Deal For Peter Jackson To Direct 'The Hobbit' Locked Up, Film Gets Greenlight

Yeah, we know many have cried wolf on this project numerous times but with NY Times reporting that Peter Jackson's deal to direct "The Hobbit" has been locked up and The Wrap reporting the film is greenlit, we think this news is legit.

According to both sites, Warner Bros. and MGM have worked out a deal to finance the two $500 million (that's $250 million each which is not absurd for a tentpole) films and a start date of February 2011 has been lined up. Peter Jackson will direct the films, though casting has not been confirmed, nor has the location of the shoot. As you might recall, the filmmakers are still in an ugly spat with local New Zealand unions over working conditions and a resolution is still a week away, if not longer. Warner Bros. is actively considering other locations to move the production if an agreement can't be worked out. However, according to the NY Times, if the production is moved out of the country further delays are to be expected and the budget will need to be redrafted (probably adding a few more million to the tally). So here's hoping this already plagued production doesn't face any more hurdles.

Besides the union situation, MGM is still finalizing their bankruptcy proceedings that will either see Spyglass heads Gary Barber and Roger Birnbaum take over management, or find MGM merging with Lionsgate. Lost in all of this? Current MGM head Mary Parent is negotiating her exit from the beleaguered studio.

At any rate we do hope this greenlight is the real deal and the film can start moving with more ease towards production. Middle Earthers get ready because the first film is projected to hit in December 2012 with the second part coming in 2013. And note while it's probably not concrete info, THR does say that Martin Freeman is "expected" to take the role of Bilbo Baggins, so maybe the BBC "Sherlock Holmes" scheduling situation is being worked out as we speak.

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That's What They Said Last Week: Resolution On 'The Hobbit' Union Woes At Least A Week Away (If Not More)

Remember at the beginning of the month when reports surfaced a greenlight for "The Hobbit" was just days away and that the bankruptcy and union issues surrounding the film were said to be close to being tied up? Well, that was two weeks ago and with Peter Jackson recently telling Empire that he's still not officially signed on and that the project still faces myriad steps to get it out of MGM's bankruptcy hell, he quickly shut down any premature reports that the film was imminently ready to go.

In fact, not only are MGM's financial woes a major issue, the union spat is still at least a week away from being sorted out. The Screen Production and Development Association (SPADA), Actors' Equity, and Council of Trade Unions (CTU) met recently to try and come to a common ground regarding working conditions.

"The parties believe this process will help to ensure New Zealand remains an attractive screen production environment," said Gerry Brownlee, New Zealand's Minister for Economic Development.

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Guillermo Del Toro Won't Direct 'Godzilla;' Has The Project Been Merged With Spec Script 'Pacific Rim?'

Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures have made it clear in the last year or so that one of their biggest priorities in plugging the gap left by the end of the "Harry Potter" franchise, alongside amping up production on D.C. Comics adaptations, is to revamp the Godzilla series. The stink of Roland Emmerich's 1998 take on the classic Japanese monster still lingers today, but WB picked up the rights from Toho in March this year, and artwork for the picture made a brief appearance at Comic-Con, but other than that, things have been a little quiet, and we were wondering if the film was on target to make its mooted Summer 2012 release date.

Latino Review, however, reported some movement on the project yesterday. First of all, they suggested that the studios had been unhappy with recent script drafts, and that Legendary were considering turning another of their projects, "Pacific Rim," into a Godzilla picture. The script was bought from a 25-page treatment by writer Travis Beacham ("Clash of the Titans") back in May, and is set in a near future where 'malevolent creatures' threaten earth, and humanity must use advanced technology to fight them off. It doesn't take a huge leap of imagination to see that forming the basis of a Godzilla picture -- indeed, one of Deadline's commenters appears to have called this one at the time.

The site also reports that Legendary have offered the project to Guillermo Del Toro, who's now free of his obligations to "The Hobbit." They stress that it's only an offer, and the story's somewhat unclear on whether he was offered "Godzilla," "Pacific Rim" or an amalgamation of the two, but it suggests some serious interest on the studio's behalf.

But wait! Drew McWeeny at HitFix got in touch with Del Toro himself, who responded: "I am not involved in "Godzilla" at all. I haven't read it or plan to read it. Nor have I been approached to direct it." Either Latino Review managed to print the offer before Del Toro's agent received it, or this is one of those being-on-a-wishlist-gets-translated-as-an-offer-having-gone-out stories, but either way, it looks Del Toro won't be anywhere near giant city-stomping lizards any time soon, particularly as he's gearing up to direct passion project "At The Mountains Of Madness" for Universal in the same time frame.

McWeeny also suggests that there may not be any truth to the Beacham rumor -- he says he'd heard some confidence about the "Godzilla" scripts from executives at Legendary, although stresses that there could be new information, so it's not outside the realms of possibility. With a summer 2012 release being targeted, we imagine Warner Bros. and Legendary will be keen to sign someone sooner rather than later, so keep your eyes peeled for the "Noomi Rapace and Natalie Portman On Short-List To Play Godzilla" rumors any day now.

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Warner Bros. Still Converting 'Deathly Hallows' To 3D For BluRay; 'Order Of The Phoenix' & 'Half-Blood Prince' To Go 3D Too

Harry Potter fans were momentarily thrilled and heartened when Warner Bros. announced last week that it was canceling plans to release "Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows" in 3D in November. However, it turns out the studio is still moving full steam ahead to cover not only 'The Deathly Hallows,' but back catalog titles "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" and "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince."

Warner Bros., who are still using conversion production outlet Prime Focus who are rebuilding their reputation after their awful rush job of "Clash Of The Titans," are said to be methodically converting both parts of 'Deathly Hallows.' Director David Yates is still in post-production on 'Deathly Hallows' but will be overseeing the conversion of his Potter films to 3D. No word yet on the other four films in the series, but Warner Bros. would likely have to get the involvement of the respective directors before moving forward.

No dates yet have been announced for the 3D BluRay release or if the films will be get a 3D theatrical re-release. But really, we'd be surprised if it didn't. The series is a landmark for many and the "see the saga as you've never seen it before" marketing pretty much writes itself. [Variety]

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George Miller Says Rain, Not Budget To Blame For Delayed Production On 'Mad Max'; Hugh Keays-Byrne To Return

When news broke late last week that George Miller's already delayed "Mad Max" films were going to be bumped once again, we began to get an uneasy feeling as the situation bore similarities to Miller's last major live-action attempt; his "Justice League" film for Warner Bros. which was scrapped at the final hurdle in 2008 and never recovered.

However, it appears that nothing more sinister than weather conditions are to blame for the delay with a forecast of rain hitting the desert forcing filmmakers to hold production until the Australian outback goes back to being hot, dry and dusty.

''Unfortunately for Mad Max, what was wasteland is now this wonderful flower garden,'' Miller said. And shooting elsewhere is not an option Miller seems to be too interested in. ''We've looked at every single nook and cranny in Australia for these specific locations. That's why Broken Hill has become such a base for outback films: you've got the infrastructure of the city itself and the treeless plains beyond."

''Obviously if we go to Namibia or Morocco or Chile it's a different kettle of fish, but we want to shoot it here," Miller said.

As for the budget issues, Miller states that financing is not an issue and that Warner Bros. is still behind the film. ''Warners are very, very committed to the film, as we are,'' he said. ''There is nothing like creative problems. It's not an issue of budget; we're covered on the Australian dollar rise.''

And finally, we have a bit more casting news. Hugh Keays-Byrne -- who played Toecutter in "Mad Max -- is returning though its not known if he's reprising his role (maybe as the father of the character he played?). Tom Hardy and Charlize Theron are expected to stick with the film with a new start date arriving as early as July 2011 but most likely September or October.

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Warner Bros. Cancels 3D Release Of 'Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows,' Will Hit Theaters In 2D Only

Wow, color us surprised. Warner Bros. has canceled plans to release the first entry in the two-part "Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows" in 3D. It will still hit theaters as planned on November 19th, but now people won't need to wear the dorky glasses and pay extra money for the privilege.

In a statement, the studio said "we will not have a completed 3D version of the film within our release date window," adding "despite everyone's best efforts, we were unable to convert the film in its entirety and meet the highest standards of quality. We do not want to disappoint fans who have long-anticipated the conclusion of this extraordinary journey." So is this just a fancy way of saying the conversion looked fucking terrible and they don't want to make the same mistake they did with "Clash Of The Titans"? Yeah, we think so.

David Yates says, "This decision, which we completely support, underscores the fact that Warner Bros. has always put quality first." No word yet if the Warner Bros. are still aiming to convert part two, which will hit theaters on July 15, 2011. If they do, they have plenty of time to get it right or even better, not do it at all.

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Should This Be Made? 'Alien Prequel' And 'Superman: The Man Of Steel'

Consider this a weekly look at the biggest projects of the week, and whether they should be crowding multiplexes or not. If we had our way, everything would be French, in black and white, with Asia Argento smoking cigarettes, naked, but we often try to look at matters in the eyes of the major studios. They have feelings too, you know.

"Alien" Prequel
Who’s Behind It?: 20th Century Fox, director Ridley Scott, screenwriters Damon Lindelof and Jon Spaights.

What Is It?: Reportedly, the intentions of Scott are to take the series back to its roots, specifically the haunted original film that introduced the murderous xenomorphs as a parasitic alien race emerging from the shadows to kill. This planned two-film prequel, which deals with the Weyland-Yutani corporation developing terraforming technology, would also primarily showcase what happened to the spacecraft explored by Ellen Ripley and company in the first film, particularly the deceased Space Jockey, whose remains have been speculated on by a legion of fans.

Why Should This Be Made?: “Alien” is a popular series that has spanned six movies and several videogame, comic book and novel tie-ins. It was only a matter of time before Fox got the ball rolling on another film in the franchise, so why not take a chance with Ridley Scott? Scott’s had a number of hits since “Alien,” but most feel that as the architect of the franchise, he made the best “Alien” film yet. Furthermore, there is iconic resonance of the Xenomorph creatures, one of the few genuine monster movie icons in the last forty years. While later films in the series emphasized the science fiction trappings of the story, Scott’s original film was something of an outer space slasher, so it’s clear someone needed to restore the creature to its monstrous origins before it lost relevance, giving the franchise a new lease on life and re-igniting interest in the earlier films as catalog titles.

Why Shouldn’t It Be Made?: Scott has apparently suggested a $250 million budget would be necessary for these films. While it remains unclear if he was suggesting $250 million for each film or $125 per, that’s still a very steep price. None of the “Alien” films have even crossed $100 million domestic ("Alien Vs. Predator" is the biggest worldwide moneymaker at $172 million) so if the two films, in total, carried a quarter of a billion price tag on production alone, they would most assuredly have to make $600-$800 million worldwide for a theatrical profit. If they cost $250 million each, then a billion dollar gross is the starting point. That is, of course, if the first one doesn’t flop, turning the second film into an albatross. Of course, being a franchise, the value will lie in ancillaries, but how many times can you re-release “Alien Resurrection” on Blu-Ray? Scott’s also demanding an R-rating, and the list of $600 million-grossing R-rated movies isn’t very big - just "The Matrix Reloaded" and "The Passion of the Christ."

Scott also isn’t the filmmaker he used to be, alternating between dull, expensive epics with varying degrees of financial success. His name doesn’t have the cachet it did ten years ago when “Gladiator” won Best Picture, and he’s coming off “Robin Hood,” the most successful (and expensive) of Universal’s recent expenditures, and only because it barely eked out a profit, and only because Europe loves their period epics, as domestic grosses reflected a willing but apathetic core audience. His talk about returning to the roots of the first film sound promising until you realize the budget he’s demanding suggests a film that would be nothing like the claustrophobic original.

And finally, it’s a prequel. Of course, Fox is a business, and they want to keep revitalizing this brand name every few years, but after two “Alien Vs. Predator” movies, this brand is damaged goods. It would take a lot of marketing power to get people into the theaters to see this monster again, and even then, why? Why must we know exactly what happened with the Space Jockey? That moment in “Alien” carries power because of the horrifying fates we imagined the crew suffered at the hands of their attackers, and it’s already been diluted by all the sequels. Two prequel films would render it irrelevant.

Similar Films: Fox knew the “Predator” franchise was damaged by its team-ups with the “Alien” characters, so they were wise to allow Robert Rodriguez to shepherd the title back to the screen in a film that was part sequel, part remake, and part reboot. “Predators” was cheap, and released in the middle of summer, it grossed $52 million domestically, $125 worldwide.

Final Word: Fox was developing this project under the aegis of frosh director Carl Erik Rinsch, but once they decided to take a shot at making something a little bigger, they requested Scott take the helm. He’s since requested a two-film commitment at that hefty budget, which lends some doubt as to whether the project will happen. It’s possible this could become a co-production between Fox and another heavy hitter, or that a super-producer (James Cameron?) might lend the project some extra heat. Or it’s possible Scott doesn’t actually want to make the movie, and is torpedoing the studio efforts with unrealistic demands. Whatever the case, it’s a dubious proposition to make tent pole blockbusters at ever-unreliable Fox, especially if the budget is that out-of-control. They had the right idea in “Predators,” which was to work fast and cheap, and hope that a strong DVD showing paves the way for a bigger sequel. At this point, Ridley Scott is not the filmmaker needed to examine the possibility that previous “Alien” films weren’t galactic blockbusters because of too-small budgets.
Should It Be Made?: No.

Superman: The Man Of Steel
Who’s Behind It?: Warner Bros., director Zack Snyder, producer Chris Nolan, writer David Goyer
What Is It?: Warner Bros.’ sixth big screen attempt at bringing Superman to the masses, though the plot is being kept under wraps. It is said to be a reboot of the franchise, so no attachment to previous titles is expected, though it will feature the Man of Steel in combat with Kryptonian super villain Zod, and may have a strong Clark Kent angle.

Why Should This Be Made?: Warner Bros. and DC Comics are smarting at their failure to launch films based on their stable of comic characters while Marvel Films flourishes, but they still have a large pool of marketable entites to utilize. And there’s none bigger on either side than Superman, a pop icon like no other who hasn’t shined on the big screen since “Superman II” in the early eighties. Superman is the most instantly recognizable superhero available, with an unforgettable look and an origin story that most know by heart. There is no ancillary product with a big red “S” that you can’t sell. Should be a slam dunk, right?

Warner Bros. trusted Bryan Singer on “Superman Returns” and were burned by his stately, mannered take on the character that valued reverence and thematic knottiness to crowd-pleasing action sequences and high drama. They made the safe choice in allowing the next Superman project to reach the screen under Nolan, who has provided the architecture for the current onscreen DC universe with “Batman Begins” and “The Dark Knight.” He skewed conservatively as well by involving Snyder, who adapted two other comic properties for the WB thus far, with mixed but mostly positive success.

Furthermore, despite the negative reputation of “Superman Returns,” it grossed $400 million worldwide. Regardless of profit, when a property brings in that level of cash, its foolish to ignore the earning potential of the brand name. Audiences clearly have a hunger for costumed adventurers, and Superman’s image has survived partly due to the characters’ malleability. The Last Son Of Krypton means something different to everyone, so there’s reason to believe Snyder and Nolan’s vision will differ greatly from the Man of Steel brought to us by Singer or director Richard Donner.

Why Shouldn’t It Be Made?: As conservative as this new approach may be, cost still factors in. A “Superman” film isn’t going to have less than a $200 million production budget, so you’re looking at a necessary worldwide number of $600 million to break even right off the bat. This would mean the new “Superman” film would have to be much bigger than the previous one, and while money talks, “Superman Returns" tepid DVD showing suggests a franchise picture that no one truly liked, furthering the chasm between the appeal of the big blue boy scout and the more risqué, socially relevant adventures of Iron Man and the X-Men. This means a gargantuan marketing budget to get audiences burned six years ago back into the theater.

There’s also the possible torpedoing of D.C.’s cross-pollination plans. Seeing Marvel’s intentions for “The Avengers” have made the company eager to use their characters to populate each others’ universes, in essence using Superman to sell the Flash, using the Flash to sell Wonder Woman, and so on. Nolan has unfortunately gone on record saying that he dislikes this blueprint, and would prefer to have both Batman and Superman exist in completely isolated universes. While DC is adding a few outer-universe references in next summer’s “Green Lantern,” it would be much easier to tie an already-established heavy hitter like Supes or Batman into the larger superhero world. But Nolan already killed the George Miller “Justice League” movie that was set to go in front of cameras on the eve of the writer’s strike, and that was pre-“Inception.”

And why Nolan’s judgment need not be questioned previously, Zack Snyder? The overeager hitmaker has reflected a dullard’s mindset in his theatrical pictures thus far, emphasizing empty thrills over thematic intent. In adapting “300” and “Watchmen,” he created empty, meaningless dioramas posing as motion pictures, and while DVD numbers on the latter are hard to find, the film needed to do gangbusters business to compensate for a mediocre theatrical showing. Snyder’s gone on record about being offered the director’s chair for “Superman” and turning it down, so accepting it so quickly after the first weekend failure of his animated “Legend of the Guardians” speaks volumes about his next picture, “Sucker Punch.”

Similar Films: Universal and Marvel tried to reboot the “Hulk” franchise after the dismal showing of 2003’s “Hulk,” and while 2008’s “The Incredible Hulk” grossed a similar amount ($263 million over $245 worldwide), there was strong skepticism over presenting a different version of the character with another actor. While “Incredible” was a popular catalog title, Marvel has no plans for a third “Hulk” adventure (we'd be hard-pressed to believe what they've told Mark Ruffalo), opting to recast again for the upcoming “Avengers” film.

Final Word: It’s uncertain if the development on the new “Superman” picture has anything to do with the lawsuit against the WB regarding ownership rights of the character. They spent time in court justifying their treatment and marginalization of the character on film, so turning around and making another big budget adventure is suspicious. They might be required to get a film in theaters by 2012 to retain the character, as per the lawsuit’s requirements, and are likely putting their best foot forward. Ideally, the best financial decision would have been to agree upon a massive settlement and joint ownership, but either that wasn’t in the cards and/or the studio realized they could make billions of dollars in profit by relaunching a “Superman” franchise. Even if the new film is a break-even, a quality picture that audiences like goes a long way towards guaranteeing the longevity of the character in future installments. Snyder on his own doesn’t seem to be the right fit for that plan, but with Nolan exerting strong creative control, there’s reason to believe this is a step in the right direction.
Should This Be Made?: Yes.

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Ben & Casey Affleck To Rewrite Yankees Wife Swap Pic 'The Trade'

Ben Affleck recently was offered the Warner Bros. crime flick "Tales Of The Gangster Squad," but a "yes" wasn't immediately forthcoming. Now we know why. The actor/director is teaming with his brother Casey to rewrite the Yankees wife swap pic "The Trade."

The project was first announced as a starring vehicle for Ben Affleck and Matt Damon last winter. The story is based on real-life players Fritz Peterson and Mike Kekich, who in 1973 revealed that they had been swapping wives and fell for each other's partners. Peterson and Kekich's ex-wife are still together today, while the other couple has since split up. Affleck is eyeing the role of Peterson with Matt Damon playing Kekich.

Shortly after the news surfaced, Damon said a script for the film "didn't exist" but that's not necessarily true. It was written by Dave Mandel was and ranked #35 on the 2009 Black list. In addition, screenwriters Brian Koppelman and David Levien ("Oceans 13,” “Rounders”) have been clocking that story for years and collecting information so they could eventually end up writing the film. But Damon, someone who generally wants a solid script in hand before signing on to anything -- Doug Liman playfully called him a "script whore" recently -- most likely didn't like the draft and wants to see something different. Enter Ben and Casey.

Of course, it doesn't need to be mentioned that Affleck and Damon have been fast friends since childhood, and both broke through in Hollywood in a huge way thanks to "Good Will Hunting," which they both wrote and starred in.

As for who will direct, that remains a bit of an open question with Affleck saying, "I don't know how it will come together — acting, directing, who will do it, but Casey and I decided to write it," he said. "It's one of those things where we don't jump in and go, 'I'm going to do this, you're going to do this.' Let's write it. Let's get it to a point. Dave Mandel did a good draft. Casey and I are going to fool with it and get it to a place we want to get it to. Once the script is ready, then it's, 'Who's doing what, what's the time frame, Matt, me, Casey, directing?' "

But Ben Affleck was said to have shown some interest in directing the film since last spring, and if he feels strongly about the finished script, certainly Warner Bros. will be eager to please the man who landed them a big fall hit and possible Oscar contender in "The Town."

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Stink Guaranteed: Mike Myers To Play Pepé Le Pew

Get ready America, because Mike Myers is coming back to stink up theaters across the nation, but this time, it's on purpose.

The actor/comedian who bombed horribly with his last original effort "The Love Guru," and who gained a small shred of credibility and dignity by appearing in Quentin Tarantino's "Inglorious Basterds," is set to return to the big screen as Pepé Le Pew. That's right. The horny French skunk is getting his own movie.

It's unclear why Pepé is getting his own movie when more recognizable Looney Tunes characters like Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, and Porky Pig are sitting on the sidelines, but we'll presume that Warner Bros. knows what they're doing. Citing the weirdest poll ever conducted, Vulture reports that Mike Myers is more recognized than Bugs Bunny, but that audiences have a more favorable impression of Bugs Bunny than Mike Myers. What this actually has to do with Pepé Le Pew we have no idea, but he's the least recognized of them all.

Details on the film are scarce, but what is known is that it will be a live action/CGI hybrid with only Pepé and his love interest Penelope being animated. So basically, it's "Garfield" with a skunk. And even that movie at least had Bill Murray doing the voice.

Myers hasn't had an easy ride in Hollywood. Early in his career his demand for perfection and his overbearing ego made him many enemies in industry circles and even prompted a fascinating EW profile a couple of years ago. But that said, the guy can make mad bank doing funny voices (hello $1.2 billion "Shrek" franchise) and it's easy to see why Warner Bros. are trying to replicate that success. But frankly, we'd still rather see "Dieter."

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Billy Ray To Write & Direct Remake Of Oscar-Winner 'The Secret In Their Eyes'

As you may remember, in advance of its release, we were as down on "Let Me In" as anyone. The guy who did "Cloverfield," remaking one of the best-reviewed horror films of recent memory, less than two years after its release, starring the irritatingly precocious kid from "(500) Days of Summer?" No thank you. When we caught it, however, we found that the film was at least as good as the positive buzz around it: faithful to the original where it matters, while cutting back the fat and expanding on the interesting bits, it's a model of how to do a remake, and may even, over time, prove to be the superior version. Of course, no one saw the thing, but there we go...

As a result, we're going to be a little more cautious before we get on our high horses about the news that Billy Ray ("Shattered Glass," "Breach") has been hired by Warner Bros. to write and direct a remake of last year's winner of the Best Foreign Language Film Academy Award, the Argentinean thriller "El Secreto De Sus Ojos," or if you prefer, "The Secret In Their Eyes." The plot involves Benjamin Esposito, a retired criminal court investigator who's haunted both by an unsolved murder, and by his unrequited colleague for his former boss, and is told through a tricksy dual structure, cutting between 1999 and 1974.

It took a little while for us to be won over by the film when we saw it: there's a few jarring stylistic choices early on, and settling into the film's rhythm requires a little effort. But by about the midway point, and were convinced that the film was one of the better executed, more emotionally engaging thrillers that we'd seen in a long while, with a truly killer ending. And so long as veteran screenwriter Ray, who's also writing the movie version of "24," and rewriting "Hunger Games" for Gary Ross, takes some tips from the Matt Reeves playbook (for instance, don't try and recreate the film's indelible money shot, it won't work), there's no reason this can't match the original.

Our biggest concern is that Ray's directorial efforts have been strong, intelligent efforts, with great performances, but a little dry emotionally, and we're concerned that the film's love story may get lost among the plotting as a result. It's also unclear if the film will be relocated to the States, or if it'll pull a "Girl With The Dragon Tattoo" and keep it in Argentina -- the political subtexts to the original get fairly short shrift, so there's no reason it couldn't be moved, necessarily. There's no word on a start date, or any other talent involved as yet. [Deadline]

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Canada, Australia, Scotland, Ireland & U.S. All Trying To Land 'The Hobbit' If It Moves From New Zealand

As "The Hobbit" inches closer towards a seemingly inevitable greenlight, it still faces its biggest hurdle yet, a demand from New Zealand unions for an agreement on wages and working conditions. The situation quickly got ugly with both Peter Jackson and the studios -- Warner Bros., MGM and New Line -- threatening to move the production from its long standing home. Well, speaking to New Zealand radio on Monday, "The Hobbit" co-writer and co-producer Philippa Boyens has indicated overtures have already come from other nations to host the production.

"Warner Brothers' studios are running the numbers on five to six different locations," Boyen said. "That's very real and that has put at risk the livelihoods of countless thousands of New Zealand industry workers."

"The dispute over job security and working conditions, in which New Zealand film workers have been backed by actors' unions in Canada, Australia and elsewhere, has thrown doubt on how stable our industry is in terms of industrial relations," Boyens said. "That is what is being put in jeopardy, not whether the production goes forward, but whether it's made here."

It certainly seems that the threats from both the director and studio were far from empty, so what nations are said to be in the running? Canada, Australia, Scotland, Ireland and the United States have all apparently thrown their hat in the ring, and offering producers money-saving incentives, to the bring $500 million, 3D production to their shores. Also remember that Jackson initially hinted at eastern Europe being a possible location -- it has emerged as a place to shoot action films on the cheap over the past few years -- and it's unknown at this time just which locations in particular Warner Bros. accountants are running numbers on at this time.

That said, earlier in the week, everyone involved seemed hopeful that a resolution for the union mess would be found, and certainly Warner Bros. would probably prefer not to have to spend millions to move/rebuild the nearly completed sets to another country entirely. But at this point, Warner Bros. are probably taking precautions and setting up some possible second and third options should they have to exercise it. It's another intriguing twist to the saga of "The Hobbit" that continues to unfurl even before the film gets in front of cameras. [The Province]

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Paul Greengrass, Francis Lawrence, Martin Campbell, Scott Cooper & Greg Berlanti Reportedly On Warner Bros. List For 'Gangster Squad'

With offers having been made already to Ben Affleck and most recently, Darren Aronofsky, but with no bites yet, Warner Bros. apparently has a list of other top candidates for the director's chair of the period crime flick, "Tales From Gangster Squad."

So what's it about? The film is based on a series of articles in the L.A. Times by Paul Lieberman and was picked up soon after it's publication in 2008 by Warner Bros. who, in turn, hired former L.A. cop turned novelist Will Beall to adapt. The major focus of Lieberman's article were a specialized L.A.P.D. unit set up in the '40s to fight the growing influence of the East Coast Mafia, namely that from infamous gangster Mickey Cohen, a mogul who started as muscle for Al Capone in Chicago. It definitely sounds like some very pulpy, very exciting material.

With that in mind, Latino Review claims that Warner Bros. has five other candidates ready to call should Aronofsky pass (and we presume this means Affleck has passed as well?). Those names? Paul Greengrass, Francis Lawrence, Martin Campbell, Scott Cooper and Greg Berlanti.

The names seem to indicate a few totally different directions for the film. The first three names are helmers with some serious action chops. Greengrass is a very interesting choice; his relationship with Universal right now is rocky-to-nonexistent but he is also attached to the gestating "Treasure Island." As for Lawrence and Campbell, they have both already worked under the WB banner and are known quantities to the studio which, if Zack Snyder's hire for "Superman" means anything, is an asset to landing the gig. Campbell is currently in post-production on "Green Lantern" which is already getting positive buzz with WB already thinking about a sequel. As for Lawrence, he delivered the megahit "I Am Legend" and was the studio's go-to guy to lead the reshoots to try and salvage "Jonah Hex."

But if those choices seem a bit obvious, the latter two do not. Scott Cooper only has one film under his belt, the small but big-hearted "Crazy Heart." Jumping to what is shaping up to be a big tentpole vehicle for WB seems like a big step for the director and a gamble for the studio. And while Berlanti has gained some heat at the studio for his script for "Green Lantern" (and he's being tasked with "The Flash" and "Green Lantern 2") his directorial jobs have been quite different in scope, centering on middle-of-the-road romcom fare like "The Broken Hearts Club" and the upcoming "Life As We Know It." We can only suppose that Cooper and Berlanti's names are there should the picture take on a more character driven approach.

As always, none of these directors could end up taking the gig, but Warner Bros. seem to be making decisions fairly quickly these days (those "Superman" directing rumors ended a lot sooner than we thought they would) so we wouldn't be surprised if something official came sooner rather than later.

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Tomas Alfredson Signs On To Direct An Adaptation Of Philip Reeves' Period Children's Fantasy Novel 'Larklight'

Director Tomas Alfredsson made a name for himself with his 2006 vampire story "Let The Right One In" and is currently following that up with his English language debut in the exciting form of the Cold War-set espionage thriller "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy" starring Colin Firth, Gary Oldman, Tom Hardy and Mark Strong.

The director, though, is definitely keeping an eye on the future, signing on to helm an adaptation of Philip Reeve's 2006 sci-fi Victorian era fantasy children's novel, "Larklight." It's an interesting choice for Alfredson, whose sensibilities would probably suggest a more mature line of work, but having turned heads with his story between an eternally youthful vampire and a 12 year old boy, we're interested to see where he could take this.

"Larklight" centers on a brother and sister team residing in an alternate universe, where mankind has been exploring space since the time of Isaac Newton, who must band with a renegade space pirate to stop a madman from destroying the world. "Eastern Promises" scribe Steve Knight is currently adapting the novel for the screen with the project being produced Di Novi Pictures's Denise Di Novi and Alison Greenspan for Warner Bros.

Here's an extended synopsis of the novel, courtesy of Amazon.

Arthur (Art) and Myrtle Mumby's space-fantasy adventure begins at Larklight, an ancient structure that orbits Earth. Attacked one day in 1851 by spiderlike creatures, they escape, only to be marooned on the moon, where they are captured by a moth and encased in jars containing voracious larvae. Freed by a band of extraterrestrial pirates led by young human Jack Havock, they fall into many wild adventures and encounter a mad scientist helping the spider creatures destroy life in the solar system. Robots, aliens, famous explorers, and hoverhogs also play a role in this rollicking heroic romp, which resonates with Victorian England's mores. Reflecting Victorian custom, chapter subheads are long and descriptive, with Wyatt's amazingly detailed illustrations furthering the effect. Both the story line and the language demonstrate Reeve's respect for his readership. Kids can look forward to more adventures, though narrator Arthur is off to "have a nice buttered muffin and a cup of tea" first.

No word yet on how far down the pipeline the project is with regards to development, but we presume it looms as a contender to be Alfredson's next. The director was also, of course, attached to direct the gender bending tale of the first sex-change operation patient in "The Danish Girl" starring Nicole Kidman but was eventually replaced by Lasse Hallstrom.

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You Can't Handle The Truth! Tom Cruise & Jack Nicholson Might Reteam For Comedy 'El Presidente'

It was a scene that became an instantly quotable pop culture moment, and it looks like Tom Cruise and Jack Nicholson, who provided us with the now timeless "You can't handle the truth!" scene in the otherwise forgettable "A Few Good Men," might be reteaming once again.

The LA Times reports that both actors are circling the Warner Bros. comedy "El Presidente." Cruise has long been attached and an offer is out to Nicholson in the action comedy about "a dedicated Secret Service agent assigned to protect a bumbling and degenerate ex-president." The two go on the run together when a threat is made against the ex-president's life. The film has a script from Dan Goor, a late night writer who has worked on "Last Call With Carson Daly" and "Late Night With Conan O'Brien."

Yeah, it sounds like a million other films we've seen before but it could be an interesting pairing and one that would probably be an instant box office smash. But we're not expecting too much and of course, this is all a probability at this point. It might not happen at all. No directors are attached yet, but you can see the Cruise/Nicholson magic from their previous pairing below.

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Deal For Peter Jackson To Direct 'The Hobbit' Rumored To Be Close To Final

We know, we know. The ongoing saga of "The Hobbit" is getting tiring, but the long-gestating and endlessly delayed project seems closer than ever to actually moving forward and following reports late last week that the film was nearing a greenlight it makes sense that a deal for Peter Jackson to direct is close to being done.

The Wrap reports that the big issues of Peter Jackson’s directing fee and percentage of the gross for the film have been settled with a few more minor details still hanging. Essentially, the major sticking points have been cleared and the contract is all but signed on the dotted line. As for the imminent greenlight, according to an insider who spoke to The Wrap it might be a bit further off. “I wouldn’t stake my life that it will happen in the next two weeks,” they said.

The studios are obviously eager to get things rolling. $30 million has already been spent on pre-production, a cast is on hold, a tentative release date of December 19, 2012 is set but there is that pesky union issue that still needs to be ironed out. And of course, none of this can happen until Spyglass chiefs Gary Barber and Roger Birnbaum finalize the deal to take over the management of MGM.

So, "The Hobbit" continues to inch closer and closer to finally getting underway. Here's hoping that nothing else gets in the way of the production that has faced a director change, studio bankruptcy, union trouble and even a fire.

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'The Hobbit' Rumored To Be Going 3D; New Zealand Government Offers To Mediate Union Spat

Remember earlier this summer when fans cheered during the TheOneRing's Comic Con panel when they announced that the upcoming "The Hobbit" films wouldn't be in 3D? It turns out the celebrations might have been premature.

According to the NY Times, as part of the behind-the-scenes dealmaking to get the film made, it looks like the 3D format is back on the table. The format has long been in discussions, with original director Guillermo Del Toro not particularly hot on the idea. However, with a pricetag of $500 million dollars, its no surprise that Warner Bros., New Line and MGM would be pushing for the format if only because it means revenues will get a slight boost thanks to inflated ticket prices. At this point we're too exhausted to care which direction they go in — Peter Jackson could make it a black-and-white 16mm silent comedy for all we care — we just want this film to finally get in front of cameras.

As for the nasty union spat that unfurled last week, that saw both Peter Jackson and the studios threatening to move the production away from New Zealand, the country's government has stepped in to try and help. Government ministers are eager to help resolve the dispute, save jobs and keep the production and the economic boost it brings in the country.

Prime Minister John Key said, "I would be greatly concerned if the Hobbit movies weren't made in New Zealand, this a $3 billion industry, it employs a lot of people, it's great for New Zealand, it's a great way for marketing New Zealand. If you can't make the Hobbit here frankly what movies are you going to make here?"

Meetings are beginning to take place — Council of Trade Unions president Helen Kelly has already met with Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh — and everyone involved is "hopeful" a solution will be found. Rumors circled late last week that the situation may already be close to being dealt with, as an official studio greenlight is apparently just days away.

Meanwhile, "The Hobbit" as cursed sentiment gained uninspired traction this weekend when news of a fire broke out in Jackson's Portsmouth Miniatures Studio which would have been used for the two films. Considering a green light seems imminent, talk of a "curse" seems more than a little hyperbolic. These guys even went so far as to openly speculate that "union thugs" burned down the place. And while it is one of many aggravating set-backs, it doesn't at all seem like the crisis many are making it out to be.

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'The Hobbit' Rumored To Get An Official Studio Greenlight Within The Next Few Days

Facing insurmountable odds, the LA Times reports that "The Hobbit" is only days away from getting an official green light to begin production from Warner Bros., New Line and MGM.

According to their sources, Peter Jackson is close to finalizing a deal that will see him direct both films in the two-part set, overseeing a production that will cost an estimated $500 million. Both parts will be shot together and the first film is being tentatively slated for a holiday 2012 release, with part two arriving in December 2013. But before you get too excited, the project still faces a few hurdles it will have to jump even if the switch is flipped.

First of all, MGM is bankrupt, and while they are said to be close to reaching an agreement with the over 100 debtors they owe money to, the project will need to find half of its financing. Spyglass Entertainment chiefs Gary Barber and Roger Birnbaum, who are widely expected to be taking over management duties at MGM, will have Barber approaching potential investors including 20th Century Fox or Warner Bros. themselves to put up the rest of the budget. Warner Bros. may potentially throw in additional funds in exchange for additional distribution rights in various territories.

As for the very public, and ugly, union battle? The LA Times says that the situation is close to being resolved and even some lingering rights issues with the Tolkien Estate are said to have been cleaned up to allow everything to move forward without delay.

All that said, January is the magic date that filming will need to begin. If it doesn't start in the first quarter of 2011, the project will most likely be delayed again, and we would imagine, Peter Jackson, who has stoically stood by the film in its darkest hours, would probably move on.

There are a lot of little gears that need to be oiled for the machinery on "The Hobbit" to get rolling, but it looks like the once creaking project is bubbling back to life. As we reported this summer, Jackson has already quietly been taking meetings and watching tapes and we would guess he already has his talent selected and agents will be ready to sign deals once production is given the thumbs up. Sylvester McCoy and Martin Freeman have already been strongly rumored to be joining the cast.

So, hope is still alive, Middle Earthers. Not all is lost yet on "The Hobbit."

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Ben Affleck Offered '40s Cop Drama 'Tales From The Gangster Squad' To Direct, Considering Film With Matt Damon

Warner Bros. are reportedly so impressed with Ben Affleck's directorial work (and box office results) on the Boston-set crime-drama "The Town" that they've offered him the director's chair of the 1940s cop-drama, "Tales From The Gangster Squad."

The adaptation is based on a series of articles in the L.A. Times by Paul Lieberman and was picked up soon after it's publication in 2008 by Warner Bros. who, in turn, hired former L.A. cop turned novelist Will Beall to adapt. The major focus of Lieberman's article were a specialized L.A.P.D. unit set up in the '40s to fight the growing influence of the East Coast Mafia, namely that from infamous gangster Mickey Cohen, a mogul who started as muscle for Al Capone in Chicago.

Whether or not Affleck will consider the offer seriously remains to be seen. Several projects are, however, already on his radar: he's reportedly considering directing a Showtime pilot from the mind of "24" producer Howard Gordon about a sleeper cell and a ex-CIA operative and has eye on an unknown "two-hander" also at Warner Bros. which may star his BFF Matt Damon.

Could that be the New York Yankees wife-swapping pic, "The Trade," which Affleck was attached to write, direct and star in along side Damon? The script by Dave Mandel ("Seinfeld," "Curb Your Enthusiasm") was highly spoken of and was based on Yankee players Fritz Peterson and Mike Kekich who, in reality, did in fact swap wives and ended up falling for each other's partner.

It might be a while yet anyway before Affleck goes behind the camera again. When recently asked about his next directorial effort, Affleck noted "I don't know yet. Maybe [I'll write again], we'll see. I'm not sure. I just want to find something good. I waited a while before doing ["The Town"] and I'm glad because I really like this. And I think one of the dangers is if you pick something too soon and it can go sideways. You work on something for two years, you have to really love it as much on day 700 as day 1."

All the while, "The Town" has now earned just under $52 million at the box office and has even been touted as a potential dark horse to sneak into the Oscar Best Picture race. [Vulture]

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Robert Zemeckis Eyes 'Superman,' Attached To New Time Travel Film 'Timeless'

At this point, what director isn't interested in Warner Bros. gestating "Superman: Man Of Steel"? From new kids on the block like Matt Reeves to auteurs like Darren Aronofsky, it appears the Christopher Nolan-godfathered film is trying everyone in Hollywood on for size.

Buried in Deadline's exclusive on a new live action Robert Zemeckis project, the site reveals the director "has lately been rumored to be kicking the tires on such live action projects as Superman." The name is a bit of surprise considering Zemeckis has been following his motion capture muse for the last ten years with "Beowulf," "A Christmas Carol" and "The Polar Express" and it's been two decades since his last major live action tentpole film, "Back To The Future III." But he definitely knows his way around effects, and is a respected director, so it's not entirely out of the question (and he's a much better choice than say, Tony Scott).

As for the live-action project, his first since 2000's "Cast Away," Zemeckis is attached to produce and possibly direct a pitch picked up by Warner Bros. called "Timeless" by Mike Thompson. Thompson, who wrote "Dragonfly" and "Love Happens," is best known in Hollywood circles for teaming with Brandon Camp and earning a big day for their script "Steinbeck's Big Day." The film gained heat when Tom Cruise showed interest in the project, and the duo ended up earning millions thanks to play or pay deals when it fell apart. No word yet on the plot details for "Timeless" except that it's a time travel film.

We presume with Zemeckis eyeing other projects that his "Yellow Submarine" remains on the back burner. The director was also looking at the futuristic young adult novel "Dark Falls" earlier this year, and that also remains on his plate as a potential project.

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Warner Bros, New Line & MGM Respond To Unions Over 'The Hobbit,' Threaten To Move Production From New Zealand

This is now officially getting ugly. With things finally getting in place for the troubled "The Hobbit" to start shooting in January, late last week the Screen Actors Guild officially notified their members not to accept any jobs on what they are calling a non-union shoot. Over the weekend Peter Jackson personally responded to the charges pointing out the NZ Actor's Equity who are leading the charge only represent, at best, 10% of the actors on the island but also that plans to try and negotiate minimum guarantees go directly against New Zealand's labor law which "prohibits engaging in collective bargaining with any labour organization representing performers who are independent contractors."

The studios — Warner Bros., New Line Cinema and MGM — have now thrown down the gauntlet, and are echoing the sentiments shown by Jackson. In a statement released to the press, the studios take issue with the production being called "non-union" revealing that they do have collective bargaining agreements in place and underscore that "the fact remains that there cannot be any collective bargaining with MEAA on this New Zealand production, for to do so would expose the production to liability and sanctions under New Zealand law."

And in what may be a final blow to the New Zealand film industry, the studios aren't going to wait around to see who blinks first revealing "it is our general policy to avoid filming in locations where there is potential for work force uncertainty or other forms of instability. As such, we are exploring all alternative options in order to protect our business interests."

And while it may be massively expensive to move the production off the island of New Zealand, where sets are more or less completed and ready to go, it will probably be more costly to begin production only to face numerous work stoppages or disruptions. We're guessing at this point, everyone is willing to spend a few more million to make sure that filming can get underway with no issues once MGM get their house in order.

But no one looks good in this, though in our opinion, the SAG are coming off as bullies so far. It will be interesting to see how this plays out and if the production really does move from Jackson's home base of New Zealand, if that will affect his decision to direct the films. But with everyone planting their flags firmly in the ground, it doesn't look like an issue that will go away quietly. [Variety]

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