Peter Jackson to make The Hobbit as feud settled
Wednesday Dec 19 06:02 AEDT
Oscar-winning Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson has settled a bitter feud with Hollywood studio New Line and will make two films based on Tolkien's The Hobbit, a statement said Tuesday.
The groundbreaking New Zealand director, whose trio of Lord of the Rings fantasy films have grossed more than three billion dollars since 2001, had ruled himself out of a return to Middle Earth earlier this year.
Jackson's decision came after he threatened to sue New Line in a row over royalties from the Lord of the Rings, leading studio chief Bob Shaye to declare that the New Zealander would "never" make The Hobbit.
However a joint statement from Jackson, New Line, and MGM on Tuesday said the legal feud had been settled and that Jackson and professional partner Fran Walsh would serve as executive producers on the two films.
As with the Lord of the Rings, the movies will be shot simultaneously before being released separately. Principal photography was likely to begin in 2009 before the release of the films in 2010 and 2011.
"I'm very pleased that we've been able to put our differences behind us, so that we may begin a new chapter with our old friends at New Line," Jackson said. "We are delighted to continue our journey through Middle Earth."
New Line co-chairman and co-chief Shaye expressed delight that Jackson and Walsh will be overseeing The Hobbit.
"We are very pleased we have been able to resolve our differences, and that Peter and Fran will be actively and creatively involved with The Hobbit movies," Shaye said.
"We know they will bring the same passion, care and talent to these films that they so ably accomplished with The Lord of the Rings Trilogy."
Jackson's three-part adaptation of the The Lord of the Rings made history when its final instalment "The Return of the King" won the best picture Oscar in 2004, the first time ever that a fantasy film won the award.
The Return of the King won a total of 11 Oscars, including best director for Jackson.