Alas word has reached yonder shore that is as ill fated as it comes. Peter Jackson will not be directing The Hobbit. Due in part to his ongoing lawsuit with New Line Cinema, the studio has recently called him to inform him that they are no longer interested in his services for this film.

There has been a lot of Hobbit news coming out recently when MGM (the studio that owns the distribution rights to The Hobbit) came out with a statement saying that they were looking to make a movie version of the book, as well as a second movie which would take place between The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, based on Tolkien's notes and other published works. MGM stated that they would like to bring Peter Jackson in to direct, New Line Cinema (the studio who owns the rights to make The Hobbit) has now decided that they will not be using the Oscar winning director.

To say that I'm disappointed by this decision is an understatement. I've heard some talk of people who disliked the way he handled the trilogy who are now happy at this, but they are likely lying to themselves about it. The Lord of the Rings trilogy was both a critically acclaimed and artistically stylized work and it is rare to see quality films these days. While it didn't remain 100% true to the book in plot, it did so thematically which in the end was what really counts. Peter Jackson and his team of writers, design artists, and technical crew were the reason behind that success and to remove them from this project very well may spell mount doom for the franchise. I've already seen one bad version of The Hobbit I really don't need to see another one. They are going to have to bring in one amazing director, and he's going to have to show me interest in actually doing it right before I can even think of watching this...and as for the second prequel...well that just scares me if anyone who doesn't absolutely love the books does them. Of course I've seen a movie or two where the director loves the book behind the movie he shot and still didn't do it justice, so we could be in for some troublesome days in Middle Earth.

I will not say, Do not weep...not all tears are an evil, but unfortunately I fear that the reason behind these tears are just another instance of too many people wanting too much money and not enough people trying to get their movie right for a change.