New legal troubles may scuttle "The Hobbit"

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Jeemie · #1 Post by **Jeemie** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 3:08 pm

Now the Tolkien estate wants their share, which they say New Line failed to pay them.

The results could be New Line could lose its rights to take The Hobbit to the silver screen.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/4399461a1860.html

New Line just can't get this distributing the money thing down pat, it seems.

Sir_Galahad · #2 Post by **Sir_Galahad** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 3:10 pm

I'm sure they'll work it out. There's way too much more money to be made by producing The Hobbit.

And, even though they'll tell you it's not about the money... it's about the money.

ghostjmf · #3 Post by **ghostjmf** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 4:38 pm

Why did I read this & think "so the cute little hobbits are suing"?

At any rate, Never Trust A Dude With Furry Feet.

Spock · #4 Post by **Spock** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 4:47 pm

ghostjmf wrote:Why did I read this & think "so the cute little hobbits are suing"?

At any rate, Never Trust A Dude With Furry Feet.

Hey-I resemble that remark.

PlacentiaSoccerMom · #5 Post by **PlacentiaSoccerMom** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 5:13 pm

I read an article about the creator of the Cheetah Girls books. She sold the rights to the books to Disney for 4% of the net and hasn't received any money from Disney.

I don't work in the industry, but have seen some of the articles about the "Coming to America" court case and know enough that I would never take "net" from a Hollywood deal.

earendel · #6 Post by **earendel** » Fri Feb 15, 2008 5:52 am

PlacentiaSoccerMom wrote:I read an article about the creator of the Cheetah Girls books. She sold the rights to the books to Disney for 4% of the net and hasn't received any money from Disney.

I don't work in the industry, but have seen some of the articles about the "Coming to America" court case and know enough that I would never take "net" from a Hollywood deal.

It seems that every blockbuster picture ends up like this - the studio using accounting tricks to prove that despite millions in ticket sales, the picture lost money so there's no "net" to pay out. Most of the time it ends up being settled, which makes me wonder why the studios even bother to make the effort. Wait, I know - it's the money.