Zaentz Hobbit

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Producer Saul Zaentz has been quoted by a German fantasy-film website called Ebenwald that Peter Jackson will direct The Hobbit for the Saul Zaentz Company. (I tried finding a mention of Saul Zaentz on the Ebenwald site, but nothing turned up.) Zaentz appparently acquired the rights to one or more works by Rings writer J.R.R. Tolkien in the mid '70s. The Hobbit "will definitely be shot by Peter Jackson," Zaentz has apparently said. "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. With us, in contrast, he knows that he will be paid fairly and artistically supported without reservation."

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Posted by Jeffrey Wells on November 26, 2006 at 7:09 PM

comment #1

Grabthar says ...

The statement was made in an interview Saul Zaentz gave to the German movie magazine "Cinema". It was made prior to the announcement by Peter Jackson though.

Posted by Grabthar at November 27, 2006 2:02 AM

comment #2

thatrader says ...

Way to post old news fast Jeff. Anything else you want to show us at the height of their phenomena? Any 6 month old Youtube links you feel like showing us again?

Posted by thatrader at November 27, 2006 3:52 AM

comment #3

lesterg says ...

I wouldn't get too excited about this. Zaentz is probably just referring to a reversionary rights clause in the contract (meaning there's a set period of time for the studios to greenlight the project).

All New Line and MGM need to do is move the film into production prior to the experiation of the agreement. That means chances of a half-assed/rush job of The Hobbit are HIGH.

Posted by lesterg at November 27, 2006 6:06 AM

comment #4

Tedward says ...

It just goes to show you that Peter Jackson is full of shit! In the press statement (or as I like to call it: The Bullshit rally cry for fan sympathy) he made previously, he said he didn't know that the rights to New Line were for a limited time-window only.
Whatever power-play he's fighting, I hope he loses, just because of the mass hypocrisy he's shown to the fans by outright lying to us.

Posted by Tedward at November 27, 2006 8:05 AM

comment #5