Did you actually listen to his interview? I doubt it. Lee spoke with great warmth of the people of New Zealand, said you were the nicest people, and emphasized clearly that yours is the most beautiful country in the world. That’s very good PR for New Zealand, not an insult. At no time in the interview did he use the expression “not interested.”
He also pointed out that Saruman is not in the Hobbit. Since Smaug is not a human character, there would be no reason for him to travel to NZ to do the voiceover work.
At the very end of the interview he speaks of what he will do “if I am still alive” and nearly gasps, “It’s too far. It’s too far. It’s too far.”
There is no insult in any of that and does not discourage anyone from visiting the nation he extols. He is an exhausted and very old man.
> Did you actually listen to his interview? I doubt it.
You’d be right. Audio is blocked here, and I read everything available in print from the links — which included the “not interested” bit.
> Lee spoke with great warmth of the people of New Zealand, said you were the nicest people, and emphasized clearly that yours is the most beautiful country in the world. That’s very good PR for New Zealand, not an insult. At no time in the interview did he use the expression “not interested.”
It’s a shame that didn’t make it into the text because you’re right: it is brilliant PR for New Zealand.
And I should probably know better: the press does not necessarily report what was said.
My mistake: I withdraw my comments on that matter, without reservation.
That is true but it does seem to affect rumours about the 'second movie', which often include ideas like showing the meeting of the White Council. Saruman was the leader of the White Council, so this may mean that rumour is dead.