Christopher Tolkien aims to stop 'The Hobbit'

[Wombat]

Christopher Tolkein, unlike the rest of the members of the Tolkein Estate, wants to be the only person to have any say in regards to what happens with Tolkein material -- witness his claims to have written up the material for The Silmarillion when the vast bulk of the work was done by Guy Gavriel Kay. When the rest of the Estate gave the green light to New Line Cinema, Christopher balked and claimed he was never consulted.

For all that he may have a point, Christopher Tolkein is a dog-in-the-manger and a control freak. He seems to think that he, and only he, speaks with his fathers voice, no matter what the legal accords that created the Tolkein Estate say. That and given that the movie rights were sold during JRR's lifetime, Chris doesn't really have a leg to stand on, legally speaking. He is just trying to delay matters as long as humanly possible.

 

[Gadget]

Christopher Tolkein, unlike the rest of the members of the Tolkein Estate, wants to be the only person to have any say in regards to what happens with Tolkein material -- witness his claims to have written up the material for The Silmarillion when the vast bulk of the work was done by Guy Gavriel Kay. When the rest of the Estate gave the green light to New Line Cinema, Christopher balked and claimed he was never consulted.

For all that he may have a point, Christopher Tolkein is a dog-in-the-manger and a control freak. He seems to think that he, and only he, speaks with his fathers voice, no matter what the legal accords that created the Tolkein Estate say. That and given that the movie rights were sold during JRR's lifetime, Chris doesn't really have a leg to stand on, legally speaking. He is just trying to delay matters as long as humanly possible.

Bullocks! While CT's aversion to selling off and merchandising anything tLoTR related (except new History of Middle-earth books containing more half-completed manuscripts) is well known, that hardly means he 'doesn't have a leg to stand on'. The fact of the manner is that New Line Cinema apparently cheated a lot of people out of money on the films. Didn't the great PJ himself have to sue New Line over 'creative accounting' issues? It is often the case that in legal matters the plaintiff threatens drastic actions such as this (i.e. asking the courts to relinquish the rights back to the Tolkien Estate) to get the (alleged) offender's attention and show that they are serious. While I am sure CT would love to 'take back' the rights to the films and 'get all these dang kids off his (or rather, his dad's) lawn', I don't know how feasible his legal team thinks it is and if they seriously expect this to happen or are using it as a ploy to make the film company settle quickly.

 

[Ranger REG]

I do want to see a hobbit movie eventually.

But I would far rather see the thumbscrews get dug in on Hollywood for its financial practices finally. The movies can wait until they make good on their contract.

Or Saul Zentz and Peter Jackson can drop New Line and go with another film studio. (Miramax?)

That still doesn't erase New Line/Warner Bros. legal problem, but then who cares?

 

[Amellia]

Rumor has it that they're looking at James McAvoy for Bilbo Baggins... which I would LOVE. Well, as long as it doesn't end up typecasting McAvoy. I want to see him in many, many different kinds of movies in the future. Loooove him.

 

[Ranger REG]

Bullocks! While CT's aversion to selling off and merchandising anything tLoTR related (except new History of Middle-earth books containing more half-completed manuscripts) is well known, that hardly means he 'doesn't have a leg to stand on'. The fact of the manner is that New Line Cinema apparently cheated a lot of people out of money on the films. Didn't the great PJ himself have to sue New Line over 'creative accounting' issues? It is often the case that in legal matters the plaintiff threatens drastic actions such as this (i.e. asking the courts to relinquish the rights back to the Tolkien Estate) to get the (alleged) offender's attention and show that they are serious. While I am sure CT would love to 'take back' the rights to the films and 'get all these dang kids off his (or rather, his dad's) lawn', I don't know how feasible his legal team thinks it is and if they seriously expect this to happen or are using it as a ploy to make the film company settle quickly.

In order to get the film rights back, CT will also have to sue Saul Zentz and his Tolkien Enterprise business, which was set up after Saul legally bought the rights.

Though his recent claim is credible, even I think CT have an underlying motive/agenda. If there is any legitimate claim to prevent PJ or BDT to begin production of the films, he would definitely pursue it, public complaints be damned.