It seems that Peter Jackson isn’t the only person New Line Cinema failed to give a proper cut of profits.
The film studio is now being sued by the estate of the late J.R.R. Tolkien, the author of “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy, reports USA Today.
The Tolkien Trust and HarperCollins, who originally printed the books, filed the lawsuit Monday. The suit claims that 7.5% of the gross receipts from the films is still owed to the estate and other plaintiffs. With the films bringing in billions of dollars, that’s a huge chunk of change.
It took Jackson years of fighting with New Line before he got the money that was owed to him by New Line, but their relationship has been repaired. Jackson will the be producer on “The Hobbit,” also by Tolkien. No word yet on whether this new lawsuit will affect production.
Guillermo Del Toro may have won a ticket to Middle Earth.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, the filmmaker is in talks to take the reigns from Peter Jackson and direct “The Hobbit.” The J.R.R. Tolkien novel will reportedly be split into two films, with Jackson producing.
Del Toro has already built a strong following in the science fiction and fantasy crowd, with the Oscar-nominated “Pan’s Labyrinth” and cult hit “Hellboy.”
Jackson, who co-wrote and directed the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy, is already committed to several other projects, so he will not be able to write the “Hobbit” script. The process of picking a writer will be fast-tracked once the Writer’s Guild of America strike has been resolved.
In the meantime, Del Toro already has a full plate with 12 projects in various stages of development.
Peter Jackson will get to travel back to Middle Earth for “The Hobbit” and its sequel after all.
The Oscar-winning director has settled his issues with New Line Cinema, which were preventing him from joining the project. New Line owed him considerable profits from the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy, and there was a public falling out that had many fans outraged.
Now that the partnership is back on, Peter Jackson and collaborator Fran Walsh will indeed be on the team as the producers, according to the press release out today. Jackson stated, “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. ‘The Lord of the Rings’ is a legacy we proudly share with Bob and Michael (the New Line CEOs), and together, we share that legacy with millions of loyal fans all over the world. We are delighted to continue our journey through Middle Earth. I also want to thank Harry Sloan and our new friends at MGM for helping us find the common ground necessary to continue that journey.”
No official word has been released on who will direct. Sam Raimi was rumoured to have the job, and said he would refuse if Jackson was not producing.
Head of film studio New Line BOB SHAYE insists THE LORD OF THE RINGS Oscar winner PETER JACKSON will never be allowed to direct THE HOBBIT while he is at the company.
Jackson and his production company Wingnut Films are currently embroiled in a legal dispute with New Line Cinema over royalties from The Lord Of The Rings trilogy. And the lawsuit has enraged the film studio so much they won’t allow the Jackson a chance to the upcoming fantasy prequel.
He fumes, “He’s got a quarter of a billion dollars paid to him so far, justifiably, according to contract, completely right.
“And this guy… 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 any more. Why would I? So the answer is he will never make any movie with New Line Cinema again while I’m still working at the company.”
Lord of the Ring stars SIR IAN McKELLEN and ELIJAH WOOD have already expressed their disappointment at the news.
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