LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Where is Frodo when you need him?

 

Director Peter Jackson has been told he will not be hired to direct a movie based on J.R.R. Tolkien novel "The Hobbit", despite the nearly $3 billion (1.6 billion pound) global box office success of his "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, according to a letter Jackson wrote to fan site TheOneRing.net.

 

The trilogy of movies is based on Tolkien's fantastic tale of an epic war among wizards, sorcerers, elves, villainous orcs and friendly little hobbits of whom the novel's hero, Frodo, is one. It is Frodo who eventually saves the day. "The Hobbit" is a fairy tale-like story that Tolkien wrote before the "Rings" trilogy.

In Jackson's letter, which was posted on the Web site late on Sunday, the director said last week a top executive with Los Angeles-based New Line Cinema called him to say the studio was moving ahead on "The Hobbit" movie without Jackson.

 

"This was a courtesy call to let us know that the studio was now actively looking to hire another filmmaker," Jackson wrote.

 

A spokesman for New Line declined to comment citing company policy, and a Los Angeles representative for New Zealand-based Jackson was not immediately available.

 

Chris Pirrotta, co-founder of TheOneRing.net, said the fan site has a long-running relationship with Jackson. Since posting the letter, he said the site has received some 100,000 visitors, far above the more normal 15,000 per day.

 

"They are very upset," Pirrotta told Reuters. "We are seeing calls for everything from letter writing campaigns to a boycott of the studio."

 

New Line and Jackson's production company, Wingnut Films, are currently embroiled in a lawsuit over income from 2001's "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring", which is the first film in the trilogy.

 

In his letter, Jackson said he and his producing partners have refused to discuss a "Hobbit" film until the lawsuit is settled, and he added that New Line informed him the studio had limited time to make the film so it must move on.

 

"Given that New Line are committed to this course of action, we felt at the very least, we owed you, the fans, a straightforward account of events as they have unfolded for us," Jackson wrote.

 

The other two films in the trilogy are 2002's "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers" and 2003's final instalment, "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King", which earned 11 Oscars including best film and best director.

 

New Line is a unit of New York-based media company Time Warner Inc.

 

...a massive mistake, I reckon... there's no other books I can think of that've been so vividly and accurately transferred to the cinema screens as Jackson's LOTR trilogy.... :(

 

What the hell are they thinking...??? Do they honestly believe that there is a better director than Jackson to adapt "The Hobbit"...? As usual the short-sightedness of a bunch of producers is more or less going to ensure audiences get a pretty half-hearted film at the end of it.....

:( I was really hoping him to make that movie ... He would be the best director for that.

It's a pity.

Jackson is such a genius with J.R.R. Tolkien's work.

What the hell are they thinking...??? Do they honestly believe that there is a better director than Jackson to adapt "The Hobbit"...?

 

there probably is an as good director for the project. i suppose anyone who was watching braindead ( for thread) or bad taste for the first time at the time, might have just thought well he does that, thats the films he can do.

 

http://www.buzzjack.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=23105&st=

 

 

As usual the short-sightedness of a bunch of producers is more or less going to ensure audiences get a pretty half-hearted film at the end of it.....

 

well its all about studio politics innit?

Excuse me for being a pedant, but the hobbit in The Hobbit is Bilbo not Frodo.

Peter Jackson will direct The Hobbit movie, according to a producer whose company will soon own rights to the book.

 

The Lord of the Rings director said last week that bosses at New Line Cinema had told him he was "no longer needed" for the prequel and another possible project in the set.

 

But producer Saul Saentz, maker of One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest, told The Sun that New Line's contract would soon fall to him, as he owns the screen rights to Tolkien Enterprises.

 

“[The Hobbit] will definitely be shot by Peter Jackson," he declared. “Next year, The Hobbit rights will fall back to my company.

 

“I suppose that Peter will wait because he knows that he will make the best deal with us. And he is fed up with the studios.

 

“To get his profit share on the Rings trilogy, he had to sue New Line," he continued. "With us, he knows that he will be paid fairly and artistically supported without reservation.”