A little under a month ago a petition and open letter to MGM was put together by the good folks over at The One Ring (A Lord of the Rings fan site) in response to the news that they were finally going to be moving ahead with “The Hobbit”. News that we’ve all been waiting to hear ever since the end credits on Return of the King rolled.
So what was this petition all about? Well… it was a petition asking for a number of things, but at the top of the pile was that they get Peter Jackson back to direct. To quote the open letter:
So first things first, would somebody please call Peter Jackson? Now! Today! New Line and PJ still have this sticky lawsuit left over from the LOTR films so we are a bit concerned. Jackson has made it very clear, over and over, even again this week, that he has not yet been invited to the table to have Hobbit discussions. Let the lawyers handle the lawsuit and please, please, get the creative folks together immediately.
They then went on to talk about casting:
It goes without saying that Sir Ian McKellen must return as Gandalf and our Gollum must be Andy Serkis, without a doubt. Casting for Elrond should also be finished and if I were producing I would ask Orlando Bloom to walk through the screen during the battle of five armies.
Let me say this right up front so there is no misunderstanding:
IF I WERE IN CONTROL OF THE UNIVERSE, I WOULD GET PETER JACKSON BACK TO DIRECT THE HOBBIT AND GET IAN MCKELLEN BACK AS GANDALF. There, are we clear on that point? I loved the job both of them did with the Lord of the Rings films and would LOVE to see them both back. HOWEVER…
I find the whole idea of thinking any casting or director decision “MUST” be any one person, who already happend to play the role or direct a film, a bit silly. Peter Jackson did a magnificent job with LOTR… but how are we to know if someone else might not have done an even better job? We don’t know. Ian McKellen was nothing short of fantastic as Gandalf… but how are we to know that another actor wouldn’t have done an even better job? We don’t know.
All of that is to say that I would LOVE IT if they were both back… but folks… it’s not the end of the world if another director takes the helm for The Hobbit or if another actor puts on the grey robe as Gandalf. Who knows… the new people might even do a better job?
The response from MGM came in, and in it they confirmed they have talked to Jackson’s people:
“Peter Jackson’s phenomenal success with The Lord of the Rings trilogy makes him the first and most ideal choice for directing The Hobbit,” said MGM COO Rick Sands. “MGM would be thrilled to collaborate with the Academy Award-winning director on this MGM New Line Cinema production. And, I’m sure to the delight of the 50,000 filmgoers who have petitioned us in recent weeks, demanding we bring this film to fruition, we have had a few initial conversations about the project with Mr. Jackson’s representatives.”
All of that to say some phone calls were made, but no one has actually talked to Jackson himself yet.
If I were a betting man (which I”m not) I’d bet 3 to 1 that Peter Jackson WILL NOT be back to direct The Hobbit. I wish he would, but I just don’t think it’s going to happen (I’d love it if I were wrong on this one). I guess we’ll just wait and see how it all pans out. (Via)
