Top > Entertainment > 2006 > December > 2006-12-03

Peter Jackson Fans Demand that the Director be Reinstated

Nobody in the entertainment world could seriously imagine a ?Rings? film being directed by anyone else but the talented New Zealand director, Peter Jackson. However, the director?s reins for the new movie in the series, ?The Hobbitt?, may be handed over to someone else by New Line movie studio, following a dispute between Jackson and the company over monetary matters.

?Lord of the Rings? fans are up in arms over a decision taken by New Line to seek another director for ?The Hobbitt? as well as another movie in the sequel. Peter Jackson emailed a ?Rings? fan site to tell them that New Line had called him to say that due to time restraints, they were moving ahead with the planning of the movie ? and those plans did not include Jackson. New Line and Jackson are disputing over profits due to the director from the first ?Lord of the Rings? movie, ?The Fellowship of the Ring?.

Online petitions have been circulating the internet, demanding that Jackson be reinstated as the movies? director. Thousands have already signed these petitions which contain sharp-worded messages, such as: ?New Line has decided to blackmail Jackson by forcing him to settle the lawsuit out of court as a prerequisite to making the movie. Now, fans want a "Hobbit" movie. But not a cold-blooded, rushed "Hobbit" movie spawned by greed and an unwillingness to cooperate for the good of the fans. We need to STOP "The Hobbit" movie from being made under these circumstances?? Fans are hoping that a threat of a consumer boycott will cause New Line to rethink their decision.