Ordesky said that New Line has a limited time option on the film rights they have obtained from Saul Zaentz (this has never been conveyed to us before), and because we won't discuss making the movies until the lawsuit is resolved, the studio is going to have to hire another director.
Haven't found anything definitive on the issue yet. The idea broached of a Hobbit AND another "prequel" sends shivers through the spine of this LOTR purist. I remember Ralph Bakshi...
Yeah as far as I'm aware, the rights go back to Saul Zaentz at the end of this year unless it's in production.
LOTRs were just the last books in a long line of Tolkien mythology. The wrap ups to the middle age.
The "prequell" books are quite awesome, try the simarillion, and the akallabeth.
As far a PJ, he rewrote too much for my taste. Half of the last book gone pffft like it never happened.
The real reason Jackson had such great success with the trillogy was he had awesome material to begin with. Look at King Kong, 2hrs of Jack Black in 20s NYC, when all anyone wanted to see was the monkey.
Rami rocks!!!! Very innovative camera angles, and infusion of comedy.