Peter Jackson, New Line and MGM to Produce The Hobbit and Its Sequel

[and-justice-for-all]

--I am so excited about this I could shit myself!!!!

Academy Award-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson; Harry Sloan, Chairman and CEO, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, Bob Shaye and Michael Lynne, Co-Chairmen and Co-CEOs of New Line Cinema have jointly announced that they have entered into the following series of agreements:

- MGM and New Line will co-finance and co-distribute two films, The Hobbit and a sequel to The Hobbit. New Line will distribute in North America and MGM will distribute internationally.

- Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh will serve as Executive Producers of two films based on The Hobbit. New Line will manage the production of the films, which will be shot simultaneously.

- Peter Jackson and New Line have settled all litigation relating to the Lord of the Rings (LOTR) Trilogy.

Said Peter Jackson, "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, 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."

"Peter Jackson has proven himself as the filmmaker who can bring the extraordinary imagination of Tolkien to life and we full heartedly agree with the fans worldwide who know he should be making The Hobbit," said Sloan, MGM's Chairman and CEO. "Now that we are all in agreement on The Hobbit, we can focus on assembling the production team that will capture this phenomenal tale on film."

Bob Shaye, New Line Co-Chairman and Co-CEO comments, "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. 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."

"Peter is a visionary filmmaker, and he broke new ground with The Lord of the Rings," notes Michael Lynne, New Line Co-Chairman and Co-CEO. "We're delighted he's back for The Hobbit films and that the Tolkien saga will continue with his imprint. We greatly appreciate the efforts of Harry Sloan, who has been instrumental in helping us reach our new accord."

The two Hobbit films -- The Hobbit and its sequel -- are scheduled to be shot simultaneously, with pre-production beginning as soon as possible. Principal photography is tentatively set for a 2009 start, with the intention of The Hobbit release slated for 2010 and its sequel the following year, in 2011.

The Oscar-winning, critically-acclaimed LOTR Trilogy grossed nearly $3 billion worldwide at the box-office. In 2003, The Lord Of The Rings: The Return of The King swept the Academy Awards, winning all of the eleven categories in which it was nominated, including Best Picture -- the first ever Best Picture win for a fantasy film. The Trilogy's production was also unprecedented at the time.

For more information about The Hobbit films, visit www.TheHobbitBlog.com.

http://www.movieweb.com/news/14/25214.php

[phantom power]

1. What is the "sequel?" Is he doing it in two parts?

[Touchdown]

2. Yes. Who knows where he'll split the story.

I imagine a cliffhanger. Knowing Jackson's penchant for extended dinosaur/giant ape fights on vines, and lack of interest for an editing machine, I'm thankful. I'd expect a 4 hour film if it was just one.:wow:

Too bad we have to wait 'til the second to see the duel with Smaug.

[Orrex]

3. I read somewhere...

That the second film will cover the period between the end of The HObbit and the start of Fellowship, drawn from Tolkien's ancilliary writings, one supposes.

By the way--happy birthday to Tolkien! Eleventy-six, if I've counted correctly.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

4. I hope Jackson's got creative control.

Considering the way New Line butchered the Golden Compass.

[semillama]

5. I wouldn't consider it butchered.

They left a lot of stuff out, but it was the stuff you'd expect to be left out when translating a book into a two-hour film. Heck, even Jackson did the same thing with the ending of Two Towers as they did with Golden Compass.

I thought it was actually fairly faithful to the book, with the changes being the ones you'd expect for a movie that's aimed at a wide audience.

Not the best fantasy film out there, but it was a good deal of fun. Does suffer from the inevitable "Not as good as the book" but what movie is?

[tigereye]

6. this is very good news! I am so glad they resolved things.

[jojo54]

7. It's about frigging time they settled their differences!!!

IMO, Jackson was right in bitching a fit. Anyway, that's in the past and things are looking up!!

It just sucks that we have to wait 2 years.