The Hobbit coming to the screen at last?

[Skerik]

With Peter Jackson directing? Dare to dream?

MGM Eyes Hobbit, T4
Studio wants tentpoles out in next few years.
by Stax

September 11, 2006 - After years of ups-and-downs, MGM is getting back into the studio big leagues by planning a number of $150+ million tentpole films to be released over the next few years, including The Hobbit and Terminator 4.

MGM is also said to want Oscar-winning Lord of the Rings helmer Peter Jackson to direct The Hobbit, according to Variety. A report earlier this month at TheOneRing.net claimed The Hobbit was on New Line's schedule for a July 2007 start date. (New Line released the LOTR films.) But the Variety piece says The Hobbit is an MGM production. Are the studios teaming for the project?

Possibly. As Variety states, "(MGM's) goal is to release two or three tentpoles a year, all of which will be made with financial partners, including Wall Street money or other studios."

So if MGM is wooing Jackson, and is working with New Line on the film, does that mean Jackson has finally settled his lawsuit against New Line over profits from the LOTR trilogy? And how did such a settlement escape the notice of the media? IGN attempted to investigate these matters a few weeks ago but was met with stony silence from various parties.

I loved the LOTR movies, but my favorite story among the books has always been The Hobbit. If MGM brings Jackson on board and gives him free rein and a near-unlimited budget like New Line gave him for the trilogy, this could be great. On the other hand, I'd absolutely hate for someone other than Jackson to direct as I really liked the approach he took with the other three movies.

http://filmforce.ign.com/articles/732/732006p1.html

[airbarrett]

Re: The Hobbit coming to the screen at last?

either way, whether jackson is directing the film or not, i will be really anxious to see the movie. i loved the hobbit and thought it was probably the easiest of the four novels to read. (including the original trilogy) i loved the books and the movies even more and can't wait to see this movie.

[SPTO]

Re: The Hobbit coming to the screen at last?

Not a huge fan of the genre but if there's anybody in Hollywood today that truly pays attention to the source material and actually has love for it, it's Jackson. This flick will make MEGA - BUCKS!

[RockinDaMike]

Re: The Hobbit coming to the screen at last?

What does Tentpole movies mean?

[Lintyfresh85]

Re: The Hobbit coming to the screen at last?

it means it's the foundation of it's company.... basically they're basing their financial security on these movies.

[JohnnytheSkin]

Re: The Hobbit coming to the screen at last?

What does Tentpole movies mean?

Big budget = big profits (ostensibly)

As such studios can finance several smaller budget films for release throughout the year. All the artsy fartsy, documentary, etc. films.


As for 'The Hobbit', I would be totally geeked out if that came true. I thought it was almost a given due to the success of LOTR. That being said, if Jackson doesn't do it, I don't think it will be the same...plus, I thought Jackson was set to do some WWII film.

[RockinDaMike]

Re: The Hobbit coming to the screen at last?

Ok, pretty much movies where you'll have McDonald toys and soda cups gallore. Funny I have a Godzilla cup, boy did that movie flop

[JoeBudden]

Re: The Hobbit coming to the screen at last?

This movie and Enders Game are two movies that have had rumours about for years and i hopefully both make it to movies

[JohnnytheSkin]

Re: The Hobbit coming to the screen at last?

This movie and Enders Game are two movies that have had rumours about for years and i hopefully both make it to movies

'Enders Game' would be AMAZING! If anyone hasn't read that book, turn off your PC, get to the library or bookstore, and check it out. Excellent sci-fi novel!

You can't really compare the movie rumors though, since 'Enders' has been rumored for a decade plus, while 'The Hobbit' only since the success of LOTR a few years ago.

Plus, you always have the Bakshi version

[luv_mist]

Re: The Hobbit coming to the screen at last?

Ok, pretty much movies you'll has McDonald toys and soda cups gallore. Funny I have a Godzilla cup, boy did that movie flop

The hype for that movie was so great to the point that it hurt to see the horrible plot. On another note, Peter Jackson is definitely going to be one of the most reknowned movie guys EVER!! It's crazy cause it seems everything he's touching gets its just rewards and benefits. I hope the Hobbit does wonderful. So how many projects is he in now for the next 3-5 years?? He might spark a new type of desire among movie makers to release better movies if he keeps getting all the great jobs like that.

[jmood88]

Re: The Hobbit coming to the screen at last?

'Enders Game' would be AMAZING! If anyone hasn't read that book, turn off your PC, get to the library or bookstore, and check it out. Excellent sci-fi novel!

You can't really compare the movie rumors though, since 'Enders' has been rumored for a decade plus, while 'The Hobbit' only since the success of LOTR a few years ago.

Plus, you always have the Bakshi version

Yeah enders game could make a great movie if it was made right.

[dieselboy]

Re: The Hobbit coming to the screen at last?

I am really excited for this.

[Skerik]

Re: The Hobbit coming to the screen at last?

Monday, November 20th, 2006
TheOneRing.net has received a statement from The Lord of the Rings director, Peter Jackson, explaining to fans, why he is being passed on, by New Line Cinema, to return to direct The Hobbit:

Dear One Ringers,

As you know, there's been a lot of speculation about The Hobbit. We are often asked about when or if this film will ever be made. We have always responded that we would be very interested in making the film - if it were offered to us to make.

You may also be aware that Wingnut Films has bought a lawsuit against New Line, which resulted from an audit we undertook on part of the income of The Fellowship of the Ring. Our attitude with the lawsuit has always been that since it's largely based on differences of opinion about certain accounting practices, we would like an independent body - whether it be a judge, a jury, or a mediator, to look at the issues and make an unbiased ruling. We are happy to accept whatever that ruling is. In our minds, it's not much more complex than that and that's exactly why film contracts include right-to-audit clauses.

However, we have always said that we do not want to discuss The Hobbit with New Line until the lawsuit over New Line's accounting practices is resolved. This is simple common sense - you cannot be in a relationship with a film studio, making a complex, expensive movie and dealing with all the pressures and responsibilities that come with the job, while an unresolved lawsuit exists.

We have also said that we do not want to tie settlement of the lawsuit to making a film of The Hobbit. In other words, we would have to agree to make The Hobbit as a condition of New Line settling our lawsuit. In our minds this is not the right reason to make a film and if a film of The Hobbit went ahead on this basis, it would be doomed. Deciding to make a movie should come from the heart - it's not a matter of business convenience. When you agree to make a film, you're taking on a massive commitment and you need to be driven by an absolute passion to want to get the story on screen. It's that passion, and passion alone, that gives the movie its imagination and heart. To us it is not a cold-blooded business decision.

A couple of months ago there was a flurry of Hobbit news in the media. MGM, who own a portion of the film rights in The Hobbit, publicly stated they wanted to make the film with us. It was a little weird at the time because nobody from New Line had ever spoken to us about making a film of The Hobbit and the media had some fun with that. Within a week or two of those stories, our Manager Ken Kamins got a call from the co-president of New Line Cinema, Michael Lynne, who in essence told Ken that the way to settle the lawsuit was to get a commitment from us to make The Hobbit, because "that's how these things are done". Michael Lynne said we would stand to make much more money if we tied the lawsuit and the movie deal together and this may well be true, but it's still the worst reason in the world to agree to make a film.

Several years ago, Mark Ordesky told us that New Line have rights to make not just The Hobbit but a second "LOTR prequel", covering the events leading up to those depicted in LOTR. Since then, we've always assumed that we would be asked to make The Hobbit and possibly this second film, back to back, as we did the original movies. We assumed that our lawsuit with the studio would come to a natural conclusion and we would then be free to discuss our ideas with the studio, get excited and jump on board. We've assumed that we would possibly get started on development and design next year, whilst filming The Lovely Bones. We even had a meeting planned with MGM executives to talk through our schedule.

However last week, Mark Ordesky called Ken and told him that New Line would no longer be requiring our services on The Hobbit and the LOTR 'prequel'. This was a courtesy call to let us know that the studio was now actively looking to hire another filmmaker for both projects.

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.

Given that New Line are committed to this course of action, we felt at the very least, we owed you, the fans, a straightforward account of events as they have unfolded for us.

We have always had the greatest support from The Ringers and we are very sorry our involvement with The Hobbit has been ended in this way. Our journey into Tolkien's world started with a phone call from Ken Kamins to Harvey Weinstein in Nov 1995 and ended with a phone call from Mark Ordesky to Ken in Nov 2006. It has been a great 11 years.

This outcome is not what we anticipated or wanted, but neither do we see any positive value in bitterness and rancor. We now have no choice but to let the idea of a film of The Hobbit go and move forward with other projects.

We send our very best wishes to whomever has the privilege of making The Hobbit and look forward to seeing the film on the big screen.

Warmest regards to you all, and thanks for your incredible support over the years.

We got to go there - but not back again ...

Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh

[JohnnytheSkin]

Re: The Hobbit coming to the screen at last?

Well that sucks...even with the same resources (not likely since Weta is PJ's company) the films just won't be the same. While I'm sure someone capable could make a "respectable" version of 'The Hobbit', not having the same actors return, same look and feel, etc. would be a major disservice to Tolkien fans.

Peter Jackson and LOTR made New Line boat loads of cash, all they want is their fair share! Why should the suits keep all the residual profits? I mean they had no problem settling with the actors after 'Fellowship' for a raise...why not the director and his staff?

Sad news