy).

--------------------------

From EW.COM

On the eve of what is expected to be the biggest Spider-Man yet, Entertainment Weekly learns that director Sam Raimi is seriously considering directing The Hobbit—a choice that could potentially leave Spidey 4 without a director and, says Kirsten Dunst, a leading lady.

Raimi’s name has been floated in connection with The Hobbit ever since a very public dustup between Peter Jackson and New Line chairman Bob Shaye left the Lord of the Rings prequel without a director. Raimi went on the record for the first time about his potential involvement in the project during an exclusive interview with EW’s Steve Daly for the magazine’s Summer Preview issue, on stands Friday: “Peter Jackson might be the best filmmaker on the planet right now. But, um, I don’t know what’s going to happen next for me right now. First and foremost, those are Peter Jackson and Bob Shaye’s films. If Peter didn’t want to do it, and Bob wanted me to do it—and they were both ok with me picking up the reigns—that would be great. I love the book. It’s maybe a more kid-friendly story than the others.”

Dunst says she hadn’t heard any rumors about Raimi and The Hobbit until EW raised the subject in an interview. She says she can’t imagine returning for Part 4 without both her director and her costar: “It’s disrespectful to the whole team, I think, to do that. And audiences aren’t stupid. It’d be a big flop without me, Tobey, or Sam. That would really not be the smartest move. But they know that already. [Sony chief] Amy Pascal would never do that.” Maguire has already expressed his ambivalence about returning for another sequel.

Sony’s President of Production Matt Tolmach tells EW that the studio is cautiously optimistic about retaining the team that launched the Spidey franchise so spectacularly: “Listen, we’re making Spider-Man 4. Our hope, dream and intention is to do it with Sam. But I don’t have a crystal ball.”

[Roboplegic Wrongcock]

As much as i like Raimi i don't see him as a fit for this kind of movie.

[ZOK]

The world is empty without a 'Farmer Giles Of Ham' trilogy. Get to it, New Line!

[De Silva]

I love how Dunst seems to think Spidey 4 will flop without maguire and her.

They're both the weak links. Raimi on the other hand...

I think he would be great doing the hobbit.

[Mogster]

As much as i like Raimi i don't see him as a fit for this kind of movie.

I once thought the same thing about Peter "Braindead" Jackson.

Personally though, I'd much prefer Jackson and New Line to kiss and make up.