[HairOfTheDog]

Variety article has MGM saying it's 'far from closed'

Variety.com - Inside Move: It's hard to be a 'Hobbit'

New Line, MGM, Jackson tussle over pic

By NICOLE LAPORTE, NICOLE LAPORTE, DAVE MCNARY, DAVE MCNARY

Jackson

Ordesky

Who's the boss of "The Hobbit"?

This question has been growing more heated in recent weeks as the principal parties involved in the film -- New Line, MGM and director Peter Jackson -- have been duking it out, each staking their claim as a key player in "The Hobbit" along with a prequel to "The Lord of the Rings."

Behind the jostling is the fact that while New Line owns the rights to produce the pic, MGM owns the distribution rights and Jackson is the creative force behind the franchise's staggering success.

In the most recent flurry of events, Peter Jackson and producing partner Fran Walsh posted a letter Sunday night on the "LOTR" fan site Theonering.net saying that New Line told them last week that it was going to make "The Hobbit" without their services.

The letter also reiterated in detail Jackson's stance on "The Hobbit" -- that he is not willing to have a serious conversation about directing the film until his ongoing lawsuit with New Line over what he considers improper accounting practices over "LOTR" profits is settled.

New Line's given reason for proceeding sans Jackson is that the studio's rights to the pic are about to expire, and seeing as the lawsuit with Jackson isn't moving ahead, well, the message was that New Line is.

All of this has riled MGM, which in recent weeks has been openly touting the fact that the newly revamped studio is serious about making "The Hobbit" -- with Jackson.

An MGM spokesman said that "the matter of Peter Jackson directing 'The Hobbit' films is far from closed."

Though New Line no-commented inquiries about Jackson's statement, the mini-major's move is a loud statement to both MGM and Jackson that the studio is in the driver's seat when it comes to "The Hobbit."

Jackson noted in his letter that New Line exec Mark Ordesky, who shepherded the "Rings" trilogy, explained that New Line is ditching Jackson because it has a "limited time option" on the film rights obtained from Saul Zaentz.

There are already online revolts from fans who can't fathom a "Hobbit" directed by anyone else, and Jackson makes clear in his letter that he's not budging on the issue of the lawsuit or "The Hobbit."

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

Well this is one more example of the 'business' end of 'show business'. Not to be naive about business in general, I often think that the predatory practices of businessmen portrayed by Hollywood types is based on their knowledge of business practices in their town.

[maquiladora]

What a mess. PJ's letter to TORN really does sound quite final, it really does sound like he's made up his mind to give up on The Hobbit after that unbelievable call from New Line. Really is sad to hear just how far things had gone with MGM.

I suppose if we look at the positive side of things, this doesn't mean that The Hobbit isn't going to happen, in fact, we now now the rights are time limited, so its definitely going to get made, just probably not with PJ.

There is always a possibility that whoever ends up making the Hobbit will be a very creative and talented director that might bring an interesting look and feel to The Hobbit. I guess it might be fun to begin thinking about names...Sam Raimi, Peter Weir, Christopher Nolan, Guillermo del Toro, Bryan Singer...

Also, it's interesting to see that WETA boss Richard Taylor has already stated that the creative team behind LOTR would still love to be asked to be involved in The Hobbit, even without PJ at the helm, and that has to be a good thing.

[maquiladora]

Ok...theres a rumor circulating already that New Line are getting Jean-Pierre Jeunet to make The Hobbit...

[300winmag]

There are already online revolts from fans who can't fathom a "Hobbit" directed by anyone else, and Jackson makes clear in his letter that he's not budging on the issue of the lawsuit or "The Hobbit."

Well, I'm certainly revolting. And I'm not too happy with this movie business, either. Jackson not only spent years making what many, myself included, consider the greatest movie of the 20th century, he had to fight studios to give him the money and the artistic freedom.

New Line was less-nearsighted than the rest of Hollywood, and they've been richly rewarded. You'd think by now they would have learned to give Jackson whatever he wanted, up to and including 49% of the studio. Instead, they figure they have a turnkey franchise, and can turn it over to some second-string director.

If PJ doesn't direct it, it's just a cheap ripoff, and I ain't goin'.