Seems New Line is softening their stance now that Jackson is starting to get the upper hand in his lawsuit with them.
http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?category=0&id=44554
It might be awhile, before Peter Jackson gets around to directing the film, "The Hobbit," or maybe not, as he is one of the announced directors, the other being Stephen Spielberg, who have agreed to do a back-to-back-to-back trilogy of films based upon the comic book series "The Adventures of Tintin." No word as to who is to be the third director, and no word as to whether the films are to be animated or live action. Anyway, the first film in the series is not scheduled to be released to 2009.
PJ's done his Tolkien, besides, who needs a 3.5 hour version of the Hobbit? he'd probably take out the fun songs and comedy, and add a useless love story.
there are other directors out there that could make a good version of the book.
David
I sort of agree with David. The Hobbit is a children's story, very different in tone from LOTR. I'd be willing to bet that PJ would make a good version, but he shouldn't expect to be handed the job just because he made LOTR.
Maybe if he doesn't get the job, he will grace us with a MEET THE FEEBLES type parody, complete with humping Hobbits.