Peter Jackson vs. New Line

New Line's option to make The Hobbit expires in 2009; maybe they don't think Peter Jackson can get the movie made in time. The company is also already turning its attention to another mega-budgeted fantasy franchise, the His Dark Materials trilogy. But the studio's motivations became more clear in January, when New Line co-CEO Robert Shaye couldn't refrain from a retort.

"I do not want to make a movie with somebody who is suing me. It will never happen during my watch," he said, and then referred to Jackson as "misinformed" and "myopic." [More]