Ahhh the constant in fighting of the hyper rich. As all of you know, Peter Jackson will not be involved in the making of “The Hobbit” as long as New Line has the rights… and as far as I’m concerned… that’s just fine by me. These two hyper powers (New Line and Peter Jackson) have consistently acted like little sucks in their fight, and I hope a way is found for them both to lose.
Up until now, New Line has stayed pretty silent on the matter (While Jackson has been playing public sympathy cards putting out press releases), at least until now. The folks over at Sci-Fi have put up an interesting interview with the head of New Line, who just flat out HATES Peter Jackson now, and vows New Line will never work with Jackson again. Here’s the extended quote… do yourself a favor and read it all:
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 project without them. Jackson has said he won’t discuss The Hobbit until a lawsuit against New Line over Rings accounting practices was 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.”
So the fight continues. Fans should feel a SLIGHT sense of loyalty to Jackson for bringing Lord of the Rings to life the way he did. He did a magnificent job with them and gave us something very special. HOWEVER…
Fans are really quick to forget that every other studio refused to support LOTR or Jackson. There were one or two other studios that were going to let Jackson make LOTR… but only as ONE movie instead of as a trilogy. Fans should feel a SLIGHT sense of loyalty to New Line as well. When no one else believed in Jackson or LOTR, New Line stepped up, paid for everything… invested over $350 million (that’s a HUGE risk) and let Peter make the movies his way. We… LOTR fans owe them both.
I wish they would all just kiss and make up… but they won’t.
New Line Boss Robert Shaye
Has let it all go to his head yes they put the money up for 3 LOTR but
I hope MGM can take care this:) Blacklist director Peter Jackson.
Is a Joke! It is your lost New Line He will just go on to make great movies for some One New and think all the money you would have made Robert Shaye!
Funny how people like to take shots at the wealthy and criticise them as being greedy if there is a dispute over money. There are two sides to this dispute. Why is noone asking how greedy is New Line?
Whose money is it if it isn’t Peter’s? Does it go into Bob Shaye’s pocket??? How much money does he have? how much did he earn from this movie??
Well, this is all beside the point. The terms of the contract ARE the point and we are not privvy to those terms. So how the hell can we come up with an opinion on who is in the right or not??! Let the courts as objective observers go over the terms and the facts and then give an objective ruling. Then be done with it and move on.
Bob getting aggresive and personal does not look good for him. Aggression is a defence mechanism which can be used to distract or intimidate others from looking at the facts.
Will Peter make The Hobbit? I don’t really care. I would love to see something else by Peter and his crew. Will New Line make The Hobbit? Who cares where the money comes from? All dues for taking the giant risk on Peter and crew to make LOTR and letting them make three movies and giving enough budget to make them great. But I don’t really care if another company makes The Hobbit. Another director may add a new style and make this special in a different way from LOTR. It is a different adventure and the tone of the book was different from the LOTR anyway, so it should be different.
GEEZE PEOPLE…KISS AND MAKE UP ALREADY…THE HOBBIT IS THE BEGINNING OF THE WHOLE STORY…AND THE PEOPLE DO INDEED WANT IT! YOU GUYS BOTH HAVE ENOUGH MONEY. GET OVER YOURSELVES!
ENOUGH!
I just saw this…..AICN has jacksons response up……
“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 law suit by many years.
Fundamentally, our legal action is about holding New Line to it’s 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.”
kneon is totally right.It isn’t like jackson has just decided that he wants more money – he wants an audit done (which is incredibly common) to sort out some accounting discrepencies. why is that such a big crime?? I am just confused as to why that makes him a bad guy all of sudden….Backlashes are a bitch I guess….
He has said himself that if new line allowed an independant body to perform an audit they will accept whatever the findings are.
As for this bob shaye guy telling people how much they have paid him – well thats a bit of a cheeky tactic …..all he is doing there is trying to make jackson look really greedy and he knows it that is exactly why he said that….
kneons point is right on the money. If jackson has a deal with them they could have given him a billion dollars for all anyone cares …if they owe him money they owe him money. end of story. but shayes tactic worked already people are saying “isn’t that enough money for him” when that isn’t the point at all.
If you had a commision based deal at your work and you thought your boss was not giving you the correct commision as per the contract you had would you just roll over and accept it or would you want to go over the figure to make sure you were not being fucked over??
of course you would.
I am not on any one side here really…I lean a little more to jackson I guess but only because I fail to see how jackson is a prick because of this and think people just like to attack the rich, successful guy.
I ask one more time then – why is it so bad for jackson to want an audit done??
if new line would just allow an audit to take place this would have been finished with months ago.
Peter Jackson ate my baby
I find it interesting to note how quick people are to pick one side over another.
Here’s what Silva was talking about, I presume…
http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?category=0&id=39469&type=0
Huh. What a mess…
pj sucks i liked bad taste but hated lord of the rings and new line is in the wright new line will get a better director then pj, if there is sone one else doing the hobbit i will see it.
Wow. How quickly things change. I remember Jackson singing Shaye’s praises during the special features on the extended edition DVDs.
Loved his trilogy, but… I can’t help but wonder if he wouldn’t have filmed MEET THE FEEBLES 2 instead if it weren’t for New Line.
Though I have to agree with Jay here — we don’t know the whole truth. If Jackson was promised X amount of money and New Line slighted him, then he’s entitled to it.
It would be like landing a cushy six figure job — your “big break” — only to find out that your employer has decided to give you $50,000 after you’ve taken the job. Yes, it was a fantasic offer and will do wonders for your career, but is it ungrateful to complain? I mean, you *were* promised twice as much. When pressed, your employer retorts with something like “Well, $50,000 is a respectable salary. You should be happy.”
I think PJ is being a little ridiculous, but Shaye’s attitude came across to me like “Well, we’ve paid him enough.” True — a quarter billion is an absurd amount of money. But if Jackson was promised more, he was promised more and is entitled to it. How much was agreed upon doesn’t change when the studio feels he’s gotten “enough.”
Just playin’ Devil’s Advocate here. ;)
By the way theres already a press release from Wingnut check it out.
It’s a common conception that Hollywood studios cook the books little bit and most people play along, but once in a while someone wants their agreed share and sues. I think New Line is worried that books are open in the rings trilogy because maybe they just don’t owe Wingnut some big chunk of cash, but other people as well. Considering that Rings is their piggy bank that as allowed them to make lousy flops, they must be worried. It’s a shame that people that had the vision to bet the house on Peter LOTR triology, make so many mistakes with other crappy movies.
It is sad. How quickly money can sour what appeared to be from the outside a great working relationship and friendship to boot.
This situation is a shame for both sides. They’re both at fault here.
We should get a petition going so that UWE BOLL directs the Hobbit. That would be AWESOME!
…what…
…c’mon, tell me what’s wrong…
…you don’t agree?
…um guys, what’s with the sledgehammers & baseball bats pointed at my head?
Twas just a joke, seriously!!
..and also,years back before the Rings films came out, would you seriously consider the guy who made The Frighteners would make LOTR? So who’s to that there isnt a director who neccessary hasnt made an epic film that can’t rise to the occassion?
I’m with New Line..Jackson should have talked to the studio about the issue before going to his lawyers. Who wants to work with someone who is sueing them? Honestly! Personally, they should make The Hobbit without him, despite the fact that everybody I know hates it when I say that….but seriously, only one person has made Tolkien’s work into film..it doesnt mean someone else couldn’t have done a better job or cant make The Hobbit..
What I always liked about Robert Shaye was that he is one of the few studio heads that actually directed a picture, he had championed independent filmmaking, and was never afraid to take chances. He rolled the dice on Peter Jackson’s vision.
Despite a lot of promise in his art house pix and the zombie flick Dead Alive, Jackson BOMBED with his first studio picture, ‘The Frighteners”. It takes great courage for any studio head to greenlight what Jackson proposed. If the Wienstiens were not in Jacksn’s corner…I might even go far as to say Shaye may have had a doubt. But he said yes.
Three films, back to back. All nominees for best pic. “Return” getting the Oscar crown. Three +hours. Huge box office. I lost count of how many ‘special collector DVD editons’ have come and gone!
They give Jackson his cut as stated in the contract, no less? Then Jackson SUES them?
Then Jackson wants things HIS way? A very odd request; if he didn’t sue and wanted Hobbit, much less any other pic, NL would give him the gold key and leave him alone to his leisure!
As to *why* The Hobbit needs to be made, there is a simple answer. Regardless if Jackson directs it or not (not) — the people want it. The studio(s) know that, if nothing else. They would love Jackson back. But not if he is giving them a shakedown.
He’s better off making Hal…..
I think Jackson has let all of the fame go to his head. He needs a reality check. A quarter of a billion dollars is paid to him and he’s suing them for cheating him? Is he crazy? How many new directors get that kind of money? Martin Scorsese doesn’t even get that I’ll bet! New Line showed interest in his project when everyone else spat on him. What a tool!
I was never all that impressed with The Hobbit anyway. Why does it need to be made?
Money makes people stupid.
Thank God I am so smrt.
I feel no hate/affection for either side. As far as I am concerned it is “Thanks for the movies guys. See ya”
OK HERE IT I AM STARTING A JACKSON HATING FAN CLUB …..SHAYES IS A HONERY INDUCTEE INTO THE HALL OF FAME….WHO ELSE WANTS IN…..JACKSON IS A DOUCHE BAG I HAVE HEARD HIM SPEAK BEFORE ON MYSPACE AND HE SOUNDS LIKE WHEN HE TALKS LIKE HE IS MR. FRICKEN TOLKEN HIMSELF……OK U OLD MOVIES WHERE TOTALLY WACK SO THERE WAS GORE BUT TO GET A QUARTER OF A BILLION THEN CUT OFF TALKS UNTIL U GET MORE IS DUMB…TO ME THE MOVIES WERE GREAT BUT NOT JUST CAUSE PETER JACKSON DIRECTED IT BUT FOR THE REASON WHY I READ THE BOOK AS A KID, PEOPLE LOVE THE STORY AND FELT THEY NEEDED IT TO BE A GREAT MOVIE…….SO REMEMBER JOIN MY CLICK OF ASSHOLE PJ HATERS………..
I can’t say I blame New Line for their stance here. Jackson has really been irritating of late and just because I like his movies, doesn’t mean I have to like him. I hope they stick to their guns.
I gotta tell ya,
hearing Shaye’s side of this he said/she said stuff kind of makes me want to side with Newline on the matter, but I dont know if we’ll ever know the whole truth.
I always said I’d be fine if a new guy directs The Hobbit.
To be perfectly honest, I dont really care if the Hobbit ever gets made at all. The story in and of itself doesnt do much for me anyway.
I think that I like Robert Shaye.