Jackson to Helm Hobbit

His Rings lawsuit resolved, Jackson embarks on prequel
By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff
Posted Dec 18, 2007 5:46 PM CST
Jackson to Helm Hobbit
Director Peter Jackson arrives at the 63rd annual Golden Globe Awards, in this Jan. 16, 2006, file photo in Beverly Hills, Calif. Jackson and New Line Cinema have reached agreement to make J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Hobbit," a planned prequel to the blockbuster trilogy "The Lord of the Rings," a spokesman...   (Associated Press)

Peter Jackson has resolved his lawsuit with New Line and plans to helm two much-hyped Hobbit films, the first due out in 2010, according to an Entertainment Weekly interview with MGM chief Harry Sloan. Jackson will co-write and may direct one or both films—unless he and New Line's Bob Shaye pick someone else. "I don’t want to tell you what’s legally in the contract, but we wouldn’t" hire an outside director.

The Hollywood scribe strike must be settled before Jackson can team up with screenwriters, Sloan said, and a potential actors' walkout could also slow the projects. Sloan ducked naming possible stars, but admitted that Jackson has stayed in touch with Lord of the Rings troupers. "I think we’d be hopeful that some would reappear," Sloan said. (More Peter Jackson stories.)

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