ROTTEN TOMATOES: Sam Raimi Wants Peter Jackson to Direct Hobbit

Sam Raimi Wants Peter Jackson to Direct Hobbit

But he's his own second choice.

by Fred Topel | October 17, 2007

When the falling out between Peter Jackson and New Line Cinema led to speculation of a new director for The Hobbit, the only satisfying rumor was Sam Raimi. Now that New Line is trying to reconcile with Jackson, even Raimi is hoping for Jackson to complete the quadrilogy.

"I think there's no better choice to direct The Hobbit than Peter Jackson," said Raimi. "I'm a giant fan of the Lord of the Rings trilogy and Peter Jackson's a brilliant filmmaker. He would be the guy I think everybody would like to see direct it. I hear they're talking too, from reading the trade magazines. I don't really know firsthand but that's good. Hopefully he will direct it and give us his great version of it."

It could still be that Jackson will only return in a producing capacity. In that case, Raimi still wants in. "If he doesn't direct it and decides just to produce it, I'd love to be considered as the director. I don't know if that's being talked about. I don't want to presume to know what's happening in those rooms. I know that Peter Jackson always loved The Hobbit. I'm assuming he would want to direct it but I don't want to make any claims I don't have any knowledge of."

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(1-20 of 46 posts) | Reply

hewpot writes:
on Oct 17 2007 01:35 AM

hip hip-HOORAY!

(Reply to this)

adu writes:
on Oct 17 2007 01:42 AM

This is fantastic news for all PJ and LOTR fans. I also like the alternative that if PJ does not direct he might play produce. The Raimi-PJ combo could be exciting!

Let's start the Hobbit already... Ian Mckellen is getting old!

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Bloody Mathias writes:
on Oct 17 2007 03:38 AM

That's that right, Raimi. Know your place. No director, even-drop-the-ball-on-Spidey3-Raimi, should touch The Hobbit. PJ's worked nonstop for 3 years to create the greatest sequel since the original Star Wars and Indiana Jones and he's earned then trust and loyalty of all LOTR fans.

Why would PJ produce instead of direct?
If anybody else picks up the camera, it'll be a travesty.

(Reply to this)

bamb0o-stick writes:
on Oct 17 2007 04:00 AM

Sam Raimi has a history of messing up things after the first sequel of trilogies (i.e. Army of Darkness and Spider-Man 3). If he directs The Hobbit let's hope he breaks his habit.

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Bruce Campbell writes:
on Oct 17 2007 04:37 AM

Army of Darkness, the movie with the largest cult following ever, is a mess-up? The most famous, beloved, legendary, iconic film of all underground cinema is a mess-up?

Spider-man 3 wasn't even his fault... And after he made Spider-man 2 and 1, can't we give the man some respect?

And hey.... Atleast I'll get a cameo out of all of this.

(Reply to this)

Ender7406 writes:
on Oct 17 2007 05:26 AM

I agree, Army of Darkness needs to be viewed in the light it was intended to be viewed in: It's not the dramatic journey of a young rogue seeking the Necronomicon. It's the KICKA## journey of a young rogue seeking the Necronomicon. Give Raimi his due, he made what he wanted to make. Go watch A Simple Plan and tell me he's not an excellent director. And Spider-Man 2? Bamboo Stick, you disappoint me.

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dracus writes:
on Oct 17 2007 06:01 AM

Guess what Sam, so do all the LOTR's fans.

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Elixor writes:
on Oct 17 2007 06:01 AM

I agree that Spiderman 3 was not Raimi's fault. The directing was fine. The screenplay sucked, and whomever thought it would be a good idea to write three frickin storylines into one movie should be fired.

Army of Darkness is a great movie.

Although I think Peter Jackson is overrated, he did a great job with The Shire and Hobbit aspects of LoTRs and should do a great job with the Hobbit. I've got problems with what was done with the LoTR trilogy, but it could've been a lot worse.

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clamman27 writes:
on Oct 17 2007 06:22 AM

In reply to this comment (#1197433)
I thought Rocky Horror had the largest cult following... :-)

And what a hoot it would be to see Bruce as a hobbit. Regardless of who directs The Hobbit, a Bruce cameo should be included!

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dahluzz writes:
on Oct 17 2007 06:54 AM

me: 'i don't think raimi has the chops to handle this sort of project. it's not really in keeping with his body of work and he hasn't expressed that he's a mega-fan of the source material as jackson did.' raimi-lovers: 'well, that's what they said about him with spider-man.' me: 'yeah, and spider-man wasn't that good.'

by spidey 2 he had found his rhythm, and it was great, but here he won't have a second shot to figure things out. with the third spider flick he had gone completely over-the-top. if anyone but jackson directs this, i'll be highly skeptical.

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High School With Money writes:
on Oct 17 2007 08:16 AM

Whatta buncha studio-exec trainees there are here. Many times it seems some of you have your responses copy/pasted from a .txt file.

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jasperoosterveld writes:
on Oct 17 2007 08:24 AM

He screwed up spiderman3 big time so i am sceptic.

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Bruce Campbell writes:
on Oct 17 2007 08:36 AM

In reply to this comment (#1197465)
OK, then Army of Darkness is the second biggest cult movie ever then... The trilogy as a whole beats Rocky Horror though.

And don't worry.... I'll get a cameo if Peter Jackson likes it or not.

(Reply to this)

boomstick8283 writes:
on Oct 17 2007 08:41 AM

Listen to all of this crap. If they can't figure it out, hell, I'll direct "The Hobbit."

(Reply to this)

TheAncientEnemy writes:
on Oct 17 2007 09:11 AM

I want Raimi to direct the bloodiest Hobbit movie ever.

(Reply to this)

Warheart1188 writes:
on Oct 17 2007 09:22 AM

Raimi as director for The Hobbit?? What were they ever thinking?? I don't think Raimi could ever pull off it the way PJ would. I just hope that New Line and PJ reconcile and Jackson wil direct it.

(Reply to this)

sactoking writes:
on Oct 17 2007 09:38 AM

Having Peter Jackson back is great for continuity but terrible for story. IF he directs, The Hobbit will definitely have the same feel as LOTR. It will also be about as inaccurate. I wouldn't be surprised to learn that Bilbo was an elf, Thorin discovered the One Ring at the Battle of Five Armies, and Beorn never existed.

(Reply to this)

dahluzz writes:
on Oct 17 2007 10:06 AM

In reply to this comment (#1197563)
"many times it seems some of you... blah blah blah" high school with money, if you're not going to call anyone out specifically or even respond to one of the comments you're refering to, then what's the point of you posting that remark?
incoming file: close_your_trap.pdf

(Reply to this)

Alterran writes:
on Oct 17 2007 10:18 AM

Good. Jackson should direct it.

(Reply to this)

Paul_Is_Drunk writes:
on Oct 17 2007 10:56 AM

Did someone just rip on Army of Darkness?

You see this? THIS... is my BOOM STICK!

(Reply to this)

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