Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh out of "The Hobbit"

[vison]

From the Internet Movie Data Base (IMDB):

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.)

Go figure.

Ah, I was just about to post this very thing!!!

I, personally, me myself that is, don't much care who directs The Hobbit. I never thought it was more than a more than a peculiarly twee childrens' book . . . and would never have gone on to read LOTR if I had read The Hobbit first. However, I guess I have to admit I hope George Lucas never gets his grubby paws on it.

PJ certainly created a beautiful Middle Earth. It is hard to imagine another director creating one as lovely --- and different.

[Primula Baggins]

Y'know, it never even occurred to me that all this might be PJ doing an end run around New Line. Shows how un-corporate my brain has become.

It sounds as if Saul Zaentz is much more interested in doing a deal with PJ directly than through New Line, who are going to be rather sorry they stuck to their ground on that lawsuit, I think.

And I am (I admit it) very happy that there is still this much hope PJ and the team will do these films. vison, I know the problems you had with the LotR films; I'm glad that this wouldn't just add to your pain. And it's so true that it's hard to imagine anyone else "reimagining" Middle-earth at this point.

[Inanna]

Ah, moves, moves. PJ is extremely smart...

[TORN]

Take a read over at NYT: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/29/movie ... ref=slogin

[eborr]

Note the date 2009, how does it work in the film industry legally, does the 2009 date mean a date by which the film has to be completed or simply the option exercised !

Once they exercise the option will they have a finite period in which to realise it ?

Seems to me if New Line don't move quickly then they are going to be pretty stuck, but this opinion is founded on supposition and not on the way that movie contracts work.

[TORN]

Now this is passing odd -- a major newspaper (the Boston Globe) publishing an editorial demanding that PJ make the Hobbit!!!



In fact, I'm so excited, I'm going to jump on a plane and fly up to Boston right now to luxuriate in the atmosphere of such an enlightened city (er, well actually, I just happen to be flying up there this afternoon for a speech tomorrow, but whatever . . .).

Oh, here it is: http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editor ... bits_weep/

[Primula Baggins]

That's very cool, TORN! It's nice to see a media outlet treating the issue as if it really matters to people, instead of sneering about disappointed nerds. Some of the articles really take me back to the coverage of the film phenomenon, when so many who were reporting it obviously had never read the books, had no intention of ever soiling their eyes by reading them, and thus did not get what the excitement was all about (and then complained about that fact at length, with snide asides about "fairies," rather than saying anything interesting about the films or their popularity).

Er.

Think I'll go make that coffee now.

[Frelga]

There's not much character overlap between "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings," but the brilliant Ian McKellen had looked forward to reprising his role as Gandalf the wizard. It would help Jackson's cause if McKellen threatened to bow out as well.

Perhaps it woud, but he didn't, did he? He said something noncommittal about how it was all a shame. What a strange sentence to put into an editorial.

[eborr]

I think McKellen did all right, he voiced his opinion, which was that he would very much prefer to see PJ direct the Hobbit, but at the end of the day, if the New Line and PJ do not come to an agreement then that's not something within McK control.

[Voronwë the Faithful]

The war of words has apparently heated up in the past few days. From New Line head Robert Shay, on 1/10:

In the latest comment in the controversy surrounding a proposed movie based on J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit, New Line head Robert Shaye told SCI FI Wire in no uncertain terms that the studio won't work with Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson on that film or any other film. Ever. At least not as long as Shaye is in charge.

Shaye's comments marked the first time a New Line executive has commented publicly on the fracas since Jackson announced that he has pulled out of the project and also appears to harden New Line's position against Jackson.

"I do not want to make a movie with somebody who is suing me," Shaye—New Line's chief executive officer—said in an interview on Jan. 5 while promoting The Last Mimzy, a New Line family fantasy that marks his first time in a director's chair since 1990's Book of Love. "It will never happen during my watch."

Jackson had told TheOneRing.net in November that he and partner Fran Walsh were bowing out after New Line, which produced the Rings films and has production rights to The Hobbit, told them the studio was moving ahead with The Hobbit without them. Jackson has said he won't discuss The Hobbit until a lawsuit against New Line over Rings accounting practices is settled.

As far as Shaye is concerned, Jackson is no longer welcome. "There's a kind of arrogance," Shaye said. "Not that I don't think Peter is a good filmmaker and that he hasn't contributed significantly to filmography and made three very good movies. And I don't even expect him to say 'thank you' for having me make it happen and having New Line make it happen. But to think that I, as a functionary in [a] company that has been around for a long time, but is now owned by a very big conglomerate, would care one bit about trying to cheat the guy, ... he's either had very poor counsel or is completely misinformed and myopic to think that I care whether I give him [anything]."

Shaye, who was also an executive producer on the Rings films, added: "He got a quarter of a billion dollars paid to him so far, justifiably, according to contract, completely right, and this guy, who already has received a quarter of a billion dollars, turns around without wanting to have a discussion with us and sues us and refuses to discuss it unless we just give in to his plan. I don't want to work with that guy anymore. Why would I? So the answer is he will never make any movie with New Line Cinema again while I'm still working for the company."

Shaye said that many of the Rings trilogy actors "suddenly, because, I'm guessing, of Peter's complaint," have declined to participate in celebrating New Line's 40th anniversary. "I'm incredibly offended," he said. "I don't care about Peter Jackson anymore. He wants to have another $100 million or $50 million, whatever he's suing us for. He doesn't want to sit down and talk about it. He thinks that we owe him something after we've paid him over a quarter of a billion dollars. ... Cheers, Peter."

New Line's hardened position against Jackson isn't the end of the story, of course. MGM, which owns the distribution rights to The Hobbit, on Nov. 20 told Variety through a spokesman that "the matter of Peter Jackson directing the Hobbit films is far from closed."

In his own online statement, Jackson said that New Line executive Mark Ordesky, who shepherded the Rings trilogy, argued that New Line is dumping Jackson because the studio has a "limited time option" on the film rights, obtained from Saul Zaentz.

http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?id=39462


Jackson's response the following day:

Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson released a statement saying that he found "regrettable" comments made by New Line Cinema chief Robert Shaye to SCI FI Wire that Jackson would never work for the studio again under his watch.

In an interview, Shaye—New Line's chief executive officer—told SCI FI Wire, "I do not want to make a movie with somebody who is suing me," referring to Jackson and his legal action concerning accounting practices for Jackson's Lord of the Rings films. "It will never happen during my watch."

Jackson's complete statement follows:

"Our issue with New Line Cinema has only ever been about their refusal to account for financial anomalies that surfaced from a partial audit of The Fellowship of the Ring. Contrary to recent comments made by Bob Shaye, we attempted to discuss the issues raised by the Fellowship audit with New Line for over a year, but the studio was and continues to be completely uncooperative. This has compelled us to file a lawsuit to pursue our contractual rights under the law. Nobody likes taking legal action, but the studio left us with no alternative.

"For over two years, New Line has denied us the ability to audit The Two Towers and The Return of the King, despite repeated requests. Film auditing is a common and straightforward practice within the industry, and we don't understand why New Line Cinema has taken this position.

"In light of these circumstances, I didn't think it was appropriate for me to be involved in New Line Cinema's 40th-anniversary video. I have never discussed this video with any of the cast of The Lord of the Rings. The issues that Bob Shaye has with the cast pre-date this lawsuit by many years.

"Fundamentally, our legal action is about holding New Line to its contractual obligations and promises. It is regrettable that Bob has chosen to make it personal. I have always had the highest respect and affection for Bob and other senior management at New Line and continue to do so."

http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.ph ... 469&type=0

[Primula Baggins]

However, New Line doesn't seem to be making any headway on finding another director. And they won't have the rights forever.

[Lidless]

In The Land Where Money Rules, I would be surprised if Shaye, even though a co-founder of New Line, will be in exactly the same job a year from now. It'll probably cost too much to axe him completely, but moving him to one side (and therefore 'not on his watch' and saving face a bit), will probably be the result.

I met Bob Shaye, albeit for 10 seconds. The man has a thin handshake. I'm not sure what that means, but that's the only way to describe it. And on the two occasions I saw him (in the hotel bar prior to Berlin's ROTK and at the afterparty itself), he was completely surrounded by sychophantic yes-people (sickofants?). Quite the entourage hanging onto his every word.

I don't think he's used to being challenged (as PJ has done on the money front).

With Halo on hold, there's every chance for PJ to make The Hobbit - more importantly if only to get Howard Shore on board with the music.

[yovargas]

This seems like a really stupid argument.

[Old_Tom_Bombadil]

Yeah, after I read the latest of the New Line (Shaye) vs. PJ feud the other day I was reminded of the squabbles that disgruntled professional athletes carry out in the press with their employers. I find it distasteful when multi-millionaires whine and pout about money that probably won't even be spent in their lifetime. The whole affair makes me want to say, "A pox on both of their houses!".

[yovargas]

They're probably both being asses and there are probably lots more sides to the story we don't see but PJ is at least publicly coming off like the more reasonable person. But in private he may be being a total jerk about this for all I know.

[Primula Baggins]

Based on what I know about studio accounting procedures, I'm inclined to side with PJ on this one. Studios famously find ways to hide profits when someone outside the studio is entitled to a share of them. There are films that did really well domestically, overseas, and on DVD, producing revenue many times their cost of production, that are still not in the black according to studio accounting.

Of course the studios have to split that revenue with theaters and distributors, and overseas distribution rights are often sold outright, but even considering that, there are some very questionable "bottom lines" out there.

[Voronwë the Faithful]

On the face of it, it really does seem that PJ's position is reasonable. So far as I can determine, all he is asking for is an independent accounting. That is not and unreasonable request. Nothing that Shaye or anyone else at New Line has said publicly has indicated that there is more to it then that. It's easy to say that PJ has made so many tens of millions of dollars that it shouldn't really matter, but I think the principle of the matter is worth fighting for. Unless something comes out that convinces me otherwise, I'm pretty squarely in PJ's camp on this one.

[Primula Baggins]

Accountability for profits is a huge deal for writers, too, as we're basically paid with a "percentage of the gross." We get an advance on that money, and we have to trust the publisher to report sales accurately and promptly so that we (or our agents) know at exactly what point we've paid back the advance and should start getting royalties—if that ever happens; it doesn't, always.

The fact is that even very good and successful mainstream publishers don't usually bother; royalty statements are famously confusing, error-filled, and slow to arrive.

If PJ is successful, his success might end up helping directors who are much more "smalltime" than he is. The principle applies to more than just him.

[WampusCat]

It's easy to say that PJ has made so many tens of millions of dollars that it shouldn't really matter, but I think the principle of the matter is worth fighting for.

I had a sudden image of Sam earnestly telling a weary and despairing Frodo, "There's something in this world worth fighting for."

"And what are we fighting for, Sam?"

"A proper accounting of billion-dollar profits, Mr. Frodo."

[samwarg]

I just hope some extremely compitent person makes the Hobbit movie before I become dust in the wind. I feel some kind of strange emptiness every December now, like something very important has gone missing, like a leg or my 8-track tapes.