Oh great... /sarcasm

While it's looking good for the writers going back to work on Wednesday (see Kristin Thompson's blog for more info), there's a new lawsuit against New Line by the Tolkien Estate and others - and apparently it could even endanger the making of The Hobbit. Excerpt:

The plaintiffs seek more than $150 million in compensatory damages, unspecified punitive damages and a court order giving the Tolkien estate the right to terminate any rights New Line may have to make films based on other works by the author, including "The Hobbit."

Such an order would scuttle plans by New Line to make a two-film prequel based on "The Hobbit.""Rings" trilogy director Peter Jackson has already signed on to serve as executive producer on the project, which is tentatively slated to begin production next year, with releases planned for 2010 and 2011.


ARGH!!! Could they have any worse timing?! Seems there's some confusion about the film rights etc. here. I just hope this will be settled right quick, we've waited long enough! *frustrated sigh*

More New Line related stuff

Two interesting blog entries from Kristin Thompson. First, discussing a Wall Street article about the possible (likely) shakeup at New Line:

The Wall Street Journal on the impending New Line shakeup

And another one about the Tolkien Estate suing New Line - Tolkien Trust and HarperCollins suing New Line Cinema

As she points out, the situation is probably more complicated than with the PJ and Saul Zaentz lawsuits, and her conclusion, for those who don't want to read the whole article:

I’m afraid that for fans, the news can only be bad, at least in the short run. Even if the Tolkien Trust does not get to take the adaptation rights for The Hobbit back from New Line, this lawsuit, coming just as Time Warner is pondering what to do about downsizing New Line, puts the project on a very shaky footing indeed and will almost certainly mean yet another delay.