Fox to Distribute the ‘Hobbit’ Films?

Oh, this was too rich to pass up…

According to Bloomberg and Latino Review, the heirs to J.R.R. Tolkein’s estate are royally ticked off and lawsuits may halt the 2 ‘Hobbit’ movies. Tolkein’s family is  livid that they haven’t been paid by Warner Bros. for the rights to ‘The Hobbit’… so much that they’ve sued.

In a nutshell, the estate wants $220 Million. All talks of a settlement are through and it will ultimately be decided in October in front of a  Los Angeles Superior Court jury.

And, this is not the first time New Line has pulled this stunt. Bloomberg News states:

Tolkien’s works already have a litigation history. Peter Jackson, who directed all three “Rings” films, sued New Line in 2005, claiming the studio miscalculated his proceeds from the first movie. They settled for an undisclosed sum in 2007.

Producer Saul Zaentz, who once owned film rights to the “Rings,” also sued New Line over his share of the receipts and settled in 2005 for $168 million, Variety reported at the time.

Poor Peter Jackson. According to a spokesman for Warner Brothers, Jackson is already in pre-production on the two ‘Hobbit’ movies in New Zealand.

So, where does FOX fit in?

According to Latino Review, the Tolkeins are…

…so pissed, in fact, that if the original contract is upheld, they will halt the production and/or release of Guillermo Del Toro’s two Hobbit films by pulling the rights all-together. Warners obviously doesn’t want that to happen, because they are looking at a pay day estimated around $4 billion if those two films are made.

Interestingly enough, if the Tolkiens do win and pull the rights from Warners, they would be free to sell those rights under a more modern contract. And get this: You know who owns the publishing rights to Tolkiens work?

NewsCorp… Damn 20th Century Fox has an in…

Can’t you just see Rupert Murdoch,  Managing Director & Chairman,  wringing his hands in delight! Heaven help the Middle-Earth inhabitants if Tom Rothman,  Co-chairman and C.E.O. of Fox Filmed Entertainment,    has anything to do with the ‘Hobbit’ movies… he destroyed what was once the superb ‘Alien’ and ‘Predator’ franchises.