One ring to rule them, One director to make them all

New Line chief blacklists director.

January 10, 2007 - New Line Cinema honcho Bob Shaye has gone on record blasting Oscar-winning director Peter Jackson and banning the Lord of The Rings helmer from ever working at New Line again, which includes directing The Hobbit.

Jackson has an outstanding lawsuit against New Line over its accounting practices, with the director believing he is owed millions more from the blockbuster franchise. "I do not want to make a movie with somebody who is suing me," Shaye declared to SciFi.com. "It will never happen during my watch."

Shaye continued, "He got a quarter of a billion dollars paid to him so far, justifiably, according to contract, completely right, and this guy, who already has received a quarter of a billion dollars, turns around without wanting to have a discussion with us and sues us and refuses to discuss it unless we just give in to his plan. 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 for the company."

Source: IGN (Complete Article)

Shaye's reasoning is pretty specious here. Jackson has received a quarter of a billion dollars and he should bloody well be happy with it, despite the fact that he may be owed more. Just because PJ's received a fair chunk of change doesn't mean that Shaye can decide that's all PJ deserves. If Jackson is indeed owed more then he should have what he is contracted to get.

Doesn't Shaye realise that for over a three years straight, Jackson has brought in insane amounts of money to New Line as well numerous awards? Quibbling over a few million at the expense of hundreds of millions, not only seems petty but very short sighted and egotistical. It seems Shaye is taking his ball and going home.

If Shaye sticks to his guns, he may as well throw the baby out with the bathwater. By losing Jackson he also loses the resources PJ brings to the project, such as screenwriters Fran Walsh and Phillipa Boyens as well as WETA Digital. These are people who have devoted at least seven years of their lives to the subject matter and now New Line will have to find decent writers and a director who can put their hearts and souls into the project. PJ et al have set the bar very high with their vision of Lord of the Rings, and personally, I don't think anyone but them will be able to clear it.

Finally, GANDALF!!! Ian McKellen said already said that he would be overjoyed to reprise the role of Gandalf the Grey and would not hesitate at the opportunity with Peter Jackson at the helm.

Come on Shaye, put your ego away, be a professional, do not take Peter Jackson's lawsuit personally, think of the big picture, think of the fans and moviesgoers, and finally, in parlance that even you can understand, think of the money.