With all the fuss about Peter Jackson allegedly delaying the Lord of the Rings prequel, The Hobbit, his wacky dancing around that movie that must not be named, and his legal conflict with New Line over profit shares on Rings, news is scattering the internet that New Line wants Jackson to Direct the Hobbit and is trying to negotiate a deal.
ComingSoon.net says:
Eager to move ahead with “The Hobbit,” New Line has quietly been trying to mend fences with “Rings” filmmaker Peter Jackson, who has sued the company over his share of profits from the first “Rings” films. When asked if it was true that company insiders had been in talks with Jackson’s reps, Shaye replied, “Yes, that’s a fair statement. Notwithstanding our personal quarrels, I really respect and admire Peter and would love for him to be creatively involved in some way in ‘The Hobbit.'”
Now let’s hold the phone for a moment. Shaye admitted he would love to have Jackson involved “somehow”. When asked if New Line was in contact with Jackson’s reps, he states that this is true statement.
Wouldn’t you have to be in talks with the guy who is SUING YOU???
It would be wise to “mend fences” with the guy you have pissed off to the point of legal action. But then he makes a statement that he has positive feelings about Jackson and some people are screaming JACKSON TO DIRECT HOBBIT!! I think that is reading too much into the statements just yet.
Shaye says he respects Peter (I’m presuming he means artistically) and its undeniable that in his relatively short career he as made some splashes. But he didn’t say specifically he would get Jackson to direct. Perhaps Shaye simply will have him on as a creative consultant to keep the Hobbit in line with the feel and style that made the Lord of the Rings a successful adaptation.
Bottom line is that if Jackson does return to Middle Earth and direct the Hobbit, I won’t be surprised, and I am sure I will enjoy the movie. But I am not ready to get excited about Hobbit naming any director just yet.
I just hope it’s soon.
