The war between New Line and Peter Jackson has escalated once again. The co-chairman of New Line Bob Shaye has said that Peter Jackson will never be allowed to make a film with New Line while he is in charge.
"It will never happen during my watch," Shaye said of Jackson directing "The Hobbit" along with an "LOTR" prequel. New Line and MGM own the rights to both films.
Shaye's words are a more explicit snub to Jackson than occurred last November, when Jackson posted a letter to his fans on the "LOTR" fan site Theonering.net saying that New Line had alerted him that they were proceeding to make "The Hobbit" without him.
The severing of ties was prompted by Jackson's declared refusal to make a movie with New Line until his ongoing lawsuit is settled. (Suit was filed in August 2005 after accounting issues were raised in a partial audit of the first "LOTR" film.) New Line told Jackson that because the studio's option to the property, obtained from Saul Zaentz, was set to expire, New Line would proceed sans Jackson.
People close to the situation say the lawsuit is nowhere near being settled.
Shaye's attack was more acerbic, and definitive, than simply walking away from the table.
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Jackson got "a quarter of a billion dollars paid to him so far, justifiably, according to contract, completely right, and this guy ... turns around without wanting to have a discussion with us and sues us and refused to discuss it unless we just give in to his plan," Shaye said. "I don't want to work with that guy anymore. Why would I? So the answer is, he will never make any movie with New Line Cinema again while I'm still working at the company."
Shaye also went on to say that he was "offended" that Jackson, as well as several "LOTR" thesps ("because, I'm guessing, of Peter's complaint") would not participate in a video celebrating New Line's 40th anniversary.
On Wednesday, Jackson issued a statement in response to Shaye's outburst, saying, "It is regrettable that Bob has chosen to make (the argument) personal. I have always had the highest respect and affection for Bob and other senior management at New Line and continue to do so."
Jackson addressed the suit by saying: "Contrary to recent comments made by Bob Shaye, we attempted to discuss the issues raised by the 'Fellowship' audit with New Line for over a year, but the studio was and continues to be completely uncooperative. This has compelled us to file a lawsuit to pursue our contractual rights under the law. Nobody likes legal action, but the studio left us with no alternative."
Meanwhile, MGM let stand its statement that it would love to distribute a movie by Peter Jackson (MGM owns the distribution rights). This is beyond annoying. Settle the blasted lawsuit and make The Hobbit.
