Sam Raimi Will Direct The Hobbit?

IESB ^ | Sunday, 28 January 2007 | Robert Sanchez

[Shimmer128]

Right, The Hobbit is NOT a prequel to LotR. It's a stand on it's own book, it just happened to have happened before the time of LotR.

[300winmag]

Fine, then get rid of Shaye. It's Peter or nothing.

How many billions did Shaye make for New Line?

All Shaye has to do is keep his mouth shut, and spend his cut of the money PJ will make for him. Being a liberal, he can't even recognize his own best interests.

[Uriah_lost]

I can't see how that could be done in less than....say....twelve parts or so.

[LibFreeOrDie]

Perhaps Raimi could do an indie "Evil Dead" version of "The Hobbit"? As long as Bruce Campbell is in it...

[endthematrix]

Looks like there's going to be a re-make of Evil Dead (Ghost House Pictures) next year with Rami producing.

[Sam Cree]

I notice that there are a lot of scenes in "Army of Darkness" that reappear in Jackson's LOTR.

[LibFreeOrDie]

I heard rumors about that! One said that Ashton Kutcher was being considered for Ash. Blecch!!

[LibFreeOrDie]

Not being an LOTR fan, I didn't see that pic. But I did enjoy "Army of Darkness"!

[SuziQ]

Shaye has declared Jackson persona-non-grata at New Line, stating publicly that, "He will never make any movie with New Line Cinema again while I'm still working at the company."

Shaye better not be so smug. Has ANY movie franchise made the kind of money for New Line that the LOTR series has made? I thought I'd read that New Line's option on "The Hobbit" runs out this year, anyway. If that happens, New Line won't have any say about it anymore, anyway.

[Phsstpok]

Fine, then get rid of Shaye. It's Peter or nothing.

My take as well.

I love the work of both Jackson and Raimi.  I can see a situation where Jackson is the producer and Raimi directs, though.  But I bet part of any deal is that Shaye says bye bye.  A Hollywood executive should never get into a pissing match with a director who has made billions of dollars with their films (even if their next movie "only" made half a billion dollars).  No matter the outcome, in the long run the director almost always wins and the executive almost always gets a golden parachute, but lots fewer party invitations.

Harry Knowles (the lefty film geek operator of the great movie geek site Aint It Cool News) is friends with both of the directors.  Let's let him work out the deal. 

The one problem I'd have with Raimi is I can't think of a character in The Hobbit for Bruce Campbell to play!  No problem with casting his brother Ted Raimi.  He's used to performing in "sword operas."  I just hope he doesn't bring to much of Joxer to any role.

[Thud]

And Zaentz will have every reason to sue to regain the rights if New Line plays any games whatever about "in production".

[Thud]

I think Bruce would make a GREAT Gollum!

[Sam Cree]

Yeah, "Army of Darkness" is one of my favorites.

[MikeD]

OK, so now we'll have the Hobbit shot in "shaky-cam," with Bruce Campbell playing the Dwarves. All of them. ;)

[MikeD]

Yeah as far as I'm aware, the rights go back to Saul Zaentz at the end of this year unless it's in production.

If there was any justice those rights would go to John Fogerty, but that's another story...

[Slings and Arrows]

Perhaps Raimi could do an indie "Evil Dead" version of "The Hobbit"? As long as Bruce Campbell is in it...

"Good...bad...I'm the hobbit with The Ring."

[BenLurkin]

Well, and shows how the ring of power found it's way to the Shire.

[LibFreeOrDie]

A hobbit with a boomstick... I like it!

[Tribune7]

Good choice.

All right you primitive screwheads, listen up. See this? This is my BOOMSTICK! It's a 12-gauge double-barralled Remington. S-Mart's top of the line. You can find this in the sporting goods department. That's right. This sweet baby was made in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It retails for about $109.95. It's got a walnut stock, cobalt blue steel, and a hair trigger. That's right! Shop smart. Shop S-Mart.

[Shimmer128]

;D