Peter JacksonMessage Board member ‘Daughter of Nienna’ points us to a rather insightful article related to New Line’s recent penalty and the on-going drama of the Peter Jackson lawsuit:

“…For a complex entertainment case, where lawyer gamesmanship over access to documents and witnesses is fairly common, Hillman’s language and the amount of the penalty are striking. “It’s almost unheard of,” says litigator Neville Johnson, who frequently tangles with studios. “You rarely see sanctions, and you certainly don’t see sanctions that high.”…”

For the complete story, please jump over to Yahoo! News.

Yahoo! News Discuss

EW.comRinger Steele alerts us to a downright HUGE article in this week’s Entertainment Weekly. You won’t want to miss it:

“Just a heads up, if case you didn’t know, that there is a huge 7(!) page cover story on the current status of The Hobbit in the Entertainment Weekly which hits newsstands tomorrow (10/05). I would call it cautiously optimistic – confirmation that New Line and PJ apparently are now talking – and a good overall summation of the PJ/New Line/Hobbit situation to date.”

The story is now posted at EW.com! Be sure to pick up your copy at news-stands tomorrow!

Full Story at EW.com Cover Art Discuss

New Line Agree to Pay 'RINGS' Fine From The Hollywood Reporter (via Mania.com) Just two months ago, the media received word that New Line was softening its position against Peter Jackson in hopes of a possible HOBBIT movie somewhere in the near future. The hostility went from the studio head Robert Shaye saying “So the answer is he will never make any movie with New Line Cinema again while I’m still working for the company.” (via SciFi.com) to “Notwithstanding our personal quarrels, I really respect and admire Peter and would love for him to be creatively involved in some way in The Hobbit.” (via LA Times) Whether the two sides have even talked to one another since then, it appears that New Line is accepting a fine handed to them from a Federal Judge for the failures of handing over documents as requested, something Peter Jackson has said from the beginning causing the court case. The $125,000 fine could have been contested or sought a review which would have taken more time in this ongoing court battle. Instead, they’re accepting the decision. New Line’s attorney Robert Schwartz wrote, “Mindful that the court’s resources are valuable and limited, New Line will neither oppose that award nor seek review” of the order.

New Line Agree to Pay ‘RINGS’ Fine Discuss

British writer on 'Tintin' case LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) – British scribe Steven Moffat, best known for writing the new “Doctor Who” series, is turning his hand to “Tintin,” the DreamWorks movie trilogy collaboration from Peter Jackson and Steven Spielberg. Tintin, created by late Belgian artist Herge, is a young reporter and world traveler who is aided in his adventures by his faithful dog Snowy. He later was joined by such colorful characters as Captain Haddock, Professor Cuthbert Calculus and bumbling detectives Thomson and Thompson. The books, hugely popular in Europe, have been translated into 50 languages with more than 200 million sold. Jackson and Spielberg are each directing an installment, with the helmer of the third movie to be determined.

British writer on ‘Tintin’ case Discuss

Weta teams up with big guns It’s a project that will bring Sigourney Weaver and James Cameron to town and will be made, in part, in Wellington. Avatar is being touted as a futuristic, ground-breaking film, and as Weta digital’s visual effects maestro Joe Letteri told ONE News, Weta, along with hundreds of Kiwi contractors are helping to make it happen. The film is Cameron’s latest project. His last film was Titanic – the very same Titanic that was released 12 years ago and is still the highest grossing film ever made.

Weta teams up with big guns