Peter Jackson interested in doing "The Hobbit"

TiQuinn · Dec 8, 2003

Very cool news!

I wonder how many studio execs got down on their hands and knees and begged him to come back?

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tm...u=/nm/20031208/film_nm/arts_rings_director_dc

Tsyr · Dec 8, 2003

Arwen, the elf princess played by Liv Tyler (news), could also feature again, Jackson said.

kengar · Dec 8, 2003

As stoked as I would be to see this film, it appears there are problems on the legal end. This is something a friend emailed me:

New Line Pursues Hobbit Rights
The fate of the franchise may lie with the Tolkien estate.

December 02, 2003 - Keen to build on the success of its three Lord of the Rings films (ROTK is a foregone conclusion), New Line Cinema is now actively pursuing the possibility of a film based on The Hobbit. According to The Australian, however, there is a hang-up: the Tolkien estate. It seems that Tolkien's heirs, who have already riled Peter Jackson by refusing to permit a Rings museum in Wellington, are now a stumbling-block in the way of a Lord of the Rings prequel.

"The difficulty everybody has is the Tolkien estate," Jackson said, referring to recent wrangling between New Line and Christopher Tolkien, the custodian and literary executor of his late father's estate. Jackson's next project is King Kong, which should be finished by 2006. Afterwards, Jackson would like to work with New Line on The Hobbit, provided the legal hassles get worked out.

Right now, a deal doesn't seem likely. The trilogy itself was only possible because J.R.R. Tolkien himself sold those film rights in 1969 for £10,000, a paltry amount by modern standards. His son, Christopher, doesn't believe that The Hobbit or any of his father's other works can be adequately represented on-screen, and has resisted any endorsement of the current Lord of the Rings project.

-- Paul Davidsons.

I imagine at some point enough cash will enter the deal that the Tolkien estate might bend. My biggest fear is that they might insist upon some sort of "creative control" which would hamper PJ's ability to make the story work on screen.

Mark · Dec 8, 2003

This Cashtopher Tolkien fella is startin' ta piss me off just a bit...

jdavis · Dec 8, 2003

http://www.enworld.org/forums/showthread.php?t=68173&page=1&pp=25

Ranger REG · Dec 9, 2003

Wait a minute. I thought that New Line Cinema have to negotiate with United Artist because they have the film rights to Hobbits and LOTR.

As for Tolkien Estate, why am I not surprised?

Christopher Tolkien, if he had his way, would never have optioned out the film rights, especially after the Rankin-Bass cartoon debacle, and now Peter Jackson's adaptation.

I don't think he's witholding for cash, he's using the ridiculous price to dissuade them from pursuing this. And even if the ridiculous price is met, he'll just turn around and say, "not for sale."

He, like his father, believe that his work should not be translated into another medium unless it is hold true to the literal content of the books. Even Tolkien Purists are in his camp.

It's really sad, but this is what I think of Christopher Tolkien, even though it is within his legal right as trustee of Tolkien's works:

<a href='http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb008' target='_blank'><img src='http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/1/1_4_24.gif' border=0></a>

jester47 · Dec 9, 2003

I think Jackson would do a great job of it no matter how its done, and I need to admit that I am suspicious.

I think they have already filmed it.

It would not be that hard. They have enough dwarf costumes, props, the right actors, extras, and body doubles. They would only need the actors for the close ups and speaking roles. They already have the trolls turned to stone, rivendell sets, etc. Anyone asks questions as to why they are filming a scene from the hobbit, they are told "oh it might be used for background." We have a filmed scene of Bilbo finding the ring. So I think what has happened is that PJ snuck in another movie and will release it when the rights get cleared up. In all the fuss I think he could have done it. And it would be just like him to do it.

Aaron.

ConnorSB · Dec 9, 2003

I hope this is the case. That would rock hard. Although how would they do the special effects for the spiders and worgs without, you know, a whole bunch of people knowing...

Particle_Man · Dec 9, 2003

Right now, a deal doesn't seem likely. The trilogy itself was only possible because J.R.R. Tolkien himself sold those film rights in 1969 for £10,000, a paltry amount by modern standards. His son, Christopher, doesn't believe that The Hobbit or any of his father's other works can be adequately represented on-screen, and has resisted any endorsement of the current Lord of the Rings project.

-- Paul Davidsons.

Something wrong there, since The Hobbit already has been filmed, albeit in folk-music, animated form. So if the film rights to Lotr are sold, so are the film rights to Hobbit. And I heard that New Line has the film rights, but not the distribution rights (and its hard to make money on a film you can't distribute). But that can be worked out. The Tolkein estate can stop the other stuff (Silmarilion, etc.), but I don't think they can stop the Hobbit.

Mark · Dec 9, 2003

Ranger REG said:
Wait a minute. I thought that New Line Cinema have to negotiate with United Artist because they have the film rights to Hobbits and LOTR.

Could be they have the right to do something on their own but need Chris to sign off on any deal that trades or sells the rights to another party?

jester47 said:
I think they have already filmed it.

YOU, sir, are good!

jester47 said:
It would not be that hard. They have enough dwarf costumes, props, the right actors, extras, and body doubles. They would only need the actors for the close ups and speaking roles. They already have the trolls turned to stone, rivendell sets, etc.

...Bilbo in the caves with Gollum...

ConnorSB said:
I hope this is the case. That would rock hard. Although how would they do the special effects for the spiders and worgs without, you know, a whole bunch of people knowing...

Wouldn't that all be post-production work?

I gotta tell ya. I think j47 is on to something. Something very good...

Peter Jackson interested in doing "The Hobbit"

TiQuinn

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