NOT GOOD: New Line's Bob Shaye on PJ

[pixletwin]

For only a second post Gideon, you speak 17,000 posts worth of wisdom.

 

[The Josh]

That is perfectly said.

 

[gideon]

Todays NY Times has an interview with New LIne honcho Robert Shaye. He talks about lots of different things but here is the important stuff about THE HOBBIT and Peter Jackson.

One thing that has not been blunted by illness is Mr. Shaye’s temper, which flared last year when he was asked about a lawsuit filed by Mr. Jackson over profits from “The Lord of the Rings.”

Mr. Shaye, criticizing what he called Mr. Jackson’s “arrogance” and calling the director “myopic,” told Sci-Fi Wire: “I don’t care about Peter Jackson anymore.” He added, “He wants to have another $100 million or $50 million, whatever he’s suing us for. He doesn’t want to sit down and talk about it. He thinks that we owe him something after we’ve paid him over a quarter of a billion dollars.”

Asked about the remarks last week, Mr. Shaye said that he made the statement “in a moment of emotion” but did not regret it. “I regret losing a friend,” he said, as he showed a visitor a Gandalf sword that Mr. Jackson had sent him as a gift, before the lawsuit.

A representative for Mr. Jackson declined to comment.

But the ill will has held up plans to make “The Hobbit.” Without specifically saying he would not make the film with Mr. Jackson, Mr. Shaye made it plain that he had no interest in working with difficult filmmakers. “Some directors are impossible,” he said. “Are there a few people I wouldn’t work with? Yes, but I won’t name names.”

And he would not comment on reports in the news media that the “Spider-Man” director Sam Raimi had been asked to direct “The Hobbit.” He said, however, that although there was no workable script yet for the film, he intended to release it in 2009.

The interview also points out that Shaye was near death recently, spent a month in the hospital and is now a changed man. I guess near-death makes you angry and vengeful. Funny, I always thought it had the opposite effect.

 

[darthviper107]

Maybe we'll get lucky and he'll have a relapse. I'm not completely opposed to Raimi, but I'd still like to have Peter.

And he seems kind of oblivious to that everyone else isn't finished with PJ yet and are still trying to fix the situation.

 

[The Josh]

I find it intereting to read that he plans to release it in 2009 when supposedly the rights revert back to SZ this year.

 

[woodsy]

I find it intereting to read that he plans to release it in 2009 when supposedly the rights revert back to SZ this year.

The are so many stories and rumours out there about the movie, the director, the rights etc...who knows what the real truth is?? Seems like the boatload of lawyer's involved on all sides of this issue are the only one's who really know what's going on, and they aren't talking.

 

[The Josh]

The are so many stories and rumours out there about the movie, the director, the rights etc...who knows what the real truth is?? Seems like the boatload of lawyer's involved on all sides of this issue are the only one's who really know what's going on, and they aren't talking.

It does appear that way. I'm to the point of I don't want it made.

 

[darthviper107]

Oh come on, we can't go through life with the only adaptation of The Hobbit being the horrible 1977 cartoon version.

 

[The Josh]

Oh come on, we can't go through life with the only adaptation of The Hobbit being the horrible 1977 cartoon version.

Yes, we can. I'd rather nobody to it at this point because I think the movie is going the way of something that will be utter crap.

 

[woodsy]

I think the movie is going the way of something that will be utter crap.

It certainly has the potential to meet your expectations. Even if it turns out to be a great movie, which certainly seems unlikely at this point, I still won't pay to see it if PJ is not involved. I refuse to support New Line Cinema, and put money in their pockets.

 

[Oxfordian]

I would rather the film is made; that it is made in the style of the LOTR; that it is directed well with a good adaptation from the novel, beefing up to a more adult audience; that members of the cast of LOTR reprise their respective roles; that Weta are involved; that it is filmed in NZ and that the Hobbit sequel - the so called 'link' film to LOTR - is completed also. That is my hope and I have not read anything that could jeapordise that at present. Whether PJ directs is a difficult one - one that cannot be answered by us barrack room debaters but could be influenced nevertheless.

To give up hope due to the rumour mill is certainly not the way to go. I for one, am determined to continue thinking positive, otherwise I simply wouldn't be able to sleep at night

 

[The Josh]

Not giving up but hope is fading of something good coming.

 

[woodsy]

I for one, am determined to continue thinking positive, otherwise I simply wouldn't be able to sleep at night

Yeah, I was positive too...until the lawyer's got involved. Luckily for me I can sleep well one way or the other.

 

[jaffakitkat]

I remember reading a comment from Saul Zaentz about how his company would end up making The Hobbit with MGM and PJ when the rights reverted back, and how PJ would get a better deal from him, etc. Can't remember where I saw it, but does anyone else remember if he said anything about when the rights go back to him?

 

[goliath]

I remember reading a comment from Saul Zaentz about how his company would end up making The Hobbit with MGM and PJ when the rights reverted back, and how PJ would get a better deal from him, etc. Can't remember where I saw it, but does anyone else remember if he said anything about when the rights go back to him?

This seems to have been a misinterpretation of Mr. Zaentz comments and he himself said he was "misquoted".

The actual date the rights would fall back to the Zaentz Company seems to be a secret in the contract between New Line and Zaentz - and it might be that contracting a director will be enough for New Line to extend the rights until the film actually gets made.


This is gathered from various sources from the net, and isn't necessarily all true, but it would make sense to me.

If the specific date the rights will fall back from New Line to Zaentz would not be a secrecy clause in their contract, then this date would certainly be known the interested public by now.

(Meanwhile, The Hobbit is listed on IMDB as "announced" for 2009: Link)

 

[jaffakitkat]

The actual date the rights would fall back to the Zaentz Company seems to be a secret in the contract between New Line and Zaentz - and it might be that contracting a director will be enough for New Line to extend the rights until the film actually gets made.

Interesting, I was wondering about that. Is that how it works with entertainment law? Like, do the rights just get extended so long as the film can be shown to be a 'work in progress', or do they still revert at a set date? Or is it a case by case basis?

 

[Mudshark]

I don't know if anyone else read the letter from PJ & FW to theonering.net back in November last year, but I gathered they were suing for the right to examine the books from Fellowship only, and that New Line offered a waiver of that audit as part of the deal to have Wingnut make The Hobbit. PJ's response was that he would only come on board if the matter was resolved amicably, and couldn't accept it as part of a 'business as usual' sort of deal because it would still leave a bad taste in his mouth, and he wouldn't even consider trying to make another labor of love under those circumstances. I heard that Ian McKellan refused to play Gandalf without PJ directing. (Forgive me, but I feel a brief rant coming on...)

Who's made the most money off the three movies and all the licenses for the past several years? Not Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh! Gimme a break, New Line! You stand to reap untold fortunes if you bring PJ and his entire tour de force on board! Why not give the poor guy what he wants and do whatever it takes to make him happy again? What the hell are you thinking?! (Okay, I'm better now...)

If anyone's interested in that letter, let me know and I'll try to post a link to it.

 

[Fritz]

...Why not give the poor guy what he wants and do whatever it takes to make him happy again? What the hell are you thinking?! (Okay, I'm better now...)...

PJ made a lot of money from New Line so he's by no means poor. I think they both have to be smarter about it and come to some sort of understanding.

 

[FrodoEyes]

Reading a more recent interview with Ian McKellen, I think he hinted that he would play Gandalf whoever was director. It's just something he really wants to do so i can't see how a change of director would affect that.
As long as it's shot in New Zealand, designed by Weta and has the original cast, I can't see myself complaining too much.

 

[Fritz]

Reading a more recent interview with Ian McKellen, I think he hinted that he would play Gandalf whoever was director. It's just something he really wants to do so i can't see how a change of director would affect that.
As long as it's shot in New Zealand, designed by Weta and has the original cast, I can't see myself complaining too much.

That's more important to me as well. I would love PJ to do it but if it's not meant to be, I'm more concerned with continuity.