The Hobbit Trilogy Discussion Thread

[mjbethancourt]

Originally Posted by Josh

I think this was part of the rush to get PJ on board with the Hobbit. This was reported as a sure thing last week, but all lines have gone silent. I wonder where things broke down.

The whole situation is infuriating. Now it looks like the biggest project of the next decade is being scrapped, because the studio that owns half of the rights can't get their crap together.

If I were in Jackson's shoes, I would look into suing MGM for damages incurred through incompetent, procrastinatory mishandling of the debt situation.

[Grand Bob]

Originally Posted by Josh

I think this was part of the rush to get PJ on board with the Hobbit. This was reported as a sure thing last week, but all lines have gone silent. I wonder where things broke down.

With Jackson at the helm, the project finally has a chance of getting off the ground quickly. I'm sure he has plenty of funding options (he could easily fund it himself) and get the project organized with the right people doing the right things. It's too bad it took this long (and under these circumstances) to happen.

[radagast]

What's the latest?

[Walts Ghost]

No new info radagast. Same as we heard earlier this week unfortunately

[Slackr89]

im tired of this little charade thats going on, just force Jackson to do it and all will be well

[Member-115369]

Originally Posted by Slackr89

im tired of this little charade thats going on, just force Jackson to do it and all will be well

Problem is with funding and MGM, not Jackson needing forced to do it.

It's probably not getting made unless they find a way to get MGM to sell their half of the rights.

[mjbethancourt]

Originally Posted by pj_campbell

No new info radagast. Same as we heard earlier this week unfortunately

At this stage, no news means bad news.

Originally Posted by dmaul1114

Problem is with funding and MGM, not Jackson needing forced to do it.

It's probably not getting made unless they find a way to get MGM to sell their half of the rights.

Sadly, that is correct. The scenario of Jackson dropping his other major projects to rescue this one with his genius and bags of money is a desperate, deus ex machina pipe-dream.

I don't think this movie is getting made.

[Diesel]

As you know, Guillermo del Toro recently stepped down from directing the big screen adaptation of The Hobbit, leaving the project in complete limbo. Warner Bros has been searching for a replacement, talking to directors David Yates (Harry Potter), David Dobkin (Wedding Crashers, Fred Claus), and Brett Ratner about the job, but rumor had it that Warner Bros and MGM were still trying to talk Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson to return to the series to helm the two prequels.

It was later reported that Jackson was in fact negotiating a deal to direct the two halves himself, and that the filmmaker has been busy extracting himself from other obligations. But Jackson using a fake pen name, has downplayed the development to AICN. And the latest we’ve heard is that the production delay could cost the film some prominent actors such as Sir Ian McKellen. But now we have learned that Jackson has been quietly meeting with actors in Los Angeles this week about the upcoming Lord of the Rings prequel.

The news comes from HeatVision, who claims that Jackson’s deal to direct the two Hobbit films is almost done, but they are waiting on the MGM financial situation to clear up before any decisions can be made.Warner Bros is said to be “furiously negotiating with MGM, which is being steered by a committee of creditors and financial stakeholders.” Jackson’s Hobbit casting trip also apparently included stops in New York and the U.K.

Jackson co-wrote the scripts, is already on board as a producer, and he could shoot both films in his New Zealand backyard. But Warner Bros will need MGM to sign-off on production before anything can happen.


Read more: Peter Jackson Secretly Meeting With Actors For The Hobbit? | /Film http://www.slashfilm.com/2010/07/13/...#ixzz0tcRFmq3x

Source

[Blu-Benny]

whatever they do they def. need to keep sir ian around...there is no other gandalf!!!

[tommyboy81]

but rumor had it that warner bros and mgm were still trying to talk lord of the rings director peter jackson to return to the series to helm the two prequels.

really!?!

[kjacobs03]

Me thinks it's about time for WB to sue MGM for the rights.

[vegeta88]

Originally Posted by Blu-Benny

whatever they do they def. need to keep sir ian around...there is no other gandalf!!!

There can only be one Gandalf... and he does not share power!

Glad to see that things are happening. I was worried it wouldn't get made. I'm still worried, just less so.

[mjbethancourt]

Originally Posted by kjacobs03

Me thinks it's about time for WB to sue MGM for the rights.

Agree... there are actual, measurable financial damages being done to the parties involved, because of incompetent management of the property by MGM. Every day that "pre-production" continues without a greenlight, money is spent and largely wasted. I think MGM needs to have a fire lit under them by being confronted with the very real potential of being held liable for the runaway cost of holding up production.

[TheWildWhelk]

The fact that Peter Jackson has started casting is an indication that some kind of resolution is on the table: Warner will finance the film on it's own and simply pay MGM a percentage of box office reciepts, possibly 20-30% once the film is made. MGM get's no gross points, based on zero investment on the film, and is last in line to recieve finance from Blu Ray and DVD sales in the long run.

This is based on the fact that MGM simply CANNOT invest in this film in any shape or form. The only thing they can do is pass an agreement to Warner stating that as Distributor for the film they will be in a position to actually distribute by the time the 2012 release date arrives.

[mjbethancourt]

Originally Posted by SonOfTorah

The fact that Peter Jackson has started casting is an indication that some kind of resolution is on the table

I don't know... Jackson has been "meeting with actors" for many months now. I don't know that it's anything to get excited about.

The only thing they can do is pass an agreement to Warner stating that as Distributor for the film they will be in a position to actually distribute by the time the 2012 release date arrives.

I don't think they are in a position to do any such thing right now. That's the holdup.

[TheWildWhelk]

Originally Posted by mjbethancourt

I don't think they are in a position to do any such thing right now. That's the holdup.

That's not quite what i was saying. Provided that MGM are in condition to distribute in 27 months time, more than 2 years away, then Warner can get production underway, with zero investment from MGM. I don't think there was ever any question of MGM investing in The Hobbit, they were solely distributors.

[mjbethancourt]

Originally Posted by SonOfTorah

That's not quite what i was saying. Provided that MGM are in condition to distribute in 27 months time, more than 2 years away, then Warner can get production underway, with zero investment from MGM. I don't think there was ever any question of MGM investing in The Hobbit, they were solely distributors.

There may not even BE an MGM in 27 months, so I don't see how they can make an assurance that they will be set to distribute by then.

Distribution is an investment. Depending on how wide the release is, and what the production budget is, distribution can end up being more expensive than production. I think in this particular venture, MGM was only covering overseas distribution, with Warner covering North American distribution.

MGM just needs to get bought out of 'The Hobbit' before it is too late... if it isn't already.

[TheWildWhelk]

It's been suggested that the powers at Spyglass will turn MGM into a Production Only studio so that they can't get into debt again. MGM could look at a cost of say no more than $40m for prints and distribution of The Hobbit in europe, though i would rather entrust it to the people at Entertainment In Video, who did the same for The Lord Of The Rings.

Regardless, i think The Hobbit will happen.

[Darkhawk9587]

I hope that in talking with the actors, this movie moves forward soon. Hopefully someone will swoop in and buy up MGM so this can be made!

[sfmarine]

Originally Posted by Darkhawk9587

I hope that in talking with the actors, this movie moves forward soon. Hopefully someone will swoop in and buy up MGM so this can be made!

I completely agree..something needs to be done about it so these films can be made for the fans.