Peter Jackson interested in doing "The Hobbit"

[2d6]

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.

Wouldn't that be funny! The new rumor, it's in the can, all he needs is the rights and he'll finish the post-production.

 

[mojo1701]

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>

My precioussssssssssssss...

 

[kengar]

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.

That's what I thought as well. I had also heard that New Line had bought the rights to the Hobbit to prevent someone else from riding LOTR's coattails. It's all very odd and I don't pretend to understand half of the legal mumbo-jumbo.


Jester, that would be hysterical! It would be the movie-surprise coup of the century.

 

[thalmin]

Jester, I so hope you are on target.

 

[kengar]

Just found this rather interesting link:

http://www.tolkien-ent.com/

If this is accurate, I don't see what Christopher Tolkien has to do with any of the movie rights.

 

[TiQuinn]

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.

The only thing is keeping something like that under wraps has got to be friggin impossible in this day and age. Harry Knowles has pudgy little spies everywhere!

 

[Kid Charlemagne]

Just found this rather interesting link:

http://www.tolkien-ent.com/

If this is accurate, I don't see what Christopher Tolkien has to do with any of the movie rights.

Key word: "Certain rights."

PJ and Miramax had to get the rights from Saul Zaentz to do LoTR. I don't know what the tangle is with the Hobbit, but if were Zaentz who owned it, I'm sure it would not be a problem.

As for filming already having been done - not a chance. They wouldn't spend the money without the rights, and they couldn't keep the rights secret - nor would they want to.

 

[kengar]

Key word: "Certain rights."

"The Saul Zaentz Company also owns exclusive rights to certain copyrightable elements of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, including, among other things, film and legitimate stage rights." (emphasis mine)

So unless something has changed involving the Tolkien Estate, etc. It must be some issue between Tolkien Enterprises & movie studios or some such.

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

I read an article (which I can't seem to find again now) that seemed to indicate that the rights problem wasn't so much with the Tolkien estate (since Saul Zentz owns the movie rights, though the Tolkien estate wouldn't "give their blessing", whatever that means), but with another movie company that had optioned the rights (United?) and with whom New Line would have to negotiate.

Which is effectively all speculation and rumor, since all the articles I can find at the moment don't provide any specifics at all, other than "there is a problem with the rights."

 

[kengar]

I read an article (which I can't seem to find again now) that seemed to indicate that the rights problem wasn't so much with the Tolkien estate (since Saul Zentz owns the movie rights, though the Tolkien estate wouldn't "give their blessing", whatever that means), but with another movie company that had optioned the rights (United?) and with whom New Line would have to negotiate.

Which is effectively all speculation and rumor, since all the articles I can find at the moment don't provide any specifics at all, other than "there is a problem with the rights."

I got this from the LOTR RPG message boards:

"The stickler is in Hollywood only - while New Line has the rights to make a film of The Hobbit, the rights to distribute such a film are owned by MGM/United Artists, due to old arrangements.

So, one studio can make the movie, but can't distribute it, while the other studio can't make the movie, but could distribute one.

And no, I have no idea how this kind of nonsense is allowed to happen. "

EDIT: So New Line just needs to throw UA/MGM a piece of the action and it's all good, right? I mean, if you figure the Hobbit would cost approx 1/3 that LOTR did and New Line would be footing the production bill, the film should still make more than enough to see everyone a fat profit. Especially if they were clever and released it at something like Christmas 2008 and led it off by screening the extended versions of the trilogy in theatres that December as well!

Oh wow, can you imagine going to see the Hobbit and then the LOTR EE on the big screen in order?!?