Hobbit Party Not Over
TheOneRing.net, and this blog, and this blog too, had the news about 24 hours before the Associated Press, who nevertheless misnamed TORn as TheOneRing.com. But anyway. Via our friends at TORn, once again, apparently MGM, who owns the distribution rights even though New Line owns production rights, is not pleased:
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.”
It’s one thing to shoot yourself in the foot with your fan base, but quite another to tick off a studio that may have more clout than you — if not in this particular matter then quite possibly in Hollywood at large. TheOneRing.net also reports that even if Peter Jackson does not direct, his special effects company, WETA, would not be barred from doing the films. Interesting, that.
Cross-posted at Electric Venom.
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hmm. If I didn’t know better (not that I do) I’d say someone just doesn’t want to have to pay Peter Jackson.
Comment by Mad William Flint — November 21, 2006 @ 11:23 am
It could be, but if so, I think they’re miscalculating, on the arithmetic alone–they lose far more money up front by not hiring Jackson than they would by paying him. At least in salary. Back-end profits are what the lawsuit’s about. I found the letter’s description of the lawsuit interesting.
Comment by Anwyn — November 23, 2006 @ 1:38 pm
I have pretty mixed feelings about Peter Jackson after the way he mangled the story-line of LotR. He did a fantastic job on the filming, casting, artwork and all that, but I wish somebody with more respect for the integrity of the story had done the screenplay.
It’s also hard for me to get too excited about The Hobbit. It’s an entertaining children’s story, but it doesn’t compare to the trilogy, IMO.
Comment by LagunaDave — November 28, 2006 @ 6:21 pm
LagunaDave, I’m not too far off you in your assessment of Jackson & Co.’s rendering of the story, but far more irritating to me would be a hodgepodge–if Hobbit had a totally different look and feel than the trilogy. It would have to be really good for me to be able to overlook that.
Comment by Anwyn — November 28, 2006 @ 8:49 pm