'Hobbitt,' 'Rings' Prequel, in the Works

[Khephra]

NEW YORK -- Peter Jackson won't be returning to the Shire any time soon. The Oscar-winning director is planning to film "The Hobbit," the prequel to "The Lord of the Rings," trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien, but two studios must first fight over legal rights to the film.

Jackson said New Line Cinema has the rights to make the movie, but MGM has the rights to distribute it.

"I guess MGM's lawyers and New Line's lawyers are going to have a huge amount of fun over the next few years trying to work it all out," he told reporters recently in Los Angeles, according to AP Radio. "I'm obviously busy for a couple of years on 'King Kong' so those lawyers can just go at it for a long time."

snip.......

"I'd want Ian McKellen to be back as Gandalf, I'd want it to feel like it was part of the same mythology that we've done with 'Lord of the Rings,'" Jackson said.

more.............

http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/news/wire/sns-ap-people-peter-jackson,0,3749895.story?coll=sns-ap-entertainment-headlines

[saltpoint]

1. Exciting news.

Count me in on the first round of tickets.

[gorrister]

2. yes it is exciting,,,

but if they don't start filming it soon, I'm afraid Ian Holm may be a little too old to play Bilbo. I know in Fellowship when they show him find the Ring in Gollum's cave, they said they actually had to pull his skin back to get out the wrinkles in his face, but that scene was less than a minute. Not sure how they would do it for an entire film.

If Jackson, McKellan, and Holm aren't involved, I'm not sure how good it will be.

[Khephra]

5. Ian Holm is already too old to play Bilbo

Peter will have to find someone much younger for that roll. Now, as has been said here before, Ian has been aging well, and he could still easily play Gandalf in a few years.

[gorrister]

6. yeah, you're right

I wonder who they'll get, then. Ian Holm is a tough act to follow.

[kodi]

12. toby macguire.. cause he looks a lot like elijah woods' frodo

.

[regnaD kciN]

13. Not to mention...

...that Holm is in poor health. He's been fighting cancer for a couple of years. Sad to say, I suspect that those closing moments in LotR may likely be the last time he appears on screen.

:-(

[brokensymmetry]

3. Great news!

Thanks for the information!

[jus_the_facts]

4. In my opinion....he shoulda made 'The Hobbit' first....

...I think it'd have been better if they'd kept the story in it's original sequence....for those who've not read the books...they'd have understood better how the ring came to be in Bilbo's possession and all...:shrug:

[Elidor]

7. Jackson originally had no interest in doing The Hobbit

He spoke as if he couldn't be bothered to consider it, as if it wasn't worthy of his attention.

And now that he's filthy rich and can make whatever movie he wants...he's remaking Kong? I just don't get it.

The Hobbit is one of the best children's tales ever written. I still reread it periodically, and even though I'm 38 it never gets stale for me. I like it better than LOTR. Perhaps I'll go read it this afternoon...

[Khephra]

8. King Kong was going to be his film before he did Rings

But it fell through. It's one of his dream projects, and now that he has clout, he can get it made.

[Elidor]

10. He dreamt of doing Kong?

I still don't get it. But I guess it resonates with him. It never did all that much for me.

[Bridget Burke]

11. He may need a break from Middle Earth

He devoted all his energy to the project for several years; apparently he was fairly exhausted towards the end.

Let him make his King Kong--it will be a good change of pace. Afterwards, the rights for The Hobbit will probably be straightened out--and he'll be ready to go back to Middle Earth for a somewhat shorter, not quite so intense visit.

[gmoney]

9. There's still some money on the table...

more product, plase.